Getting to Know… KAZARAN | Interview

In the 516^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, Caiden Crafts gives us the inside scoop on his metalcore band, KAZARAN.

Caiden Crafts describes his band,  KAZARAN. He adds, speaking on the pleasure of the musical experience, “It’s a joy to come together and write some music that is of a genre that we grew up loving and still do.” Crafts, who is responsible for the vocals and lyrics, gives us the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… KAZARAN: Interview No. 516!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

We’re a metalcore outfit from Adelaide, South Australia. We enjoy playing and writing metal music fashioned towards the early 2000s, like many of our influences such as Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Lamb of God, and Arch Enemy.

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Kazaran form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

I had a want to pursue metal music and utilize my desire to be a harsh vocalist. I was in an indie band at the time, Paper Sunsets, that I had been in since high school, and things were becoming quite stagnant with members wanting and doing different things. This being in late 2020, I approached Travis Jones, a good friend of mine, we’ve been in the same friend group for a number of years, and we appreciated the same style of metal. He had some demos and unfinished songs left over from a previous band, so we got together, finished them off, and added vocals to see how they would all come out. We were happy with how the final demos were. We had our fellow friend Rory Amoy track drums for us, and after the first few releases, asked him if he’d like to be a third member, and he agreed. So, the band is made up of me (vocals, lyrics), Travis (all guitars), and Rory (drums, backing vocals). At times that we’ve done live shows, we’ve enlisted the assistance of friends and fellow heavy musos Matt Zipeto (guitar/bass), Ben Batty (bass), and Samuel Burns (guitar).

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since you first started? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

We mainly enjoy just writing and recording music. We played live shows without thinking we were ever going to do that, and it was an enjoyable time with everyone involved. We all have other things going on in life, such as bands and aspirations, so it’s a joy to come together and write some music that is of a genre that we grew up loving and still do.

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

Many of our influences, as stated, are Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Lamb of God, and Arch Enemy. Bands that produced that raw and melodic style of metalcore bands in the early 2000s. For me personally, I drift in and out of different influences, but some of my main ones are Jonathan Davis, Tim Minchin & Howard Jones. I always enjoyed their vocal ability, both in clean and harsh variations.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Honestly, nothing comes to mind. We haven’t toured, and most of our shows have been pretty straightforward.

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To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

“Hear Me” is a strong favorite for me, mainly because it was the first song I recorded harsh vocals for, and it was a real turning point for me to be able to realize that I can actually do this. It was also great to have my great friend Madz Winter on the track. We’ve been friends since high school, and I’ve always wanted to work with her, so I’m very proud of that song. It’s also the song that Travis would bring up and jam the most if we were hanging out with friends.

However, in a more recent sense, “Tragedy” is probably my favorite song to perform live. It just has a speed and a next-level feel to it that really makes you buzz on stage, and you can feel it in the crowd as well.

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Kazaran? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

I’m a professional wrestler, solo artist, podcaster, and background actor under the alias CHA5M. Travis has a second band with a great friend of ours, Henk Plaggemars, called First, We Fall. Rory is in about five different bands within the Adelaide scene. One of the most notable is Ekosa, and they are in the midst of releasing a new album.

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What is Kazaran currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We’ve released our latest EP In Possession, on March 27th, which features Adelaide-based artists FALTER & False Dawn. In Possession is heavier, darker, and more emotionally charged than our previous releases, the EP showcases our growth both musically and creatively. Blending crushing riffs with soaring melodic moments. In Possession balances raw intensity with a deeper sense of atmosphere and feeling. It’s a real joy to finally have it out in the metal music world. 

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Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.   

Big thanks to you.

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Getting to Know… KAZARAN: Interview No. 516 (2026) [📷: Kazaran]

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