BEHIND THE SOUND: KRISTIAN HAMILTON
From rich, sensory storytelling to his vast knowledge and influences in music and beyond, Kristian Hamilton is an artist whose vision comes through in every line he sings.
Whether conjuring late-night scenes through his lyricism, or drawing from genres like jazz fusion, deep house, footwork, R&B, soundtracks, and hip-hop, his creative process is diverse, intuitive, and deeply personal.
We sat down with Kristian to discuss ‘for u’, the closing track of ‘We Move as One’ created with Beringei, to explore his inspirations and why he believes the creative magic happens when you start in the dark.
Tell us about your song on the compilation.
When I first heard the instrumental for ‘for u’ from Beringei, it took me straight to a scene—walls dripping with rain, the air thick with rose and patchouli, with a little spice up in tha mix. That scent led me to this shawty who just knew what time I was on, haha.
She was hyper-feminine,with that glowing dewy skin and eyes (like, dem Erykah Badu eyes, ya know?)—the kind of eyes that make you surrender. As the track developed, I sent Beringei the demo, and he told me he made the song to soundtrack to those exact moment. It was like “musical telepathy” or some spiritual connection, for real.
What sounds, genres, and artists do you draw inspiration from normally in your creative process?
My inspiration is vast—sometimes it hits randomly. I draw from genres like Jazz fusion, R&B (from the early 2000s and later), soundtracks, field recordings, instrumentals, deep house/techno, footwork, hip-hop (chopped n' screwed, boom bap)—the list goes on, haha. It really depends on my mood.
But there are a few mentors who laid the foundation for me. To sum it up: Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. Stevie is a genius when it comes to creating vivid imagery with his voice, melodies, and lyrics. He paints pictures in your mind. Then there’s Chaka, who can transform any track with insane agility and energy. It’s like she’s always singing from a deep, centered, spiritual place, and her control is unmatched!These two—among others—are key to how I approach music today.
Do you have a fixed way of creating music? Where do you normally start an idea form?
I used to have a “thee formula,” but that’s always changing. I work with many different producers who each bring their own flavor, and that constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, a.k.a my “formula”,which is a good thing.
But, one thing that’s always there: every track I work on starts with a foundation. Usually, that’s either a beat or a melody I hum to myself. Once that’s locked in, I build everything around it.
Any words of wisdom for anyone wanting to realise a creative project?
Yeah, for sure — just start, have fun with it, and then let it go! Start in the dark, and trust me, the light will follow. That’s where the magic happens. In the dark, you’ve got the space to really develop your own sound (which is rare deeez days). Once you trust your sound and believe in it, the light will guide you. Facts.
Do you have any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for?
I can’t speak too much on it yet, but yeah—big things are coming! I’m cooking up something real special. I’ll tell you this though: projects will be dropping late fall and through 2026! Stay tuned.
What album or EP will you likely have on repeat for the rest of the summer?
Aside from this compilation, and my usual ear for difference, one that’s definitely staying on repeat is J Dilla’s Welcome 2 Detroit (The 20th Anniversary Edition). That album will be on repeat till life end I’m always hearing something new!
Any books, movies, or series you’re currently watching and would recommend, why?
I’ve been watching Samsara, a film by Ron Fricke. It’s a powerful visual journey that speaks a universal language. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly, but ultimately reminds us how interconnected we all are. It’s open to interpretation, so it’s bound to resonate with anyone who watches it,fr.
As for books, I’m revisiting The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. These two books are deep in truths and offer real freedom, in my opinion. Definitely recommend them if you’re trying to elevate your mind.
Where can people follow you?
You can catch me on Instagram! That's where I be!!
