Zwischen Licht und Schatten, Klang und Stille – Claudia Kane bewegt sich in facettenreichen Zwischenräumen. Die Londoner Produzentin, Songwriterin, Sängerin, DJ und Labelgründerin erschafft musikalische Welten, die sich zwischen Verletzlichkeit und Stärke entfalten. Ihren Sound beschreibt sie selbst als „introspektiv, abstrakt, ehrlich, eigenwillig, melancholisch, aber hoffnungsvoll sowie dunkel und verspielt“. Mit ihrer aktuellen EP A New Way To Hurt, einer Zusammenarbeit mit Metallic Lover, erforscht sie Themen wie Transformation, Verlust und Erneuerung in einem hypnotischen und vielschichtigen Sound, der unter die Haut geht.
Foto: © Lola Wild
Im Interview spricht Claudia über ihren persönlichen Hintergrund, ihren kreativen Ansatz, über die Kraft von Verletzlichkeit und Transformation, die Bedeutung von Ausdruck und Storytelling sowie ihre neuesten musikalischen Projekte und Einflüsse.
Who is behind Claudia Kane? How would you describe yourself beyond your music?
I’d say I’m a bit eccentric and a blend of opposites – calm and chaos, light and deep, playful but also reserved. I’m a bit of a free spirit, odd, resilient, tough, passionate, and I’ve got a cerebral side too. I think and reflect on my own a lot, and I’m also someone who loves to laugh and make deep and meaningful connections with people.
When did music first become a part of your life? Was there a moment when you truly fell in love with sound?
I feel like it’s always been in my bones in some way and something I’ve always been obsessed with. I love how a song can soundtrack a moment in your life or blast you to another dimension you’ve never explored before. I’m not sure I can remember a certain moment, but some of my early memories of wanting to be a part of it would be sneaking into my older sister’s room while she was at school to use her CD player. I learned to sing by singing on top of my favourite artists at the time. Then I became intensely drawn to songwriting when I was a teenager, and then production after. Massive Attack became an integral part in me wanting to learn how to produce. I love the dark and cinematic depth to their music along with the emotional undercurrents.
If you had to describe your music without using musical terms, what would you say?
That’s a hard one. Introspective, abstract, honest, weird, melancholic, but hopeful, and dark and playful.
What does sound mean to you beyond music? How does it shape your memories or daily life?
I’d definitely say sound is one of my most heightened senses. It can be everything: confronting, comforting, nauseating, transcendent, nostalgic, thought-provoking, and addictive. I find it fascinating how closely sound links to memory and emotion.
Outside of music, what artistic influences have shaped your creative approach the most?
Visual art, films, poetry, live performance, comedy, meaningful conversations, and nightlife culture all influence me.
What themes are you currently drawn to explore in your work?
Lately I’ve been really drawn to exploring interpersonal relationships. When I first started writing, I avoided this because I thought it felt too obvious – but now I completely disagree. We’re social beings; unless you live in complete isolation, relationships (platonic or romantic) are inescapable. They shape so much of who we are, so it makes sense they show up in my work. I write a lot about connection, introspection, and retrospection. My approach is usually abstract, and I mix personal experiences with imagined stories. I love zooming in on a moment or a feeling and writing from that point of view. Sometimes I hear something or witness something small, and my mind turns it into a whole movie. I’m curious and experiential, and that becomes part of my creative process. Writing is therapeutic for me. If you don’t take time to self-reflect, you end up creating chaos in your own life. I’ve experienced things that I didn’t know where to put, and music became a place to give them shape – almost like giving those feelings a plinth to stand on. It’s an escape and a release, but also a fun game in a way – it’s a chance to follow where my subconscious wants to go, and then piece it all together. I love that part of the process, because when the song is finished, I get to experience it as a listener as much as the creator.
You recently released an EP with Metallic Lover. How did this collaboration come about?
We’ve known each other for years – we first met at the London techno party Inferno about seven years ago and instantly clicked over the music we loved. We’ve been making music together on and off ever since and are really good friends, but these two EPs we’ve created have felt like the perfect moment for both of us.
What similarities and contrasts define your creative chemistry, and how do they shape your shared sound?
We have a lot of similarities in our process and in how we approach making music. We share the same taste and sensibilities, so creatively we’re usually on the same wavelength. The differences show up more in our roles. For our collab releases, Metallic Lover is the producer and creates the artwork, and I’m the songwriter and vocalist. We care a lot about detail, meaning, and building a world around the music, and that shared intention really shapes our sound.
What emotions or stories were you exploring through this EP?
In A New Way To Hurt EP. There are a lot of different emotions and stories running through it, but for me it feels like the soundtrack to that moment where the end and the beginning blur into each other. There’s regret, grief, longing, shame, and letting go – but also this quiet sense of hope and curiosity about what comes next. It’s that space where everything feels like it’s falling apart and falling into place at the same time. In a way, it mirrors the energy of the Death card in tarot – transformation, release, renewal. I didn’t consciously set out to write around that theme, and the lyrics aren’t literal experiences of mine, but the emotional landscape behind them is very real. Those feelings drove the abstract stories and imagined scenes I created. I’ve lived through that threshold moment many times, so has Joseph – so it naturally shaped the world of the EP.
How would you describe the emotional journey you aim to create through your DJ sets?
My sets are industrial, cinematic, warm, dark, sparkly, and a little otherworldly – I never want the room to feel too serious; it should feel like stepping into a world where anything goes.
How much do you prepare your DJ sets versus letting the moment and crowd guide you?
I usually prepare folders with selects, but I like to stay flexible on the night and dip into whatever feels right. I used to plan things in a much more detailed way for sure, and if I’m being recorded, I’ll often prepare a more structured set list – but most of the time I prefer to feel into the space, read the room, take a couple of risks and see where it goes.
Foto: © Lola Wild
What makes performing in London’s underground venues particularly meaningful for you?
It’s the sense of community that makes it special. In a city this big, it’s easy to feel lost, but the underground scene creates these pockets of connection where people can dance, express themselves, experiment with who they are, and be who they are – openly, unapologetically, and safely. That feels especially important, and even political. It’s integral that these environments exist and I love being a part of it. I love seeing familiar faces, the creativity in how people dress, and the energy in the room. Movement feels essential to me, and these spaces give you permission to just be in your body. And of course, the music is always incredible!
You juggle multiple roles: You are a producer, songwriter, vocalist, and DJ, and you also founded the Villainess record label. How do you balance these different roles creatively and mentally?
I just do my best! I don’t have many hobbies outside of music, which probably helps. I’ve been making music in some way for about 15 years, so a lot of these roles developed organically just from being obsessed and wanting to learn every part of the process. At the core of everything I do is expression and storytelling – whether it’s lyric writing, sound design, performing, or releasing music. I love moving between different creative roles because they feed into each other. The ideas spill into lyrics, then into production, then into how I perform it and how it gets released. I also get a lot of inspiration from my community, which keeps me going. I’ve never been able to stick to just one thing forever – exploring different facets is part of the fun.
Beyond music, what brings you a sense of inner peace? How do you recharge and stay inspired?
I get a lot of peace from walking – it’s genuinely my favourite thing. Especially when I escape the busy parts of London for somewhere greener. I also recharge by journaling, meditating, seeing exhibitions, and being with my support network.
What’s next for you – and what are you most excited about in the near future?
I’m really excited to release more music and videos, and to keep developing a full live show experience. I also want to grow the world around what I make, and I’m looking forward to deepening the connections I already have and making new ones in my community. I’m also really drawn to working in film, I’d love to score scenes or get my music placed in soundtracks, and that’s definitely something I want to explore more.
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