Diandra Interviews Katzù Oso: Bedroom Pop Love Songs

Walking away from my Katzù Oso interview, I felt like I had walked away from a friend. He is instantly kind and wide-eyed in a world that, everyday, can feel narrower. As we discuss what is “bedroom-pop,” both of us realized its a big name for a simple act: Doing It Yourself. Nowadays, so many artists are turning their homes into studios and their love lives into songs, and Katzù Oso is a perfect example of how to do both and make it a hit. 

Diandra: Do you consider yourself “bedroom pop?”

Katzù Oso: Spotify grouped us that way. I’ll take it. I’m not going to hate on it. I love all the artists on it, and I remember wanting to be on it. A majority of the artists on that list, their music comes from a genuine place because they don’t have labels. It is just them. 
Katzù Oso- Secuestro Al Corazón (Lyric Video)

Diandra: Any Music Recommendations?

Katzù Oso: Honeywhip. Listen to him! I love his work, and he has 3 songs out there. 

Diandra: I recommend to you Shiloh Dynasty! Amazing! 

Katzù Oso: Will check it out! 

Diandra: Do you feel that the music world is changing like, more artists without labels? 

Katzù Oso: Totally! We have the ultimate tool in our hands: our phones. We don’t need a label. We could do it on our own, and a lot of artists are realizing that. 

Diandra: You love Tame Impala. You love Lonerism, I love Currents. We’ll discuss later. You think you’ll ever go that route of experimentation.

Katzù Oso: I fell in love with Lonerism in highschool. I think I will definitely be experimenting, and I am growing. When Kevin Parker wrote Lonerism, he got better equipment and he was able to really experiment. So, this pandemic has given me the time to explore and, finally, look into some old gear.

Katzù Oso – In Too Deep (Lyric Video)

Diandra: Is the music the pandemic inspiring sad? 

Katzù Oso: I want it to happy. When I write music, I have to jam it out in my room. 

Diandra: What are the sides of yourself you feel your music brings out?  

Katzù Oso: I am a hopeless romantic, and I tried to tie that into music. I am a very caring, emotional guy. Then, there is this ambitious side that wants to get things done. 

Diandra: I heard that Narcos inspired a song from you? 

Katzù Oso: I love Diego Luna. I love his films, and when I realized he was on that show, I had to watch. I had writer’s block, and I thought it would be funny to write a song where a girl kidnaps me, and then I fall in love with her and she rips the blindfolds off. At first, I was like, “What if I get called out for this?” But this is a song about getting my heart kidnapped. Some blogs kept on saying is it was about Narcos, but it was Narcos- inspired like, a girl kidnapping my heart. 

Diandra: Only to reveal that she is Diego Luna.

Katzù Oso laughs

Diandra: That was the alternate ending of the song that nobody knows. It was Diego Luna the whole time. (as he laughs) But seriously, have you every thought of soundtracking films? 

Katzù Oso: I have always wanted to score indie love films. I don’t know if you have ever seen Submarine. The lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys does the whole soundtrack for it. 

Katzù Oso – Give It Up to You

Diandra: Where do you get your inspiration? 

Katzù Oso: Every single song I have out is, literally, a story about my life or my friend’s life. When I am looking for inspiration, I try to compose my life into these little stories/ songs. 

I wrote “honeydew’ after my best friend’s relationship, and he was like, “Dude, you are putting my whole life out there!” (he laughs) We are fine. 

Diandra: Has music taught you anything about love?

Katzù Oso: No, I feel like I already found love. At this point, I am writing songs about how I am in love and life with my girlfriend. 

Diandra: Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind is my fave, indie love story. 

Katzù Oso: That is a good one. 

Katzù Oso – kiss u better (Official Music Video)

Diandra; Your music does feel like an indie film like, a movie that is still being made.

Katzù Oso: I try to put myself in those shoes like, I am creating a film or a story through my song. 

Diandra: Do you do anything romantic for her? 

Katzù Oso:  I am a very romantic guy so I try to do things for her everyday. I love everything about my girlfriend. I tell her every day. She had no idea I made music when I met her. I was still working retail when I met her, and I was like, “I have to talk to her!” She thought I was a DJ, and I was like “No, I write pop song.” I wrote song about the day I met her:  “Retail Therapy. “ All my favorite songs are about being in love with her. 

Diandra; Here I am shopping at the final sale section and you are finding love. Welp! 

Katzù Oso laughs

Diandra: Anything you really loved about your childhood?

Katzù Oso: Disney Channel movies come to mind. That is like really always in my head. I want to do a video of that same style. 
Katzù Oso on Audiotree Live (Full Session)

Diandra: Oh! Life Size Me! 

Katzù Oso: Yeah! 

Diandra: What has been your favorite memory of your journey to becoming an artist? 

Katzù Oso: I had so many moments. I was an opener for Tyler The Creator in 2017, and it was like WTF moment for me. 

Diandra: Do you think there is enough unity between artists? 

Katzù Oso: I feel like that there is, but I also feel like you notice those that are not in it for the music. You feel the ones that are competing and just in it for money. It is disappointing. 

Diandra: How do you clear away that negativity? 

Katzù Oso:  When I was coming up, I was feeling like, “Maybe, I am not good enough for this. Maybe, I should become a sociology professor.” I was analyzing everything. Not giving up and caring what people say really does help you overcome the bad part. When you are writing, don’t focus on the outside: just focus on the moment. 

Diandra: That is a pretty good thing to be though: a sociology professor! My back-up plan is trying to get tenure at Panera Bread, if that’s possible.

Katzù Oso: (He laughs!! I got my AA in sociology. I was going to transfer to Cal State, but then my music started taking off and I took the risk. I had great professors and took some great courses. I took courses on racism and had professor that knew how to make us feel America’s history. I feel very fortunate that we are living in a time where people are speaking up. We need to change everything to make this world better.
Sophie

Diandra: Have you experienced racism? 

Katzù Oso: I feel like, subconsciously, it is there. A lot of the bigger acts are white. I do feel, like now, Latinos have more platforms to get our music out there. 

Diandra: Also, did your parents die when you left school? 

Katzù Oso: They did, honestly! My dad would ask me every day about school, and my mom, eventually, saw the response I was getting and she saw this could be something.

Diandra; Like, it makes sense because if you become the biggest bedroom pop artist, you can buy her a mansion, but even if you become the biggest, sociology professor, at best, you can get her in the faculty buffet. 

(Katzù Oso dies laughing) 
Honeydew

Diandra: Ultimately, are you feeling the music  buzz around you? 

Katzù Oso: Um… he laughs… yeah… I mean, I see it, and I try not to let it in so gets in my head. I have had a few friends get successful and I have seen how they let it get into their head and start treating people differently. I don’t want an ego. I feel like it messes with the creative process. I don’t want to change who I am or my music. I feel like, now, that I have better gear, I am able to make the sound that I want. I try not to stick to one sound, but I want the listener to know it is still Katzù. 

For More Information On Katzù Oso Click Here.