A.B.Kei: the Vietnamese artist painting music with sound

Across the new landscape of Asian independent music, a growing number of artists are blurring the boundaries between creative disciplines.

One of them is A.B.Kei, a Vietnamese independent artist whose work exists between music and visual art. Besides writing and producing songs, he is also a painter and illustrator, and this visual thinking deeply shapes the way he builds his sonic universe.

For A.B.Kei, creating a song works much like painting: layering textures, emotions, and ideas until an atmosphere emerges.

His sound blends experimental pop with alternative influences, combining expressive lyricism, distinctive vocal tones, and unconventional production choices. Rather than offering immediate answers, his music invites listeners to step into a world.

In this interview for CZMOS Magazine, A.B.Kei reflects on honesty in songwriting, the role of the internet in independent music scenes, and the emotional universe behind his work.

Interview with CZMOS

Music often allows artists to express things they cannot say in everyday life. What is something music allowed you to say that you were not able to say in real life?

Music lets me be honest in ways that everyday conversation doesn’t always allow. In real life we often filter ourselves or try to stay composed. But when I write a song, I can express the parts of me that are more conflicted, darker, or uncertain. Some emotions are difficult to explain directly to people, but through sound and lyrics they become clearer. Music became a space where I could confront those parts of myself instead of hiding them.

When someone listens to your music for the first time, what do you hope they feel?

I hope they feel curiosity first. My music isn’t always meant to give immediate answers, sometimes it’s more like entering a space or a mood. If someone listens and feels something unfamiliar but intriguing, that’s perfect to me. Ideally they feel like they’ve stepped into a small world that invites them to stay and explore, like entering an art gallery.

Do you think the internet changed the way independent artists can find their audience today?

Definitely. Without the internet it would be much harder for artists who make unconventional music to find their audience. Online platforms allow small communities to form around very specific sounds and aesthetics. Even if the audience is not huge, the connection feels very real because those listeners genuinely understand what you’re trying to do.

How would you describe the world behind your music?

The world behind my music feels a bit like a colorful dream that’s slightly unstable. There’s beauty in it, but also tension and darkness. I’m very interested in contrasts, soft melodies against harsh sounds, vulnerability mixed with intensity.

Both visually and sonically I try to create a space that feels emotional, cinematic, and sometimes surreal.

If someone wanted to understand you as an artist through one song, which track would you suggest?

 If I had to choose one song, I would probably say that song hasn’t been released yet. I don’t think a single track can fully capture an artist, it usually takes a larger body of work, like an EP or an album, to reveal that completely.

That said, one song that reflects a lot about who I am is “Bite My Tongue.” It carries pieces of my life, my personality, and the way I see the world. The track balances vulnerability with experimentation in the sound design and production, which is something I’m always drawn to in my music.