Singaporean born and London based alternative rock and visual kei artist, Chaidura is a chameleon. He can be sweet as K-Pop flavoured cotton candy, dramatic as the noh theatre and mysterious as a supernatural entity. His music is a multi dimensional hot pot of styles and genres from pop and jazz to hip-hop and black metal. We have sat down with Chaidura to discuss his upcoming EP “Liminal”, newest single “Heaven”, unreleased tracks and plans for the future. 
“Heaven” single artwork
It’s been a while since we spoke to you last. How have you been Chai? How is life treating you?
Chaidura: Hello! Hello! I’ve been very well, thank you. Lots of ups and downs this year, but overall I’m still grateful to be able to make music in London.
You recently launched your own Patreon. Tell us what is the difference between social media channels and a platform that runs a subscription service? Is one better than the other or maybe independent artists need both? What are your thoughts?
Chaidura: Different people want to be involved with Chaidura in different ways. Some are fine with just seeing updates on social media, some prefer coming to shows, and some simply want to know that I’m alive.
The way I see it, Patreon offers something for fans who are curious about going deeper. These are the folks who are interested in each and every aspect of my journey, not just the songs or regular updates. Patreon is how I cater to that. Previously, I did this through newsletters, but I knew that content probably didn’t appeal to everyone, which is why I decided to start a Patreon. It also gives me a more flexible way to share things — videos, songs, behind-the-scenes — things that don’t fit well on social media or email.
On a personal level, I feel genuinely happy knowing I have a group of fans who care about the journey and not just the final products (songs, music videos). Patreon is my way of connecting with them.
But social media will definitely remain the main channel — so that stays as usual.
Speaking of Patreon – tell us what fans can gain from joining your platform? How much is the monthly subscription?
Chaidura: So, if you join “Team Chai” (what I’m calling the Patreon members), you’ll have access to all things Chaidura. You’ll be part of the journey — I share things that inspire me, things that make me happy, things that make me sad. You’ll also get first access to songs, music videos, and live shows. Basically, you’ll get an exclusive window into Chaidura.
The monthly subscription is £4.50, and all funds go back into marketing for Chaidura.
“Liminal” era Chaidura
After a deserved break, you are back with a new project, new visuals and songs that you call “aggressivemotional”. Take us through the changes. What inspired your new sound and your new image?
Chaidura: I’m really excited about this. First, the sound. I tried so many different styles this year — both in official releases and in my SoundCloud demos. It was a journey of self-exploration. I constantly checked in with myself to see whether what I was creating was actually what I wanted to create.
After a lot of soul-searching, I realised those styles weren’t really me. They were fun at the moment, but I couldn’t bring myself to keep writing music I didn’t fully enjoy. Out of all the genres, metal and rock are still the ones that resonate with me the most. And within those, music that’s both aggressive and emotional feels like my true sound. I think I’m best suited for that — so please watch over me as I lean into it.
For visuals, I had fun with the lighter version of Chaidura, but I think fans preferred the more dramatic vibe we had in Temple Paradise. That version really defined Chaidura, and I’m committed to exploring more intense visuals. It helps me get into character and express that “Aggressive Emotional” mentality.
Your previous EP “Temple Paradise” was a concept release, dealing with themes of revenge, forgiveness and change. It revolved around a strange “relationship” between a human girl named Ellie and a supernatural, yokai-like being. The last track “Memory” portrayed Ellie finally breaking free and walking away, leaving the narrator of the main story in some sort of limbo. Your newest single “Heaven” almost feels like a continuation of the story line, with the spirit undergoing a transformation of his own. Are we onto something here?
Chaidura: That’s a pretty cool theory! I’d say the LIMINAL narrative is actually independent from the one in Temple Paradise. It’s almost like a fresh start. But you’re right in the sense that both LIMINAL and Temple Paradise share a similar core message: self-acceptance as a path to progress. That recurring message is what I stand for.
“Heaven” heralds the arrival of a new EP titled “Liminal”, ”a new darker, more grounded era” as you poetically call it. The upcoming extended play will have six chapters (or singles) that you plan to release until the summer of 2026. “Liminal” is a very curious name. Literal translation means “on the threshold”, but the term is linked to spirituality, psychology or religion. It is a state of transcendence from one state into another. Can you explain why you decided on this title?
Chaidura: Firstly — how cool is the word itself? It caught my eye the moment I came across it.
