This little EP took almost a year and half to complete lol. Working on it on and off. Some months I would just open up the project files and then close it. There was a lot of pressure for some vague higher standard that I started to put on myself. I was trying to live to a viral hit that I didn't even have control over in the first place.

It's been almost a year of doing music full-time and I've learned a lot. I learned that it's hard lol. What started to bring me back to down to solid ground was when I started going around LA and attending local beat shows. Participating in open aux's. Meeting new people, seeing the spark of creativity effortlessly flow out of artists I would meet. It really reinvigorated my spirit. It brought me out of that creative slump. I realized how imaginary a lot of that pressure was. I'm constantly reminded how much all this is a journey with no real ending. And there's really something beautiful in that. There's so much to make and so much to savor when take a step back.

The "narrative" of this EP follows that theme. The titles and tracklist are meant to convey that journey and what it means to endure as an artist.

Thank you so much for listening! I hope you enjoy this!


Special thanks to @tributaryvhs for basically writing the skeleton for "Rebirth". I feel like I just came in for the lay-up honestly haha.

And a special shout-out to @draf2k, "Fallen" came out of a fun session after buying of draf's drumkits and playing around with all the 808s that were in it, that song wouldn't exist without me buying that kit haha.

www.instagram.com/tributary.vhs/

www.instagram.com/draf2k/

Cover art photo shot by Helgi Halldórsson and posted under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

www.flickr.com/people/8058853@N06/

bandcamp

Oscura

NEWEST RELEASE [REMINISCENCE THERAPY] AND OTHER NEW RELEASES! ;)

MORE RECENT COLLABS ^_^

https://open.spotify.com/album/6dFQ9M0vj5Y8wL5gnlnqpz?si=gbCQ1-cbQ4iLsit83A82Tw

I haven't made a phonk track in a while and @saaazuk dropped a track recently that had me super inspired to get back into it ^_^

This will be the last thing I drop before my new EP "Coro." which will be out April 3rd!!!!

as always s/o @yungmaple for the acapella :D

broke.

Lyrics:

Beats skipping my heart, I got no one else to blame
Shame grins in my eye, I got mud upon my name
Keep skipping along, I’m just running on my way
Keep gripping my arm, I got I got I got

Fear draining my mind, I got nowhere left to hide
Death laughs at my face, I just fuck up all the time
No reason to live, I got burns around my neck
Keep gripping the rope, I got I got I got

CRESCENT

Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3mSg60K

this one is straight from my heart <3 thank you 

Produced/Guitar/Vocals/Mix/Master: KA$TRO
Cover art: @kimsaesol

lyrics:

Pieces of my life
Shattered dreams that cut like knives
Are cleaving out my heart
I got bloodied hands cut up and scarred

My mind is always left in fray
I'm falling just to get away
Wondering where it went all wrong
Wishing that you'd stay, that you'd stay

I cannot find the words to save my soul
I cannot find the words that'll make me whole

Starting at the wall
A voiceless, drunk, who would not call
To anyone for help
I can't stand the person that I've become

I thought I knew which way to go
I traveled on the road I'd known
Waiting for a sign
But there was nothing there for me, there for me

I cannot find the words to save my soul
I cannot find the words that'll make me whole
I cannot find the words to save my soul
I cannot find the words that'll make me whole

It’s been interesting exploring this lyrical side of my music. music has always been therapeutic to me, but vocalizing what I feel has been fun and cathartic. I feel like I’ve been at a crossroad this whole year. What I want to do with my life, what I want to achieve. Before music, I thought I knew what I wanted to be, but then that all fell apart and I started doing music as a hobby, but then that grew and changed into what it is now, and now things feel possible now. But I know how insane this path is and that there are zero guarantees. It feels so chaotic. I feel like I’m just hanging on for dear life.

