Introducing Kega the talented 19-year-old pop punk artist. Hailing from Hong Kong and Canada now based in Chicago, he embarked on his musical journey just three years ago, recording songs in his bedroom. What started as a creative outlet quickly became a profound passion, helping him navigate through heartbreak and life's challenges. With a unique blend of pop-punk and emo-rap, Kega's music captures raw emotions and tells compelling narratives.
His latest release, "Hell Sound," stands out as a fusion of personal experiences, turning 20, and the complexities of love. In this exclusive interview, Kega shares insights into his creative process, the influence of his background on his musical style, and his aspirations for the future, promising surprises and exciting collaborations on the horizon. Stay tuned for more from this emerging pop-punk sensation.
Listen to "Hell Sound"
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, what is the first thing you want us to know about you?
Hello, my name is Parco, but I go by the stage name Kega. I am currently 19 years old, and about three years ago, I started recording music in my bedroom. I’m from Hong Kong and Canada; I just lived in Hong Kong my whole childhood up until the beginning of my freshman year of college, when I moved out on my own to the United States. I would work on my music whenever I had the chance, and I would rather do that for the rest of my life than anything else in life. After a particularly horrible breakup, it changed from something I did for pleasure to something I did as a way to cope with breakups. The aspect of a song that tells a narrative is probably the most enjoyable for me, and this is the reason I do this. It's almost like recording a moment in time since you can listen to this song again 20 years from now to recall how life was at the time. All of these songs hold a very important place in my heart and are the inspiration for my music.
What inspired you to write and release "Hell Sound"? Can you give us some insight into the meaning behind the song?
Because it integrates two facets of my life into one song, Hell Sound is a unique piece of art. Normally, when I want to write about a heartbreak experience, I simply concentrate on that one thing, but for this song, I also made a point of mentioning that I will soon turn 20. It was fascinating to observe during the creative process how these two factors were so intertwined and how they directly impacted my decisions and mental health. Nobody really understands this as a child, but as you get older, there tend to be more and more things you start to worry about, and if this stress is not managed properly, it can truly break you down from the inside out. When you combine this with heartbreak, you have a compelling topic to write about. True love is something we're all searching for, but right now, it seems impossible to believe it exists because of what I have experienced. I mention specifically that "I don't go deep into what works out," which means I don't look into and consider anything that works out in love too much because, from what I have learned, it typically doesn't last forever, and if you do, it will come back to haunt you once it's over. This song is a combination of my lessons learned, turning 20, and heartbreak.
How would you describe your musical style, and how does it come through in "Hell Sound"?
This question is challenging to answer since, if you look at the music I've released over the last three years, you can see that it has been continually developing, which I believe is very natural for an artist. But I believe that when it comes to pop punk and pop music, my actual musical style and the true me truly shine through. I have a better ability to express myself clearly, tell stories, and explore my vocal range when it's in these two genres. These two genres truly bring out the best in me and are the most appropriate for my voice and me. Hell Sound is considerably different from classic pop punk and is intended to lean more towards pop. Compared to classic pop punk, it has softer, more melodic voices and some of the vocal patterns and melodies sound more like songs in the pop genre.
What was the creative process like for "Hell Sound"? Did you work alone on this project?
Hell Sound was quite simple to create compared to my prior efforts. The words and melodies came to me instantly, and the entire process was quick, simple, and seamless. From the very beginning, something about myself, my singing, and the instrumentals all seemed right. I wanted to draw attention to the song's bridge in particular. This time, I experimented by choosing a bridge that was more in the pop genre. It complemented the instrumentals admirably, and the words were very moving for me. Hopefully, the listeners will find the lyrics meaningful as well.
As an artist from Hong Kong, how has your background influenced your music and your approach to pop punk?
Hong Kong is a highly global metropolis. Unexpectedly, while I was growing up, I listened more to music from the US and UK than local ones. I believe I share many characteristics with musicians from the US and the UK as a result. I did, however, occasionally listen to some local music, and I noticed that, in contrast to other places, musicians here seem to concentrate far more on melody and singing. That part of it, in my opinion, has permeated both my music and me. Hell Sound resulted in a sound that is likely to be far more melodious than a typical pop-punk song.
What do you hope listeners will take away from "Hell Sound"? Is there a specific message or emotion you want to convey?
I'm not sending a message, but I hope that those who hear it and relate to me and what I say will understand that time does not stand still and that life goes on. Although growing up is difficult and changes are inevitable, try to live your life without giving anything too much thought. Without overthinking, you discover that life is much more delightful. You shouldn't stop thinking altogether, but a lot of the time, nothing is as profound as it first appears, and you will still experience emotions and difficult situations. Feel it, go through it, but don't get caught in it. Hopefully, I can serve as a positive example for them in this regard, letting them know that others have experienced the lowest points in life and have come back stronger and improved.
You've tried hyper-pop, emo-rap, and pop punk, but is there another genre you would like to try?
Honestly, for who I am as an artist, this is everything that I have ever wanted to try and I will probably be sticking with a fusion of pop, pop punk, and emo-rap for the foreseeable future.
I once wrote songs as a way of communicating with the person who caused my heartbreak. Now, even if it sounds like a message, I no longer do it. Instead of going after someone who is horrible to me, I have learned to be at peace with who I am and accept things as they are. I genuinely just write songs to save my feelings and ideas at that specific period so that I may later choose them from my collection of songs to recall how my life was at that point in the past, and hopefully, in that process, others may connect with my experiences and find strength from them.
Do you have a bucket list of artists to collab with?
This will be a surprise soon to be revealed in the near future!
What can we expect from you in the future? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you're excited about?
This year, I'm concentrating on releasing more pop and pop-punk songs. I want to start practising live performances, open some shows for more well-known artists, and maybe collaborate on a few collaborative projects.
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