This year has been about accepting where I am, especially with how I see my music career. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m also not where I used to be. It’s about learning to be comfortable in the in-between. And that applies to everything in life — we’re always searching for more, always moving toward something, rarely content. You know the saying: it’s about the journey, not the destination? Our destinations keep changing, so it’s important to find peace in the moment. “Liminal” represents that path — that journey.
Liminal space is also a concept in architecture, where people spend short periods of time before moving on: like hotel rooms, airport lounges and music venues (when on tour). These spaces often have mono yellow palette, artificial lighting and flashes with high contrast – elements popularized by Stanley Kubrick in “The Shining” or David Lynch in “Twin Peaks”/”Inland Empire”. It was interesting to see the same aesthetic employed in the video to “Heaven”. We didn’t know you were a fan of paranormal dramas and supernatural horrors?
Chaidura: Yes, when it comes to art, I can’t seem to escape horror elements, so I’ve accepted that maybe it’s just what I’m meant to do. I love the surreal duality of liminal spaces — they’re peaceful and haunting at the same time, wide yet claustrophobic. It’s a good metaphor for where many of us are in life. I’d love to slowly bring more of that into my visuals as the songs unfold.
In the video to “Heaven” you are accompanied by other people. Could you introduce the band? Are they fans or actors or fellow musicians?
Chaidura: Yes, the video features three people. Sebastian Fernandez is my drummer, and I’m glad I finally got to feature him in a music video doing what he does best. I’m also proud to have Alexia Stevens and Jack Tilley as actors in the video. Alexia (Lexi) and Jack are actually long-time Chaidura fans!
When I started the LIMINAL project, I wanted to take my connection with fans to the next level — to the point where we’re collaborating together. I was blessed to have Lexi and Jack involved, and I think we made an amazing video.
With the “Liminal” EP being announced, is the Chaidura K-Pop phase truly over? We were loving the sarcastic, eccentric and very poppy side of you. And we were hoping that “I Don`t Wanna Cry For You” would get a proper release. The demo version you published was very unusual – a song about unrequited love!
Chaidura: Haha yes, that side of Chaidura is gone for now. It was a good run, but I feel I’m better suited for rock and metal. I’m still glad I experimented with that phase because it helped me understand myself more as a musician. “I Don’t Wanna Cry For You” will probably stay in the vault for now, but maybe I’ll revisit it someday — who knows?
From left: Alexia Stevens, Sebastian Fernandez, Chaidura and Jack Tilley on the set of “Heaven” music video
And to remain on the topic of demos for a bit longer. You also shared three heavy songs from your vault: “Ogre”, “DYNAMITE” (via Soundcloud) and “City of Fish” (via Patreon) which are a mix of rap, EDM and grindcore. Ever felt like you have half of a future project composed already?
Chaidura: Ah yes, those were some experimental tracks I was playing around with. I think there’s potential in them, but I’d probably release them under a different project in the future. We’ll see!
In September you published “Flower”, a song inspired by early 90s rock. Was it a stand alone single or will it be somehow linked to the upcoming EP?
Chaidura: “Flower” is a standalone single, and it marked the end of the “pop” phase. It’s separate from the LIMINAL project. Maybe VIP Let Down Package, John Whiskers, Cotton Candy, and Flower should be an EP!
Singapore has several official languages. Up to date you only recorded in English. Would you consider singing in French or Malay or maybe even in Japanese one of these days?
Chaidura: I doubt I’ll try another language, to be honest. I’m most comfortable in English — it’s the best way for me to express myself. But I might do more covers in different languages. I always love singing in other languages!
To wrap up this interview we would like to ask you about your plans for the end of the year. Are any gigs in the pipeline or any meetings with your fans? How will Chaidura celebrate the festive period?
Chaidura: So for the rest of the year, I’ll mainly be promoting “Heaven” as much as I can. I’ll be releasing the remaining four songs from the EP as singles between January and June 2026. After that, I’ll be doing my first UK tour! More news will come at the start of January next year. But I’ll probably do a livestream before the end of the year to celebrate the launch of “Heaven” and the festive season. Hope to see everyone there!
“Heaven” is out on 28th of November on all streaming services.
Follow Chaidura online:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/Chaidura
https://chaidura.myshopify.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chaiduraofficial
https://www.instagram.com/chaidura
https://www.tiktok.com/@chaidura
https://soundcloud.com/chaidura
https://www.youtube.com/@chaidura
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5G44MxEPEbE3JMDz1azv9N
https://discord.com/invite/xEAftePfdY
Rita and Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 