There are artists whose sound feels like weather. Not just something you hear, but also something that moves through you. When I first listened to Cavedweller, I felt that sense of atmosphere immediately. Depth. Space. A pulse beneath the surface that feels both grounded and expansive.
His music carries a fascinating duality. There’s the steady backbone of someone who grew up in rock and metal, but layered with textures that drift into downtempo, deep house, and experimental fusion. It’s emotional without being fragile. It’s immersive without losing structure.
I’ve been following his work for a while now, and it’s been fascinating to witness how his sound continues to expand while staying true to its core. One of my favourite tracks of his, Forget Me Not, was actually one I had the chance to hear early and review on Instagram, which made following its journey even more special. I also really enjoyed his EP Seasons, which beautifully captures his range and atmospheric depth
🎧 You can listen to Cavedweller here.
I wanted to explore how those textures take shape, where that emotional intensity comes from, and how his creative rhythm unfolds. So I asked him a few questions.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Atmospheric and emotionally resonant. Some would say it’s downtempo, but I also lean into deep and organic house territories as well as a lot of fusion. I come from a background in rock music, so there’s usually a steady beat and bass backbone.
What track or project are you most proud of and why?
Emotion. I really felt this song when I made it and knew it had to be the first song on my new album, TEXTURES.
Which artists or genres have had the biggest influence on your sound?
If we go back far enough, Alison Wonderland. She’s a well-known Aussie producer making trap music. She really showed me that electronic music could be euphoric and have emotional intensity. She bridged the gap between my work in rock and metal bands to being an electronic music producer. But as far as my sound is concerned, I take inspiration from within and outside electronic music. To list a few artists, J.Pool, Fred Again, Catatonique, definitely Tame Impala.
Was there a defining moment that made you say, “I want to make music”?
I think I’ve always known. My brother Gregory got me into music in the first place with grunge music. Later I discovered more extreme genres of metal and wrote my first solo doom album on a cassette when I was twelve, using a Fender Stratocaster my dad bought me. My first real awakening into electronic music came when I started attending psytrance festivals here in Australia. I had never seen fans as dedicated as trance fans. So even though my music has strayed somewhat into its own style, I still draw inspiration from the transformational music scene.
If your sound were a place, color, or emotion, what would it be?
It feels like a snowy breeze taking you to heaven or a primal drum drawing you into an enchanted forest. In fact (shameless pitch), I wrote a song that carries the first emotion, called Snow.
Do you have a ritual or habit that helps you get into a creative zone?
I generally work under pressure. I hyper-fixate on my music goals, whether it be a single, a collab, an EP or album. I essentially decide I am going to continue until I have something I am happy with, regardless of how much it might stress me out. It’s not healthy, and not something I advise. But I feel some music producers may relate to this ‘locked in’ bubble.
What’s something surprising people don’t usually know about you as an artist?
People may already know this, but I am a qualified philosopher, teacher and zoologist.
Do you have any surprising musical tastes outside your main genre?
Yes, definitely. I like weird shit, I hope I can say that. Particularly weird shit that makes you think and move at the same time. I went through a dungeon synth phase recently and even considered doing some myself. Otherwise, I really like hazy post-rock/post-metal stuff. Basically, weird, emotional music that takes you places (perhaps I should describe my music like this from now on…hmmm). I also like a lot of cheesy pop music and am not afraid to admit it haha.
How do you handle creative blocks?
My creativity literally comes in blocks. Some people say theirs comes in waves, but mine comes in blocks. In other words, if I feel inspired I spend the next month to three months writing. By the time I finish writing I am depleted for six or so months, in which I spend time promoting the music I wrote earlier. Similarly, TEXTURES was written over the course of 1.5 years, then I had a long break, and now that it is finally being released (thanks to Subnautique Records which I am thrilled about) I am only now considering writing more music, but I am taking my time with it. So to summarise, if you feel inspired write, don’t wait.
Describe your music in three words that aren’t music-related.
Earth, Sky, Dreams.
You mentioned your new album TEXTURES, can you tell us more about that?
Certainly. TEXTURES is my second album and man I am so proud of this. Not just in a salesy way, but really. It is organic, textural (hence the name) and experimental. The concept actually came when I started stacking textural layers in Ableton and tweaking them with granular synthesis and the like. Basically, the whole album is based around different textures. Sand is, well, that one’s obvious, Snow too. Emotion took a less literal approach, where I wondered what textures emotions have. I will leave it to the audience to think about what other textures inspired what songs. Overall, it is a very dynamic album with peaks and valleys, light and dark with energetic moments and parts that feel like coming home. What’s extra special about this release is it’s on vinyl, which you can find on Bandcamp.
From doom cassettes at twelve to granular synthesis in Ableton, from psytrance festivals to organic house textures, Cavedweller’s journey feels expansive but coherent. There is earth in the low end. Sky in the atmospheres. And dreams somewhere in between.
Thank you, Cavedweller, for sharing the story behind TEXTURES and offering such an honest look into your creative process. Wishing you continued inspiration as the next chapter unfolds.
— Spacey Panda 💜
About the Author
