Pigeon Opinion Featuring an Interview with The K.I.J Experience

"Life (You saved me)" by The K.I.J Experience is a compelling track that echoes the musical influences of the late 1960s. With a unique take on baroque pop, this song follows the success of the artist's previous hit, "Best Friend". As the latest addition to The K.I.J Experience's musical journey, "Life (You saved me)" promises three minutes of soul-stirring melodies that transport listeners to a bygone era.

(^)> PIGEON OPINION The K.I.J Experience’s Life (You Saved Me) is a baroque-pop single blending 1960s-inspired melodies with wah-wah guitars, Clavinet, horns, and intricate production.

Interview with The K.I.J Experience

(^)> Life (You Saved Me) channels the spirit of late 1960s baroque pop. What drew you to that era as inspiration for this track?

I’m a massive fan of the music and artists of that era. The Beatles, The Kinks, Small Faces, and The Zombies have all influenced my musical direction. For me, the songs & albums recorded during this period, 1966 - 1969, were genuinely warm, soulful,l and full of real emotion. I must also add David Axelrod to the list of influences, as his work on The Electric Prunes LP ‘Release of an Oath’ is nothing short of amazing.

(^)> The song features Clavinet, wah-wah guitars, trumpets, and horns. How do you decide which vintage textures to layer into your songs?

When I’m in pre-production mode, I’m thinking about the song structure, instrumentation, melodies, phrasing, and riffs. I do tend to jam an idea/song quite a bit until I find the sound(s) I’m looking for. To be honest, inspiration has a lot to do with it.

(^)> You’ve said your music explores love, death, escapism, and everything in between. How do those themes shape the mood of Life (You Saved Me)?

Originally, I had a lyric & melody line for the 1st verse, ‘Do you want to be with me forever’, and then the chorus ‘Life it’s not what I thought it would be’. The themes explored in the song relate to the feeling of isolation, loneliness, and depression until that one person enters your life, changes it for the good, and saves you from yourself.

(^)> Even though this is a solo project, the sound feels like a full band. How do you achieve that richness while writing and producing alone?

I spend a lot of time working chords, melodies, phrases, and riffs into a song. I then layer vocals, instruments, and percussion throughout the song until I get the biggest sound I can possibly get. I do listen to edits for further inspiration. When in the mix, I always ensure I use the right effect for each instrument I’m using.

(^)> Recording at the Music Room across late 2025 and early 2026, what was the process like for capturing such intricate layers?

As I have the luxury of being able to work on projects every day, the process for completing ‘Life’ was pretty much the same as my previous song releases. Basically, I immerse myself in the project for a couple of weeks. I eat, work, and sleep with the project until I feel it’s finished. I compare the process to being a sculptor. I build the sound and then take away the bits I no longer need (or fit). Every project receives the same level of intensity, energy, and emotion.

(^)>You blend baroque pop with touches of acid and garage rock. How do you balance those influences without losing the emotional core of the song?

The balance of the overall sound comes to me when I’m mixing the song. I try to ensure no instrument or sound is overpowering the mix. I then produce several mixes for playback and then select my favourite to listen to until I’m happy for it to be listened to by YOU!!!.

(^)> Your previous hit, Best Friend, had a strong reception. Did that success influence the way you approached this new track?

From a promotional perspective, it did. ‘Best Friend’ was initially a song that came out of a one-man jam session and wasn’t in the scheduling plan whatsoever. However, when the promotional work started in late December, I had a lightbulb moment. Great songs + great promotional work = more listeners and more visibility. Life (You saved me) is my 2nd attempt at gaining more followers, listeners, and visibility through my musical journey.

(^)> With such detailed instrumentation, do you approach the studio like composing a painting, or more like a traditional songwriting process?

I made the sculptor analogy in an earlier answer. You could also say it’s also like making a film with edits and renders. I start off in pre-production mode with a song idea, which I then flesh out in the studio by building & layering instrumentation and vocals. I just enjoy the flow of the process. Inspiration plays its part in everything I produce.

(^)> For listeners hearing The K.I.J Experience for the first time, what feeling or atmosphere do you hope Life (You Saved Me) conveys?

I hope the listener hears and feels the song’s emotion and connects with it. The song is essentially about falling in love, experiencing grief, and hope. We all share these behaviours as people, regardless of status. I want the listener(s) to feel how I feel and celebrate that one person in their life who has saved them from themselves, because everyone has one.

(^)> Finally, looking forward, how do you see your sound evolving while still honouring these 60s pop influences?

If you’ve listened to my back catalogue on Bandcamp or streaming, then you’ll know I love Ska, Soul, Funk, 80s electro, and so many more genres of music. I have so many musical influences to play with; who knows what my next song will sound like? What I do know is it’ll be an experience.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out The K.I.J Experience on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist