A Chat with Carδamo (15.09.23)
Exploring various sounds within a journey of self-discovery, singer-songwriter Carδamo is a shimmering light connecting listeners through their unique Carδamo style. We speak with the vibrant pop-punk artist about their new album ANDROGENISE, past passions, future plans and more.
OSR: How did Carδamo come about? Why did you choose a career in music?
Carδamo: When I was 6 or 7 years old I picked up a violin for the first time. Years later I found music production at school and then an undergrad and postgrad later, I guess it just made sense!
Jokes aside, I have always been good at 2 things naturally, music and languages. Languages are a lot more work and music gives me an excuse to perform and be the centre of attention, so that one works a bit better for me! And I frequently include other languages in my writing so it has worked out quite nicely!
Carδamo specifically came about as I discovered myself, my sexuality and my gender. Exploring queerness and queer music. Understanding what it means to be inherently “taboo” just by existing makes me feel indignant to society, so I take that feeling and flip it on its head. I celebrate taboo, and I unapologetically display my queerness.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Carδamo: Music means everything and nothing! It is just fun, exploration and silliness. But it is also a set of ideologies, an exercise in mathematics, sociology and often spiritualism. Music is, to me, everything. It is my passion, so I can take it as deep as I want to, as can you, with any passion.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Carδamo: Emotions, experiences, society, life, spirituality, religion, sex, consciousness, friends, everything!
OSR: You recently released your album ANDROGENISE. What can you tell us about the album?
Carδamo: The album is a journey of self-expression and an excuse for me to draw people into the madness that is my artistry. I play with boundaries, genres and the idea of “music” itself. I playfully take the micky out of myself while also creating weirdly beautiful tracks inspired by all manner of things. My ex actually told me he always felt so emotionally connected to one of the “interludes” on the album which is just a soliloquy about loving frogs.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Carδamo: I hope they find their own meaning and understand that life is to be lived. Exploration and freedom to express. Just feeling init mannnn. Also, I hope they say, “Wow Cardi is really cool I should buy all their music”.
OSR: Do you think ANDROGENISE is a good representation of your sound and personality at the moment?
Carδamo: Yes certainly, it is essentially a collection of diary entries from the last couple of years, which have been incredibly difficult. Dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction while discovering myself, and coming to grips with mental health diagnoses and neurodivergence led to an album of bangers that is built on the foundation of my being and my struggle.
OSR: What makes you unique as an artist?
Carδamo: Everyone is unique. None of you reading this are me. I am unique just by default; as are you. If you are asking what makes me stand out, probably how simultaneously silly and sexy I am. Like, contradiction is my whole spiel. Maximalism vs. Minimalism; hot vs. ugly; etc. just challenging the commonly accepted binary in society. Black and white is boring, I’d rather be grey.
OSR: Random questions: What was a past passion that you can’t believe you were so passionate about?
Carδamo: Probably Match Attax. I collected football cards so hard 😆
OSR: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Carδamo: Either dead, psych ward or on stage in front of some hipsters.
OSR: What future plans do you have as Carδamo?
Carδamo: KEEP GOING. NEVER GIVE UP. CONTINUE!
I’m going to take some time to do some less structured writing, so remixes, covers, edits, singles here and there, and lots of collaboration. I am also getting back into live performance! Be Trans. Do Song – October 16th @ The Glory.
Many thanks to Carδamo for speaking with us. Find out more about Carδamo on their official website, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
