In a time where turmoil is at the forefront of media and heaviness seems to pave the way. Speaking to Kastle offered that breath of fresh air reminding me that like-minded soulful humans still exist. And, they're out there putting out incredible work! I had a chance to speak with this conscious, kind DJ/ Producer on his latest project, Reflections his second studio album. This album comes at the perfect time, seeing that Kastle personally created a narrative on his journey toward self-discovery and finding inner balance. We all have it in us to be the light we need, the question is what are we feeding ourselves to shine bright? Kastle helps answer some of those questions— in addition to utilizing his vast talents, to bring out the best in all of us. Take a look at our profound conversation. I hope it further encourages you to be the light you wish to see on this planet as it did for me. Be Inspired!
Mm: You own a label and you have people under you and you also drive-yourself creatively. How do you compartmentalize all of those pieces, to get it all done?
K: I think, I have a very natural drive to do anything because, I love all things music. I fell in love with music when I was really young. I knew from an early age that this is what I wanted to do with my life.
Mm: How old?
K: I know it sounds kind of far-fetched but.... I feel like at the age of 5, I just knew! I had this passion.
Mm: No it doesn't, Lenny Kravitz said the same thing. In an interview he did a few years ago.
K: I started producing when I was 12 years old. It’s been a long road, I think this passion is what drives me and keeps me going on many different levels. But, like I said....it is very hard to find the balance. I don't have a magic answer on how to find the balance because I feel like I am always shifting. When you find your passion its often very fluid which life is meant to be. You never step in the same river twice you gotta flow with it. This album particularly acted as a balancing figure in my life. Last year, I was really experimenting with my own artistic side and also with the label as well. I was exploring a lot more darker realms , it was still very emotional which the music has always been. I went really dark with it, I feel like. So this year with this album, I wanted to really find the balance. This album is very dynamic and has many different inspirations from different genre’s.
Mm: I love what you said, in the quote on what reflections means to you when birds are flying. Imagine a flock of birds flying over a lake, they don't mean to reflect their image on the water and they are not imposing an image on if forcefully, it just kind of happens naturally. It really resonated with me and made me think, hmmm I wonder what space he was in when he had that specific (amazing) thought?
K: It relates to what Carl Jung called the process of self individuation. The goal for me in life is to live my true self but we are often bombarded with the media and advertising. All these things that your ego gets wrapped up in, in the glitz and the glamour of it all. So where my head has particularly been at is really trying to find that inner part of me that says this is what you should do, this is whats right. This is why its called reflections, like I said in the video when you look at birds reflecting on a lake, that is their true image. In writing this album, I did a lot of meditation before every studio session. I kind of ritualized the studio session where I very consciously went in on my subconscious and tried to create an open dialogue with myself --- so that something new could come out. And, also more importantly explore those often repressed emotions and feelings that are pretty unhealthy if you keep bottled in.
Mm: I am a big believer in prayer and meditation as well. I often notice when I am off rhythm, when I haven't prayed in a while, just like you do with anything getting ready properly in the morning or going to the gym; its equally important. You feed your light or you feed your darkness, whichever you feed grows. How have you noticed a difference when you didn't create this form of ritual in previous work you have done?
K: You know, I think what happened is last year, I got off that path. I wasn’t meditating. I wasn't feeding my spiritual side, you know! I’ve gone through cycles where this happens and I end up reaching a fever pitch of anxiety. When I realize it, it hits me out of nowhere and I’m like oh man; what am I doing? I need to get back to this. That is definitely where my head was when I started the album Reflections-- kind of like a reset. I think its natural, they say a you get older..... look at your past. What you thought was completely random and random occurrences, they start to make sense when you look at the bigger picture. I’ve gone through this before and I have had other music projects that I have stopped and they basically died so that something new could be created. Picasso said, “every act of creation is first an act of destruction”. In order to create something, you have to destroy something else. What’s different this time is, I am going through this process but I’m keeping the artist sane you know. I’m going through a new evolution--so its really exciting.
Mm: That’s powerful and I think there is a power and a beauty of getting older so to speak. Simply because you have that reflection of Ah! I have felt this before, I’ve seen this before, it feels familiar. I think that to is something to embrace. I really like that you said that. I also like that you have been able to tap into your intuition. What age did that start to really pay attention to your intuition?
K: Honestly, I think that I have been very intuitive for most of my life.
Mm: Nice!
K: The only time I notice something about being intuitive..... is when I’m not, if that makes sense? When I realize that I haven't been intuitive is when I am fighting that intuition. When you have that nagging suspicion in your head your like -- Oh no! Everybody says this is the right way to do it, that’s when I know and realized something is wrong and I just need to let go and follow that intuition. I think I have always kind been that way. Especially since I was in high school. That’s when I started reading and studying on Buddhism and Daoism. Daoism especially, I would cite as a large guiding factor of my life and that obviously talks a lot about following your intuition.
Mm: Speaking of that and following the voice within. I love how you incorporated traveling as a inspiration for this album. You travel around finding unique pieces and you say that there are objects from many different cultures just laying there waiting for someone to discover their personality. You know the secret soul of things? I really related to that and loved that perspective. Is there anywhere you have not been yet, that you would like to go?
K: Well, I just went to Asia for the first time this year which was incredible for me. Gosh, I have been to a lot of places.
Mm: Haha, I know that’s why I asked!!
K: As I talk, I will pick a place. Although, I will say this about traveling. The whole idea of the artwork was that I picked up things from swap meets mostly in Orange County. There was one object that I picked up from Austin, TX at a thrift vintage shop. There is something that is always drawing me to used objects. Most of my book library is from used book stores that I go to when I’m on tour and traveling. This plays in to the intuition aspect of life where, I like to think that those books that I found were just kind of waiting there for me. That’s what I love about traveling.
Mm: Yes, same! Most of my apt furniture are things that I have found and redone so, I completely agree with you. Seeing that this album is highly self reflective, what are your intentions for your fans and new audience ears that get to ingest this body of work?
K: I hope that people will be able to reflect on themselves when they listen to this. While it was an inner process for me, I don't think the final product is really about me. What I’ve been really thinking about lately is psychological archetypes. Through archetypes every person is connected in a way---we all kind of live out very similar archetypes. Whether its the archetype of the hero or the creator all these different personalities and things like that. I thought a lot about those things when I was writing and I kind of purposefully made a lot of the vocals on this record abstract and kind of hard to understand what they are saying. In hopes that the listener would find their own meaning behind it and create their own story. It’s open to interpretation is the best way I can describe what I was going for.
Mm: I love it and almost feel like that is the best way to be. It leaves it not subjugated for any one person. So back to the where to next question.....any thoughts on where you want to go that you haven't been yet?
K: Where haven’t I been that I want go? I would like to join Elon Musk and fly to Mars.
Mm: Ok! Mars it is.
K: That would be pretty dope!
Mm: I love it and this was pretty dope! Thank you so much for your time.
K: Thank you, I appreciate this!
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