Well, anyway lol this is a song that distills all those thoughts. I hope y’all like and can maybe resonant with it! My favorite way to listen to this song is in the car driving fast on the highway. It made me feel alive ✌️

Really big thank you to @kimsaesol for making the cover art! This song sat shelved too long cause I couldn’t find cover art and Sam really came in clutch 🙏

Cover art: www.instagram.com/kimsaesol

words i forgot...

https://open.spotify.com/album/5xTzT8XQD8dYEhZwMiXLGP?si=_1X2IDZ2QcuTxv9it7BFRQ&dl_branch=1

Produced/Vocals/Mix/Master: KA$TRO
Co-arrangement: @keepitinside
Cover art: @kimsaesol

I’m always fascinated with death so that’s where my mind went. In a weird way, it’s how I see my music. The deeper I go, the more I put my heart and soul into this, I feel like I’m digging my own grave in a way.

lyrics:

I dug a grave, a hole shaped like shit
The stones I placed, not even worth my spit
A wreath I laid had crumbled to
The dust I breathed while in my room
To Death I prayed she's finally here
She walked to me and said, "have no fear."

Cause I'm lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave
Lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave

The day has come, I hunger for the end
The bell that's rung, I can't unhear the noise
A heart that's heavy with my fears
A hollow eye filled up with tears
I called for you and only heared
"Don't cry my love I'm always here"

Cause I'm lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave
Lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave

Lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave
Lost but not afraid
Send me to the grave
Lost but not afraid
(send me)
Send me to the grave
Lost but not afraid
(bury me)
Send me to the grave

GRAVE

for the blue haired girls <3

production/vocals/mix/master: me ^_^

lyrics:

Blue haired girl
Please get out of my mind
Blue haired girl
Can I give you my time
Blue haired girl
Please get out of my mind
Blue haired girl
Can I make you mine

Olive eyes and olive skin
I wondered what your name had been
All the time I spent right here
When I looked at you and it made me spin

Blue haired girl
Blue haired girl
Blue haired girl
Blue haired

Blue haired girl
Please get out of my mind
Blue haired girl
Can I give you my time
Blue haired girl
Please get out of my mind
Blue haired girl
Can I make you mine

Olive eyes and olive skin
I wondered what your name had been
All the time I spent right here
When I looked at you and it made me spin

Blue haired girl
Blue haired girl
Blue haired girl

spotify <3

blue haired girl

UNDONE

Mixed/Mastered - DJSM Studios

Art - EardysProd

Broken Promise (Single)

Broken Promise (Prod. KA$TRO)

No Vacancy (Prod. KA$TRO)

Sirens Prod. KA$TRO

Xemnas Prod. Ka$tro

chemicals inside of me
ravaged all my sympathy
hell is all that I can see outside

peeled away my soul in two
granted all my wishes though
traded all what I could give for hope

it wasn’t worth it

find my body down by the river
find my body down by the river

find my body down by the river

THE BODY DOWN BY THE RIVER

Lyrics:

Out of habit
I was let down
I felt useless
I felt nothing
Cause I let go all my hopes and dreams
I came apart from all my seams
A dreamer
A sleeper
I gave up
On finding happiness inside of
Of me
Don’t let go
Don’t let go
Don’t let go
Don’t let go
Don’t let go
Don’t let go
Don’t let go

Don't Let Go

Severance

special thanks to @tributaryvhs for co-production on this! this song couldn't have happened without him!

https://www.instagram.com/tributary.vhs/

Rebirth

What Never Completed Me

Fallen

music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THfSOS5dPU4

artwork by herodog ^_^

lyrics:

I’m lost in the first time
Picturing what we could have been
I’m stuck same spot
Wondering if I ever moved on

You’re fading away
I can’t seem to remember our love
I’m running away
Running back to relive what I lost

I’m lost in the first time
Picturing what we could have been
I’m stuck same spot
Wondering if I ever moved on

You’re fading away
I can’t seem to remember our love
I’m running away
Running back to relive what I lost

You’re fading away

I’m running away

Fading...

music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSHwgO_3pEA

artwork by @herodog

lyrics:

Counting all the ceiling tiles
1-2-3
Haven’t been outside in a while
What time is it
The pictures on my bedroom wall
Show me who I was
How long has it been since we talked

I waste away
My day with sleep
Only to
Just to see you again

I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you

Underneath the bed and the rot
Here lies my corpse
Shadows shaped like people I lost
Have you seen this ghost?
I’m taking shots of liquor and wine
Just to knock me out
Re-read texts that I had forgot
Like I used to do

I close my eyes
And drift away
And hear you say
Boo

I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you
I saw the ghost that haunts my dreams
It looked like you

Wake up
Wake up

I Saw A Ghost

music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1_zJUpaHV4

artwork by @herodog

lyrics:

