Interview: Getting to Know Klavium (Written)
Klavium, the only Trinidadian Metal duo from the Caribbean, fuse their roots with classic thrash, black, death and heavy metal sounds. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
Thank you for having us! We are brothers, Kahdil (vocals/guitar) and Dylan (drums) of Klavium, the only Trinidadian Metal duo from the Caribbean. We were introduced to metal very young, with music from Metallica, Rammstein, Slayer and Pantera, playing along with tennis racquets, pots and pans. It wasn’t until we were teenagers that we began writing songs and making music with instruments in our parents’ tattoo shop. Over the years, we worked on different metal projects and in 2016 Klavium was created.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
A fusion of classic thrash, black, death and heavy metal combined with our Caribbean and Trinidadian roots, rhythms and culture.
3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
A little of everything. We are working on new material for some future releases. You can expect a lot from us in the near future, in terms of video releases and local live performances. We’re constantly planning our next steps.
4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?
Being from an island where metal is not the norm, having signed a management partnership with EMG is a big accomplishment. There’s a lot to be excited about, being the first Trinidadian band to reach this milestone. Everything that comes next is exciting to look forward to, for us and the Caribbean, we’re in uncharted territory.
5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.
Years of constant grinding and planning, nearly 20 years. The signing with EMG, means our hard work is paying off, and keeps us inspired to continue pushing Caribbean metal globally. It means our efforts can create change and there is still much more to be done.
6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?
Dylan: Making music is freeing and being free is very good for mental health.
Kahdil: Playing and creating music is a way I destress, it allows me to focus on what is important by filtering through the noise.
7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?
Being from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean is a challenge itself, we do not have the resources readily available to us to achieve the quality of sound and production as other bands do on the global stage. From finding a practice space, a recording studio, with the capabilities of recording metal music, and reaching out of the Caribbean, it’s all been challenging. Making music, you must have dedication and persistence, that’s the only way to overcome these challenges.
8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?
Having a team behind us has been a big help. With the evolution of social media, new ones coming out constantly, content creation and managing them, takes a lot of time. Not having the production materials to create the content we would like to put out makes it more difficult at times. Klavium doesn’t measure success with likes and follows, though it is necessary with social media, for Kalvium it’s based on achievement and growth.
9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?
Having a camera in your face will always be weird, but with the correct people around, it can sometimes be fun and fulfilling once we achieve the desired outcome.
10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?
To be part of Klavium’s journey people can support by reaching out to us, and adding our merch to their Metal collections. Enjoy and share our music with their friends and families, add our music to their playlists, and come out to our live shows.
11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?
Klavium is a full time job, when we get to, we like hitting the beach, playing and watching sports, eating the best food in the world, spending time and liming (hanging out) with family and friends. Just being in nature and vibing helps keep us grounded.
12. Where can people find you?
People can find us @klavium on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify and all digital download and streaming platforms worldwide. Follow and Stay Connected with Klavium on Social media:
