Saturday Night Session 054: Kidswaste reveals the five-year journey that led to sophomore EP, ‘Colors of Your Heart’
Few moments are more sacred than the reprieve Saturday night provides from the daily grind of school and work. Its importance is meant to be emphasized, and thus, a feature dedicated to “doing the night right” was born. Saturday Night Sessions are set around energizing mixes meant to get the party started. New or old, each episode has one cornerstone thing in similarity: they serve as the perfect backdrop for the weekend pregame.
Quentin Beauvois started his music career like many generation Z musicians – through showcasing his talents online. While many acts leverage their online following to land record deals, Beauvois’s ascension was due to a different formula. Now better known to music fans as Kidswaste, the French producer started his career by streaming on Twitch from his bedroom back in 2016. He learned to produce music on the public forum, and it helped to foster connections that led to the successful launch of his career and collaborations in the future.
Beauvois shares, “People might not know this but I started my music career by streaming on Twitch back in 2016! Music wasn’t even really allowed on the platform. I used to partake in 1-hour challenges with friends which really helped me get better fast.” He continues, “This is actually how I met Siarate that I collaborated with on ‘Back Then.’ The song itself was made around that time, though it took a little longer than 1 hour.”
Despite starting to produce music in 2016, Beauvois leaned in and quickly turned the fun side activity into his focus. In 2017 he released his debut single “Underwater,” which catapulted him into notoriety within the indie dance music scene. He then produced and released a full EP, titled Spleen, that very same year. The reception to the EP was overwhelmingly positive, and his momentum remained strong.
It is now five years later, and the artist has released his second EP, Colors of Your Heart, out now on Counter Records. The body of work gives the listener a look inside his own heart and the journey he has been on- both personally and professionally. Beauvois shares that over the time period he wrote the EP, he was in different headspaces and had varied inspirations throughout. This means that each song represents a different moment of time for him. For his Kidswaste project as a whole, a new era beckons, fondly coined as the ‘Kiddy’ era which features a more energetic, refined sound and style that reflects the maturation process that he’s gone through over the years.
Despite the fact that the songs on the EP have been produced at different points over the past five years, Colors of Your Heart is a dreamy collection of free flowing singles that blend together seamlessly despite stylistic differences throughout.
He comments on this, sharing, “It was the project right after Spleen, which I’ve been working on since 2017. Some songs, like ‘Back Then’ and ‘Waves,’ were made during that era almost 3-6 years ago. It shows the evolution of my old music to what is more like the new me. I wrote ‘Runner’ in 2021, and ‘Home’ in January 2022. The goal was to keep consistency with the Kiddy! era throughout the years.”
Highlights of the EP include “Let Go,” which is an indie alternative single that taps into rock with the electronic production as a secondary element. Contrastingly “Waves” leans into the indie electronic genre, putting the production at the forefront of the song. “Time is Mine” with Olivia Reid expands the Kidswaste sound, with sultry vocals complimenting the upbeat single that infuses disco elements into the pulsing backdrop.
Olivia Reid, Lizzy Land, and Siarate are featured collaborators on the EP, tying together the eight tracks into a brilliant blend of Beauvois’s style and sound with impactful collaborators pushing the boundaries of what we have come to know and expect from the producer. The artist shares that he wrote over 100 songs for the project before deciding on the final group of songs that he felt he resonated with most.
Beauvois will be back on the road for his first North American headlining tour in honor of the EP release. Titled the Colors of Your Heart Tour, he will be performing in markets including Brooklyn, Denver, Chicago, and many more. He comments on what to expect from his forthcoming tour and how he feels about being back on the road.
He shares, “I’m nervous, but it’s exciting! It’s my first headline tour all over America, and I’m incredibly stoked. I’m trying to introduce a new life to my shows with higher energy, remixes of old songs and live edits! Going back on the road is a little scary but it’ll be okay, especially with Tails there to join the adventure!”
In honor of the Colors of Your Heart full EP release, the artist has crafted an exclusive hour long Saturday Night Session mix for listeners.
When asked what fans can expect from the mix, he shares, “It’s a showcase of some songs from the project mixed with a few songs that I like! It’s not super representative of the live show as I’m trying to keep most of it as a surprise, but there are some fun IDs! I hope you’ll enjoy!”
Featured Image: Kodavsky
Read the full Interview with Kidswaste below
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This is your sophomore EP. What has been the difference for you with Colors of Your Heart compared to Spleen?
It was the project right after “Spleen,” which I’ve been working on since 2017. Some songs, like “Back Then” and “Waves,” were made during that era almost 3-6 years ago. It shows the evolution of my old music to what is more like the new me. I wrote “Runner” in 2021, and “Home” in January 2022. The goal was to keep consistency with the Kiddy! era throughout the years.
Is there a standout track for you personally from the EP?
My personal favorite is “Runner” because it tells the most recent story of my life. Whereas the other songs can be a bit more elusive or general, this one is more about what I’ve been through during the past few years. On top of that, the production fits my vision of what’s next for this project.
Your sound has certainly evolved over the years. Is your evolution just as an artist? Or do you think your sound evolution is tied to personal evolution as well?
I think it’s a little bit of both because the way I worked on music throughout all these years varied a lot. I started incorporating hardware into my workflow, and focused on improving my production. Especially sound design. It’s not perfect yet, but I’m now able to vary my style, which allows for more creative freedom. Overall though, I must’ve written about 100 songs for this project, but only kept the ones I resonated with.
A headlining tour is a big deal. Can you talk about the tour with us?
I’m nervous, but it’s exciting! It’s my first headline tour all over America, and I’m incredibly stoked. I’m trying to introduce a new life to my shows with higher energy, remixes of old songs and live edits! Going back on the road is a little scary but it’ll be okay, especially with Tails there to join the adventure!
What is one thing about you as a person outside of your music career that fans do not know?
People might not know this but I started my music career by streaming on Twitch back in 2016! Music wasn’t even really allowed on the platform. I used to partake in 1-hour challenges with friends which really helped me get better fast. This is actually how I met Siarate that I collaborated with on “Back Then.” The song itself was made around that time, though it took a little longer than 1 hour.
What kind of a Saturday Night is your Saturday Night Session going to get listeners ready for?
It’s a showcase of some songs from the project mixed with a few songs that I like! It’s not super representative of the live show as I’m trying to keep most of it as a surprise, but there are some fun IDs! I hope you’ll enjoy!