I can’t escape
This feeling
A sick embrace
I’m bleeding

Can I go
Can I leave
Why can’t I be
Like how I was before

I can’t escape
This feeling
A sick embrace
I’m bleeding out

Can’t explain what’s on my mind
And all I ever want
Wandering on this path alone
Abandoned all my hope
Crawling when I once stood tall
A pitiful being
Maybe I should end it but
I know, I know, I know, I know

Can I go
Can I leave
Why can’t I be
Like how I was before

Can’t explain what’s on my mind
And all I ever want
Wandering on this path alone
Abandoned all my hope
Crawling when I once stood tall
A pitiful being
Maybe I should end it but
I know, I know, I know, I know

I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know

I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know

I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know
I know

How I Was Before

featuring @theliewithincallie (thank you for being a part of this!)
Callie's vocals mixed by
www.instagram.com/wisdombibbs_/

artwork by @herodog

lyrics:

Bury me or take me home
With words alone I can't atone
Painful lies I've said
I can't escape the light

Bury me or take me home
With words alone I can't atone
Painful lies I've said
I can't escape the light

Bury me or take me home
With words alone I can't atone
Painful lies I've said
I can't escape the light

Your deception led you here
Looking straight into the mirror
Your reflection is so clear
I can see you fill with fear

From yourself you cannot hide
Now you gotta face the light
From yourself you cannot hide
Now you gotta face the light

It might
Bury you alive
Yeah, it might
Bury you alive
It might
Bury you alive
It might
Bury you alive

I Can't Escape The Light ft. The LiE Within CalLiE

Welcome to REMINISCENCE THERAPY. Each beat a memory of the last 3 years since my previous tape.

Tracklist:
0:00 LONELY
1:16 MAGIC
2:26 BREATHE
4:05 REMEMBER
5:29 THOUGHT
6:38 HEART
7:59 ANGEL
8:45 TONIGHT
9:46 TOGETHER
10:31 GIRL
11:19 MYSELF
12:04 PAUSE
13:06 REWIND
14:54 CHASE
16:09 CREEP
17:11 FALLEN 
18:26 FEARS
19:27 DIAMONDS feat. @jupiluxe
20:32 FOREVER 
21:45 AWAY
22:53 GET OUT

Thank you to ThisIsMyBeat (TIMB) and BurgersNBeats. New people, new friends, new memories. I made a few of these beats for TIMB beat making challenges. Played a lot of these beats at various Open Aux’s during events thrown by these two groups.

www.instagram.com/thisismybeatsd/
www.instagram.com/burgersnbeatsla/

Enormous thank you to @jupliuxe for her feature on DIAMOND! She’s an amazing rapper and I’m so happy to have been able to work with her on this!

And a final shout out to culp, @dr00pyyy, @antoje, and @dpeee I made the loop for “GET OUT” as far back as 2021 as I was obsessed with their style of synth beats (still am). And that song went through so many evolutions that it ended up being this weird blend of synth beat, grunge singing and guitar. I dedicate that song to them. teamcanaduh.

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this album! ^_^

REMINISCENCE THERAPY

Tribute to gin$eng. Dude put out so much amazing music in 2016 and reached a well deserved 10k. Congrats @ginsengxx :)

Happy new year to anyone listening!

SheWalkedIntoTheEther

HereToWasteAway

If you liked this song, please check out my new ambient trap/wave EP "CRUCIBLE."! ^_^

https://soundcloud.com/kastrosplace/sets/crucible

Original: https://soundcloud.com/the-virus-uk/taleofaghost
Huge s/o to @the-virus-uk and the space god himself, @kamiyada :)

TaleOfAGhost ft. Kamiyada [KA$TRO Remix]

IKnowI'mReady

https://open.spotify.com/album/0frq2YW7uypaYdOMyOmvDS
Real proud of this project :) Worked with my good friend @keepitinside (singer) to deliver this EP. Enjoy!

Production/Arrangement/Mixing: @kastrosplace
Lyrics/Vocals/Vocal Processing&Mixing/Ukulele: @keepitinside

Lyrics:
This is it
We had a good run
I’m sorry for
All of it
I thought we both were
Better than we are

And sometimes I go back to this
I look up to this
I wasn’t
Good

But why’d you have to be ok
It’s been three whole days

And I’ll stay
Here
With all your flowers
And I’ll stay
Here
With all those countless hours
I’ll stay
Here
And all you gave me
Will stay
Here
While you leave me

stay.

