Music

Interview With London-Based Australian Producer Seekay

We had the chance to chat with London-based Australian producer Seekay, who recently released several singles, all home to incredibly beautiful soundscapes, vibes, vocals, and arrangements. He talked to us about his work, the artists that inspire him, as well as his unique mindset when it comes to the meaning of art and music.

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Hi Seekay, hope you are well and healthy! How are you handling the second lockdown? How are you spending your time?

Lockdown is OK for me. I tend to spend a lot of my time alone. I like a good party as much as the next guy but It’s a choice, it lets me think. Sometimes I feel I’ve lived huge tracts of my life locked down emotionally so I’m match-fit for a pandemic. Let others decide on my course. Don’t do it.

We fell in love with “Wiser,” as well as with your previous releases. Please tell us more on the meaning behind your new song, “Wiser”?

“Wiser” is a song about abuse and also when we are young or scared, how we endure It’s a song about how when we are young we often mistake abuse for “cool” and allow ourselves to be treated horrendously because of that. We meekly surrender our sense of self to others. It’s about naivety and growing. It’s about pain, lots of pain. Someone once said the only question you need to ask the other person before you getting into a relationship is “how mad are you?”. Wiser suggests you also ask “Is this person helping me be the best that I can be and am I reciprocating?” If you are being abused in any way – GET OUT NOW.

We are curious to understand the way your collaboration with Chloe works out, could you share with us some of your secrets for such a powerful chemistry?

No. I write ‘em, she sings ‘em. We go on with our lives. We have not met or spoken. I heard her voice on the internet and sent her some songs. She was gracious enough to sing on them. We go on with our lives. Like I said I’m pretty much a loner….who knows maybe she is too. Maybe there’s a connection, maybe not. It’s a song, a microscopic imprint in the fullness of time.

What is the main difference in your approach to composing the melodies on “Wiser,” “Fall,” and “Hold”?

I write thematically – “Hold” is about loneliness, “Fall” is about depression and “Wiser” is about abuse and growth. They’re an emotional trilogy. I can’t write songs without elements of relevance and authenticity to me in them. I’m patient with songs. Start and return to the same song again and again. Sometimes its days sometimes weeks or months until I feel it’s right….sometimes never.

We have read that you don’t like speaking much about your personal story but you could tell us a little bit more about how you came to produce music?

Pain. Lots and lots of it. Life. Hindsight. An inability to do anything else I consider even remotely worthwhile.

Which artists inspire you?

All of them. Musically when I’m high I’m partial to Satie’s “gymnopedie 1” on repeat with loads of compression, distortion, delay and reverb added to the basic melody. I might follow that up with some EDM or psychedelia. I usually always finish with “Gimme Shelter” by the Stones….just the intro…..the way Keith Richard weaves the instruments and vocals through the arrangement are magical. My favourite poem is “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot . My favourite more recent poets are Galway Kinnell and Ted Hughes “Crow” even though Ted doesn’t seem to be the nicest of people. My favourite play is “Oleanna” by David Mamet and I also like Edward Albee and painters Rashid Johnson, Edward Hopper and when I’m high, Jackson Pollock and Australian First Nations painters – 60,000 years of continuous history. I used to like Lucien Freud and Francis bacon but now they just depress me. My favorite author is Patrick White and his book The Vivisector….it’s a tough read but the final third is beyond words incredible. It would never have survived the Spotify world.

Well…….you asked!

What are you currently working on? Any new projects?

I write. I think an EP soon. Who really gives a shit? If not me, someone else. People will always connect with good lyrics and music irrespective of who fronts the circus act. I write to heal (myself mainly) if it helps even one other person it’s all worth it. The Cosmic Dao is an indeterminate force or principle that latently contains all things and spontaneously generates the universe through its constant rhythmic fluctuations. Humanity will flourish only if its day, or “way,” is attuned with this. The wise is so attuned to the Dao that his actions leave no traces of themselves and so pass completely unnoticed. That’s my goal musically – for the songs to join the flow. Me, completely. Unnoticed.

Thank You Seekay!

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Artist Spotlight

“Young Man” by Highrise echoes soul-stirring lessons from the flames of his past

Produced entirely from his home studio in Kansas City, Highrise crafts chapters of life experiences, transforming into the spotlight with “Young Man,” a song that sparks an open conversation we all recognize but often try to forget. This rap-rock anthem features smooth guitar arpeggios woven together with clean vocals, modern hip-hop drums, and hard-won wisdom that resonates with emotion and intention.

At first listen, “Young Man” radiates like one part heartfelt advice tossed to the wind, a cautionary tale directed at the younger men of the next generation as they navigate chaos. But dig a little deeper, and it’s revealed this song is a mirror reflecting Highrise’s own younger self, haunted by the echoes of choices made and paths taken. The production balances rawness and refinement, giving the track a lived-in yet polished musical quality.

Vocally, Highrise shines with a melodic and emotionally charged delivery, comfortably occupying a sonic space that fans of MGK, Bryce Vine, or Ryan Caraveo will find familiar, yet it feels uniquely his own. The standout bridge hits hard: “Take it from me, I’ve been down this road…” a poetic gut-punch for anyone who’s been too stubborn to listen before learning the hard way.

Inspired partly by his late grandfather, the track carries a weight of generational reflection. It tiptoes through the complexities of enduring legacy and shifting perspectives with age, acknowledging the scars of youthful mistakes while nodding to the lessons passed down. “Young Man” doesn’t preach; it empathizes, and humility makes it particularly impactful. It is an anthem for anyone who looks back at their younger self and wishes they could whisper, “Slow down.”

