Seattleite: Do you write the lyrics for your songs? How long have you been writing songs and where do you draw inspiration from?

BAYNK: Yes, for the most part. Sometimes I’ll bring in friends to help. When I’m working with other vocalists, I’ll usually let them take the lead. It took me a long time to be confident in my ability and the things I had to say but it’s all a learning process. I’ve been producing music for around five years and writing lyrics for two or three years. I take inspiration from anything but most often situations that I myself have been in or people close to me have.

S: What can we expect from your new EP being released this spring?

BAYNK: It’s kind of a closure piece for the first EP, similar production trends and lyrical ideas tended more towards finding love & companionship. Both records came from the initial rush of excitement of discovering what music production was and only recently discovering songwriting. I really didn’t know anything about either beforehand and was on track to be a chemical engineer which would have been dismal.

S: What was it like to be the opener for Hayden James and San Holo? How did you get connected with them?

BAYNK: It was fantastic. I loved both experiences and they are genuinely wonderful people. My booking agent organized both of them. I guess they found my music agreeable enough to take me on tour with them.

S: How do you decide who to collaborate with? For instance Shallou in “Come Home” or GLADES in “Off Limits”?

BAYNK: I really loved Doubt (Summer Edit) & Heights by Shallou at the time and I think I told my manager that in passing so he tee’d a session up. Glades I found scrolling through similar artists on Spotify but I had also heard the lead singer Karina on the radio in Australia and was very taken aback by her vocal tone and skill.

S: What are you most looking forward to about your North American headline tour that kicked off a couple weeks ago? Is there anything you’re nervous about?

BAYNK: Being on stage and connecting with people that enjoy my music really is quite special however cliche that may sound. I still get nervous before I play but generally for the whole appearance of the show and not for my own sake. I really do just want people to have an amazing time and for that to happen the lights, sound, production etc etc all need to work in harmony so I more just worry about that and hope everything will pan out.

S: What do you miss most when you’re away from home? 

I miss being rooted in one place. Being out on the road is a blast but once you get past the 3 week mark it starts getting exhausting and I almost always get sick. I miss my friends and loved ones of course just like anyone would, I think the positives of touring still outweigh the negatives but it’s not all  sunshine and daisies.

S: Where is home base? 

BAYNK: Los Angeles is home currently.

S: We watched the BAYNK X NIKE video, “Find You” and it’s really playful and fun. What was it like to shoot that? How did Nike approach you for this collaboration?

BAYNK: It was good fun. I had the concept for a while and was looking for somewhere to apply it and the combination just worked perfectly. I didn’t know any film / commercial people in Auckland so I just asked all my friends to come help shoot it and researched how to achieve all the looks I wanted. Love the finished product. Nike was running a series of collaborations with NZ’d youngest movers & shakers and I was one of the people they chose.