The search for the sweet spot between sterile and organic is a feat which plagues many electronic artists. It’s a difficult part of the creative process, and few manage to evoke the vivid sonic warmth of Simon Lam and Chloe Kaul – better known as Kllo. The Melbourne duo’s recent single, ‘Potential’, has continued their streak as one of Australia’s finest up-and-coming electronic sensations.
Although it’s been released a mere six months since debut LP Backwater, ‘Potential’ is by no means an album throwaway. The duo regard the single as a product of sheer inspiration.
“‘Potential’ came to us naturally,” they say. “We’ve found that in the past we’ve started songs and taken forever to finish them because they just haven’t felt right. It was a different story with ‘Potential’ – it was a style we were very inspired by at the time, but hadn’t really attempted yet. It was fun and not forced, so it all fell into place. You get lucky sometimes.”
Fusing Lam’s crisp electronic beats with Kaul’s lush R&B-inspired melodies, ‘Potential’ exemplifies the duo’s creative chemistry, forged through years spent fleshing out tracks together in the studio as opposed to the online collaborative methods favoured by many.
“We’ve always worked together from the same room. It gives us the chance to be on the same wavelength when we’re creating,” they say, highlighting the organic nature of their songwriting process. “We’re both very sensitive to our surroundings, so depending on how we are feeling, we guide each other in the direction we’re gravitating to.”
While ‘Potential’ hints at uncharted musical territories for Kllo, much of their previous work draws from the scatterbrain two-step rhythms of UK garage, a genre which producer Lam explored extensively throughout his previous band, I’lls.
“I studied drums for years throughout school, so I naturally developed an ear for more complex rhythms and grooves,” Lam says, highlighting the genre as one that allows him to constantly challenge his creative and technical chops. “UK garage was the first dance music I heard that had a heavy swing, and I loved the subtleties of the drum production and the challenging rhythms those artists got away with. I felt like it was the first time I could make dance music and utilise what I’ve learnt over the years.”
For their upcoming performance at Melbourne Recital Centre, Kllo are making their triumphant homecoming a rather special one, expanding for the first time ever to perform with a full live band. This was a task they found rather demanding, but with great reward.
“To be honest, it was pretty daunting getting a live band together,” the duo says, noting that while adapting to live drums and backing vocals was a challenge at first, the imperfections and hiccups of performing with a live ensemble took their sound to new heights. “It’s a bit of a dream come true, having the music come to life so much.
“You can expect to see six people on stage. We have our good friend and member of I’lls Hamish on keyboards, Kiarra and Fran from my old singing school on beautiful backing vocals, and our new friend Jim on drums, who’s an absolute beast on the kit.”
In addition to their performance at the Recital Centre, Kllo have recently been announced on the lineup for September’s Listen Out Festival, where they’ll perform alongside the likes of A$AP Rocky, Skepta and Skrillex before heading off on their own European tour. While the release of ‘Potential’ hints at more material in the pipeline, Kllo shoot down the possibility of any more new songs being unveiled – for now.
“We won’t be playing any new songs at the Recital Centre, but we will be extending and revamping old songs so they will certainly sound different to the recorded versions. You can expect unreleased music at Listen Out, though.”