Highrise has established his influence in making music and building a legacy, one brutally honest track at a time, telling truths that echo long after the song ends.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM Highrise’s “Young Man“ on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Highrise | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook |

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Music

Jake Paul Sets the Stage for His Toughest Test Yet Against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28

When Jake Paul put on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time, everyone laughed. Some dismissed him as just another YouTube celebrity looking for clout. But whether you love him or loathe him, Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) has transformed from a viral novelty into a bona fide figure in the fight game. His biggest challenge is on tap—a faceoff with former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The 10-round fight, which was announced Friday by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, will take place at a 200-pound catchweight and be shown live on DAZN pay-per-view. This is not some other novelty fight. This is a risky maneuver, a high-stakes bet, and a pivotal moment in Jake Paul’s career.

Chavez Jr., the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., is no stranger to secrecy or controversy. The 38-year-old has done it all by now, with more than 60 professional fights and a WBC title. But though his name still resonates, recent outings have caused fans to wonder if he’s genuinely committed to the sport. He has gone from bursts of brilliance to maddening inconsistency. Enter Jake Paul. He is 27, a decade younger, and he’s made his brand shocking the world one fight at a time. By knocking out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and beating seasoned veterans of the sport in his last couple of fights, Paul has demonstrated that he’s a fighter who trains hard, shows up in the ring, and improves fight after fight. “I am not here to be dismissed anymore,” Paul said. “One, people believed this was a gimmick. I’m at a point where I want to fight world champions, and Chavez Jr. is the first step towards that.”

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The Paul-Chavez Jr. fight is a cultural moment. It is the crossroads of old-school boxing lineage and new-age promotion. It’s just the sort of fight that has traditionalists chatting and TikTok fans watching. For Paul, this is a significant step toward title contention. Critics will say he hasn’t faced a “real boxer” yet, but Chavez Jr. destroys that narrative. In addition to being a seasoned veteran, he’s also a former world champion with a deep boxing IQ and hammers of his own.

“Chavez Jr. is everything I’ve been working toward,” Paul said. “He’s a true fighter. He’s been in there with everybody. And now he’s getting in there with me.” For Chavez Jr., it’s an opportunity to regain relevance and silence the critics who have questioned his heart and discipline over the past few years. Defeating Jake Paul, who boasts a huge following and considerable media coverage, would not only represent a win but a comeback. What’s interesting is the agreed weight of 200 pounds. It’s a step up from Chavez Jr.’s most of his career, and well within the cruiserweight realm, where Paul is comfortable. Physicality will matter in this fight. That sort of mass isn’t how Paul is accustomed to moving, but it is how Chavez Jr. is used to moving, and he’ll need to adjust.

“This isn’t my first time going up in weight,” Chavez Jr. said. “I’ve fought big guys before. Jake Paul is powerful, yes, but he’s inexperienced. He’ll find that out.” With both fighters possessing knockout power and a penchant for the dramatic, the matchup promises to bring the fireworks from the opening bell. And for the crowd at Honda Center, it will be a night they don’t forget. This is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, led by Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya, which adds an additional layer of credibility to the proceedings. A stamp from Golden Boy, in partnership with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, suggests a merging of boxing’s golden age with a viral, digital future.

“Jake Paul has proven he has his act together for boxing,” De La Hoya said. “This is not a joke anymore. He is up against someone with pedigree, experience, and power. This is what boxing needs: big moments, big personalities, and high stakes.” A victory over Chavez Jr. would be a career-defining achievement for Jake Paul, potentially even thrusting him into title consideration at cruiserweight. For someone who started as an internet personality, that kind of narrative arc is nothing short of wild, but it’s also very real.

For Chavez Jr., this is an opportunity for redemption. But his final years were defined by intermittent appearances, issues with training, and criticism. A loss to Paul would be a devastating blow to his legacy, but a win? It’s only one thing that could start a comeback.“This fight is legacy-defining for both guys, just in completely different ways,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Jake wants to be treated like a future world champion. Chavez Jr. wants to show people who he is and what he can do.”

Expect bold entrances. Expect a packed Honda Center with fight fans, influencers, celebrities, and boxing purists. Expect talk trash, social media activity, and maybe more drama inside the ring. But above all, expect a real battle. “I’m not underestimating him, and he better not underestimate me,” Paul said. “This is not for YouTube views. This is for respect.”

Training camps are already in full swing, with both fighters bringing in the best accessible sparring partners and conditioning coaches. The excitement is building, but rest assured: When June 28 comes, the two men will be ready to risk it all. Boxing has long sought a way to connect older fans with younger viewers. Whether intentionally or not, Jake Paul has been a catalyst for that evolution. His fights draw millions, many of whom are new to boxing.

And with the legends of the sport, like Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, now retired or in exhibition-mode, Paul vs. Chavez Jr. is a different kind of spectacle: entertaining, unpredictable and strangely meaningful. And signed by politicians royals Oscar De La Hoya among others, the boxing world has finally accepted that not only is this not a fad — it’s the future. Jake Paul Is Out to Prove He’s More Than a YouTuber-Turned-Boxer. He’s on a mission to show he belongs on the same poster as champions. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is out to show that bloodline and battle-tested experience can still mean something in this shifting fight landscape. When they face off June 28, it won’t all be about punches thrown. It will be about statements, respect, and narratives.

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