Image via KILL Carter & YNG Martyr //

KILL Carter discusses the making of his latest collab with YNG Martyr, ‘In & Out’…

Following on from the success of their previous collab ‘Excuse Me’ (which racked up more than 1 million streams on Spotify alone), Chinese Australian artist KILL Carter and Canberra-based hip hop sensation YNG Martyr recently linked up again to drop a fiery follow-up, ‘In & Out.’

Pairing intricate flows with a gritty instrumental, ‘In & Out’ is about the pair’s experiences of defying the odds to pursue music (both leaving behind corporate careers in government and architecture) and flying in the face of critics and self-doubt.

The track comes with a gripping black and white video clip filmed on top of a Boeing 767 and an army tank, co-directed and produced by the duo, and edited by Melbourne directors Brayden Carter and Nick Rae.

For anyone lucky enough to be on the Gold Coast, you can catch the pair at Rhyme Festival on June 17, head here for tickets. In the meantime, catch our chat with KILL Carter below.

‘In & Out’ is out now on all platforms, grab your copy here.

How did you and YNG Martyr link up for the collab on ‘In & Out’? Spill the tea on how this musical magic came to be!

KILL Carter: Martyr and I share all of our new music for feedback and sometimes ghostwrite for each other at times. I made the hook & the verse to ‘In & Out’ during December of 2021 (it’s been a while I know) and I sent it through to him to check out as we always do. He happened to be inspired in the moment and sent me his verse back in less than an hour. His ability to freestyle and write quick yet quality verses is pretty incredible & I hope more people get to witness it in the future in person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8YmmvUD_qI&ab_channel=YNGMartyr

‘In & Out’ is a banger meant for the live audience. Can you share the wildest vibes you’ve experienced while performing this track in front of a hyped-up crowd?

I’ve played the song LIVE so many times before the release. When I did my headline show at the Kindred Studio in Melbourne back in OCT 2022 I was playing with my band (Jesse Lovery, Nic Courtney, Jarryd Chircop) and I remember jumping up onto the bar which was half a level up from the crowd and performing the song from up there. Otherwise, playing it at Spilt Milk Gold Coast with Martyr was also quite memorable because that was probably the biggest crowd we’ve seen so far. Both very inspiring moments for my career.

The lyrics of ‘In & Out’ are raw and full of wordplay, reflecting your journeys of defying odds and chasing creative dreams. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome getting to where you’re at now?

Honestly, the biggest challenge for me & perhaps all of us regardless of what paths we choose to take would be the voices in our own heads / the intrusive thoughts of doubt that creep in. For me, it was all to do with building a good relationship with myself and learning to be patient. It was pretty difficult for me to adjust my mindset as I went from a graduate architect doing a 9-5 to a full-time musician releasing songs and videos for the first time, it felt like the whole world was judging me as I remember my family and friends at the time all looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. But fortunately, I had enough passion to cut through the noise, and continue the pursuit over the last few years. I’ve definitely learnt a lot about myself in that time and built a strong foundation of self-belief and discipline which has been quite rewarding.

The music video for ‘In & Out’ is next level with visuals on a Boeing 767 and on top of a tank! How did you and YNG Martyr come up with such epic concepts and what was it like filming those scenes?

Martyr and I sat in my studio with Brayden Carter & Nicke Rae who were the director & editors and we were just throwing ideas around. Initially, the video was going to be a full storytelling piece about an apocalypse that breaks out where Martyr is like a giant Godzilla character but we ended up scrapping that idea and moved on to the tank & plane. I think the main goal was just to do something a bit out of the box and chaotic to match the energy of the music, but to our surprise getting a tank & plane was easier than we imagined. The experience of filming however was pretty terrible, we shot for 2 full days under blazing sun in these giant metal boxes (tank & plane) and the heat was pretty unbearable for everyone involved. We had to take a lot of breaks but the result is definitely worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTeJHz3VBHw&ab_channel=KILLCarter

From Triple J Unearthed to MTV to Rage, you’ve gained some major support in the industry! How has this recognition fueled your artistic journey and pushed you to new heights?

I think any sort of industry validation can fuel an artist’s confidence and I’m definitely excited to continue pushing boundaries with my music. With that being said, I appreciate the opportunity to express myself here on LWA as well, thank you guys.

As a Chinese Australian artist, your unique cultural background shines through in your music. How has your heritage influenced your artistic expression and set you apart from the crowd?

Although I don’t make music specifically for a culture, I have realised over the years that in all the rooms/studios/stages/sessions I’ve been in, I’m often the only Asian person there. I understand that every time i step on a stage, not only do I represent myself, I also represent others that look like me so I always try to give it my all. There’s nothing I love more than seeing other Asian faces in the crowd and knowing that I’ve inspired others from my background to pursue creative dreams, because in most cases, we are not encouraged to go into the creative field. There are so many other Asian creatives in Australia who are incredible such as Kevin Bar/Moonboy (film), Tommy Gunn (music) and Leon Zhang (contemporary art) just to name a few that I know. I think we Asian creatives deserve more shine in the industry and I’m blessed to be a part of the movement.

You and YNG Martyr tore up the festival scene in 2022, from Spilt Milk to Falls. How have you found the opportunity to perform to large groups of people who have necessarily heard your music before, compared to your own shows?

It’s been an incredibly inspiring experience so far. For me, being on stage is the best part of the job and what better way to do it than to do it with my best friends? The crowd response to ‘In & Out’ has been amazing every time we’ve performed it, and I’m really excited to put out more new music that I’ve played at those festivals too. Although there is something special about performing to my fans and hearing them chant and sing all my words back to me. Regardless of a few hundred or thousands of people, that feeling for me is the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lgTLqIbHZQ&ab_channel=KILLCarter

Share some juicy deets about the most epic moments from your festival performances in 2022! Any wild stories or unforgettable memories?

There’s been too many, but the big one for me would be playing Falls in Melbourne where I grew up. I’ve been to so many festivals at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and finally being able to perform there on NYE was a full-circle moment for me. Additionally would be all the great new relationships I’ve built with other artists who I’ve met backstage. The conversations & memories will stay with me for a lifetime.

What else is coming up for you this year?

This year I’m focused on putting out the best music possible for my fans and stepping up KILL Carter as a brand both sonically and visually. My next single is scheduled for May and you can expect a new project on the way. I’ll also be playing in different cities once again later in the year and I can’t wait to see you all.