Kaeda Daze launches new project with single 'Running from Something' and shares her top 5 female singer-songwriters
Image: Tanya Voltchanskaya
Melbourne singer-songwriter Kendra Fewster, formerly of band The Hunting Birds, has launched a new chapter in her career as solo artist Kaeda Daze with the single ‘Running from Something’.
A gorgeous, moody cinematic track that mixes electronica with indie, it is a raw and vulnerable and was born out of the gruelling Melbourne lockdowns in the darkest days of the pandemic.
“This first release is extremely important to me,” Daze says. “The day I began to write the song is so completely vivid in my mind. It’s funny how certain moments can stick with you. In the moment you’re so channelled toward the living and creating aspect that you don’t realise it was going to be a seminal moment for your silly little life journey. I wanted the track to sound like a slow motion battle in the fog; a chorus that became the clarity, the strength of the song. I have always been drawn to songs with a dark moody tether and worked to implement that with [producer] Sam through atmospheric pads and textures. You will notice the idea of slow motion running is emulated as an echoing rhythmic pattern that almost sounds like waves crashing behind it.”
During her time with The Hunting Birds, Daze earned two WAM (Western Australian Music) Pop Song of the Year Awards and also played at Falls Festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest and supported global artists The Lumineers and Newton Faulkner. Already an exciting young talent in her previous musical life, with ‘Running from Something’ Daze is proving she has everything it takes to become a major star, and we can’t wait to hear more from this new era of her music.
To celebrate the release of ‘Running from Something’, Daze shared with Women In Pop her top 5 female singer-songwriters.
5 songwriters that KAEDA DAZE loves
Bri Clark
I am so completely in love with this woman's music. Utterly smothered in oozing dark production and impeccable vocals while walking the line of alternative/pop structure. I love that every track she releases transports you to such a deep emotion and creates such a clear colour in your mind. The wall of harmonies she punches us with in ‘Waiting’, goosebumps. I don’t know why I get the chills (the good kind) every time I listen to music but her debut album that she has just unleashed on the world makes me want to be a better songwriter and all round musician. She is INSANE.
AURORA
The queen of somehow creating songs of dark fantasy and exceptional light. ‘The River’ 100% changed my life for the better. I remember the day my sister played me the song for the first time on the drive home from the cinema. Once it had played over and over on the drive back home I ran inside and continued to dance around to it while it blasted from the stereo. That wall of sound, GAH. Everytime I listen to her voice she makes me want to work harder on my head voice. There’s something siren-esque about hitting those top registers; it makes me so envious of her abilities.
Gordi
I have listened to Gordi since I downloaded her Clever Disguise EP in 2016. The singer/songwriter in me adores the way Gordi tackles her song structure and lyrical emotiveness. I find her songs to be broadly relatable and cleverly written. There is still a really strong thread that leads back to her songwriting ability no matter how incredibly layered her production becomes. If I wasn’t crying before I listened to the whole Reservoir album - I was puffy eyed and staring at the ceiling afterwards. Life changing.
Caroline Polachek
I mean, do I have to explain? Not only does she have similarities to Imogen Heap (a woman I have been listening to since I was young) she adapts to strong pop choruses and beautiful melodic choices. CRUNCHY HARMONIES. My brain flips out anytime big suspended harmonies are the centrepiece in any song. Listening to Pang for the first time something clicked back into place for me musically. I think I’ve always had a gap in my heart for dark, alternative pop tracks and wow, did Polachek fill it back to the brim.
Kaitlin Keegan
An impeccable songwriter and flawless singer. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her hit a note wrong the many times I’ve watched her live and sang along to ‘Missed Call’ in the crowd along with my dearest friends. She is an incredible storyteller and I think that she has this unwavering talent to be relatable to a broad audience of ears. If you are sleeping on her music, I suggest that you be one of those cool people that listens to her before she blows up and her name is plastered everywhere.
‘Running from Something’ is out now. You can stream and download here.
To keep up with all things Kaeda Daze you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
