Q: Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’m a singer, songwriter and producer originally from Poland, immigrating to the UK at 2 years old. Growing up in the Yorkshire town of Halifax, I was raised on a lot of Disney Channel and big pop stars like Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez. I adored big vocals, the glitz and glam, and often found joy in that media during my rough childhood. Since I was a child, I’ve been singing my heart out, whether that’s leading the church choir at age 10 or performing an original song in my high school’s showcase at 14. My childhood was very difficult as my family mistreated me, and we were not very fortunate, which meant I had to teach myself everything. I was also undiagnosed as Autistic and ADHD, so I was constantly misunderstood and berated for who I was. But I always liked myself and how unique I was; I knew there was something special about me. And that remains true now. When people watch me perform and meet me, they feel it too. At around 10 years old, I started writing songs, and it became not only a creative outlet, but a coping mechanism and tool to process my own emotions. I took on any performance opportunities that were available to me (not a lot in a small town), which meant diving deep into different genres like musical theatre, rock, pop, electronic, etc, and I started teaching myself vocal techniques and piano from YouTube videos. Though not having the resources/lessons was very difficult, it really pushed me to be inquisitive and very ambitious. I was convinced I could learn anything, and with that came my versatility and set me up to be the independent artist I am now. And as an avid music listener, I personally saw and felt how music can be so healing and transformative, and I wanted to achieve that. I wanted my music to have an emotional impact and help others feel represented and understood. I started producing in 2020, at just 16 years old, watching YouTube videos and experimenting on my laptop. This led me to eventually produce my own music and invest in it, where I have all the creative control.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Destiny K in three words?
A: Sparkly, Alternative, Pop
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I would class myself as chronically online, and I’ve been creating content since I was 14. I love to communicate directly with my fans, whether that’s through DMs, in comments, on a live, or at gigs. Connecting with my fans is so important to me as I know they relate to me in many ways, and I come to them when I feel like I need direction and want their input on where I should go next. My community is small but so supportive, and they encourage me time and time again when I’m feeling low. Algorithms suck, but they are always letting me know they believe in my message and believe in me and my talent, even if I don’t have the means to go further right now. As for their input, a good example would be them letting me know they love my vocals and want to hear them on a more stripped-back acoustic song to let them shine. And I heard that and started working on some upcoming music that leans into the indie pop sphere some more. I just love to create, so whether that’s more indie, electronic, rock, etc, I’m happy regardless.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘INTERSTELLAR’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Absolutely, this EP is a dive into my neurodivergent mind. It’s introspective, angsty, and poetic, but it sonically comes together to form a galactic, ethereal soundscape. Every song unpacks a different difficulty I face being AuDHD, and it talks a lot about healing after long-term trauma and how complicated that can be. Interstellar means ‘between the stars’, and that’s exactly where I want to be, and what I feel like represents my mind. Lyrically, it’s cohesive with many metaphors linking back to the galaxy and using those terms to describe feelings and actions. As an astrology girl, I also loved incorporating something I’m genuinely passionate about into this project, and I think the mystery of space is a great parallel to the neurodivergent mind.
Q: What is your favourite track from the release and why?
A: I’d have to say Outlier is my favourite. I just keep going back to it whenever I’m listening. I’m a big hyperpop lover myself, so sonically I love the tuning and overdrive effects used and the dynamic range in the song. It felt so good to make a track that’s so angsty and honest, and one that talks about my frustrations with always being monitored by everyone around me, but still ultimately accepting this is who I am, and I’m not going to be forced to change by anyone.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the EP, “INTERSTELLAR”?