Tried to apply a lo-fi feel to this, but not sure if it is that apparent haha. Enjoy :)

Also, so happy to you y'all enjoy staywithme. <3

IfOnlyICouldForgetYou

This one was featured on the /r/lofihiphop summer compilation tape. Thought I'd release it as a single this week. Also uploaded it to youtube! Enjoy! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPnrj9M-j-M

https://soundcloud.com/lofihiphopblog/warm-summers-eve

Buy <3

SummerNightsInSpace //VISUALS IN DESCRIPTION

Can't thank you guys enough for the love that Lumen/Tenebris received! I have so much more in store for you all in 2018, been experimenting with a lot of new sounds and ideas. Here's something new to enjoy. Thank you! ^_^

InAbsenceWasThereHope

This is to 2 years of producing! To new and old listeners, I am eternally grateful! This has been an amazing journey and I feel like I'm just getting started haha. There is a lot that I can't wait to show you all, but let's first start with this EP! Thank you and enjoy! ^_^

AndLeftFeelingEmptyInside

IGaveYouEverything

Я вас всех в России люблю! Благодарю вас <3

If you liked this song, please check out my new ambient/wave EP "ECLIPSE."! ^_^

https://soundcloud.com/kastrosplace/sets/eclipse

This is to 2 years of producing! To new and old listeners, I am eternally grateful! This has been an amazing journey and I feel like I'm just getting started haha. There is a lot that I can't wait to show you all, but let's first start with this EP! Thank you and enjoy! ^_^

InEssence

Original: https://soundcloud.com/ok2222/take-me-for-my-words

Made a remix of ok2222's song "take me for my words." Love this guy's music!

Gonna be dropping at least one more loose single while I work on my new project ;)

s/o again to @youknowlimbo's vox box samples lol

ok2222 - take me for my words. [KA$TRO Remix]

Probably the last single I'm gonna drop for a long time! Cause I'm working on projects ;) Almost hitting 2k which is just wild lol. Thank you <3

EDIT: WOOO ty for the 2k! <3

Weep.

Hope you all are enjoying Gradient. :D I couldn't wait any longer to drop something new haha. Enjoy this new phonk joint, s/o to @yungmaple for the acapella!

Neck.

Work.

Cinere

Bless.

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/track/3zwlQn8WUvRztX5YlVnJEz?si=57d6eda3ab4749f9

"Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner..."

Desolation.

Production/Mixing/Mastering/Vocals: KA$TRO

Lyrics: You know she's got me on the run
I only knew her for the fun
When this is all said and done
My only wish for a gun

Photo by Norman (www.instagram.com/_sorman/)

Stats are disabled, comments are disabled, There is no monetization on this. I implore anyone passing by to consider making a donation to any one of these causes or learning about ones in your own community!

"solidarity not charity"

https://ceasefiretoday.com/

Lucie's Place (Help homeless LGBTQ+ youth in Arkansas!)
http://www.luciesplace.org/

List of Abortion Funds: https://www.thecut.com/article/donate-abortion-fund-amy-coney-barrett-how-to-help.html

KIND (legal representation for immigrant/refugee children)
https://supportkind.org/

FIND A LOCAL MUTUAL AID FUND IN YOUR CITY AND DONATE TO THEM! DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FRIDGE! ^_^

San Diego Community Fridge
https://linktr.ee/sdcommunityfridgeproject

San Diego County Mutual Aid Fund: https://www.weallwegotsd.com/

Red Canary Song (Asian Sex Worker labor rights organization) https://linktr.ee/redcanarysong

The Okra Project: https://www.artsbusinesscollaborative.org/asp-products/the-okra-project-sponsored-project/

National Black Justice Coalition: http://nbjc.org/

Bail Funds:
https://bailfunds.github.io/

Other Organizations:
https://twitter.com/seanmiura/status/1266399116797468673

list of mutual aids and black/lgbtq+/immigration/ceasefire/sj orgs

"I tried." <---- my life in a nutshell.
Feel free to message me for any beat inquiries!
kastrosbeats@gmail.com
Check out my newest EP "Oscura"! :D
Slowly branching out.

KA$TRO

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