A: Initially, I had these songs made separately as demos that didn’t really have a place. Nothing’s Ever Really Changed was first written 4 years ago, and I remember finding it in my files one day and falling back in love with it, but my production skills had improved much more since then, so I decided to re-produce it completely and knew it would be the perfect lead single. It was like my chaotic good track. Now, The One Who Knows, Contaminated, and Retrograde were all demos I made to present my songwriting skills initially when sending to labels, etc. But when listening back to them in my files, I realised they were too good to stay hidden, and then I got the idea to rewrite them slightly, improve the production and form my first body of work. ‘Outlier’ was the last to be added, when I found a demo I had added for it that I had forgotten about, and knew it would be the perfect addition. All the songs I noticed had cosmic imagery and themes, so I decided to rewrite the lyrics slightly to fit into the theme better. The name came to me one day when I was researching, and when I looked at the definition of Interstellar, it all made sense and came together. I worked on the production of each song for multiple months, creating my own samples, adding automations, layering busy backing vocals, etc. All from my bedroom. I wanted to create a world where these tracks could live, and have them also emotionally resonate. Sonically, it was made 80% within the DAW, and 20% was the electric guitar I played for tracks 2 and 5, and vocal chops/samples.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: Though I’ve loved so many, one I’d say is when I opened for Amakathesiren on the 1st of August in the Deaf Institute. It was a very intimate show, so I sang with just my friend playing the guitar and really let my vocals shine and tell a story. Everyone was so supportive, and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, with people talking in detail with me about my music journey and how they’re now very invested after the show. It was a beautiful community that made me feel empowered and like people were really hearing my message. Also, opening up for an artist I love and admire was such great fun too, and we made such good memories that night. Ahonourable mention would be the Queer as F*ck open mics, as every time I’d perform at the event, not only would the room be full of fellow queer people, but the positive, vibrant energy was just radiating off everyone. Feeling like I didn’t have to hide any part of myself and that it was celebrated was so special, and the conversations I had were always so thoughtful and kind.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: A track that I think really holds a unique space for me is daylight saving. I remember writing that song on my floor in my notes app, after composing one of my favourite chord progressions. The lyrics just poured out of me, and that metaphor of daylight saving really helped craft this idea of my inner child being this ‘light’ for me. It’s so special to me as I think it represents who I am so perfectly. It talks about my endless need to be ‘better’ and keep trying because that little girl wanted this dream SO badly. How much of what I do is for my inner child, and how this entire journey is a constant healing cycle. But it also manages to encapsulate so many themes and details, for example, the helplessness you feel when you’re no longer in an abusive situation and you’re left to pursue this life you’ve always wanted while constantly breaking down over that trauma. That gifted kid burnout that many experience, and how those vibrant and exciting memories start to fade. Sonically, too, I love the melody and structure of the song, and the dreamy track captures that nostalgia so well. I’m working on making an acoustic version currently because I cherish it so much, and I see how much it touches other people. They understand what I’m saying, and they find themselves in the song.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Destiny K’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: Truthfully, my process is incredibly sporadic, and I love starting ideas very differently depending on the song. For example, I used to mainly write my songs a acapella, writing melody and lyrics at the same time (my usual go-to), then adding chords/track to it. Sometimes the title is first, sometimes the melody is first, sometimes the theme is first; it completely depends on the song. In other instances, I’ve started ideas based on a melody/sound in Ableton, which is how I made my song ‘Designated’. Then of course I have the typical guitar chord progression writing session where I write the chords, melody and lyrics at the same time, or sometimes only one of them, then come back to it a different time. I’ve even written poems in my notes app that eventually became a song when adding them to an existing melodic idea. The number one thing I’ve found is that inspiration is a large factor. I usually find myself writing after either a life event has happened or after hearing an artist’s music and wanting to create something similar. It’s always important to me that the lyric content matches the sound, for example, using repetition to represent a panic attack, or high notes to mimic being angry and yelling;g, it’s always very emotive. I’m very writing-focused, so I’ll usually complete the content of the songs themselves before finishing the production, so I can align the production with the lyrics, though I’ve also written over-produced tracks before.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I’m very ambitious, and the goals are endless, the first of them being to do this full-time and sustain myself. Ideally, I’d love to be performing on a regular basis, connecting with fans, and gathering more people who will be a part of my loyal fanbase. I want to reach a level where I can release music regularly, perhaps with help from management and have the means to complete my creative visions, e, music videos, photoshoots, etc. My ultimate dream is a world tour, as I’m such a little diva on stage and performing is really what I think I was made to do. Additionally, I’d love to write and produce for other people and collaborate with other unique artists, to represent the autistic adhd and sapphic communities proudly and create music that spans various pop subgenres. A message I’d like to share with my fans is that you’re not alone. You’re feelings are valid, and you are NOT your family or your hardships. There’s so much beauty in feeling to the fullest extent, and the connections we make are the magic we hold. Don’t let people dim your light or tell you you’re ‘too much’.
