With grit, clarity, and a vision that shoots for the stars—literally—Melbourne rapper, producer, and creative force Kush K unleashes “Winning,” a fiery anthem rooted in loyalty, ambition, and self-made success. This latest track takes things up a notch with cinematic visuals, a no-drill stance on street culture, and a sound engineered to inspire anyone chasing their own come-up. As Kush K opens up about recovery, resilience, and the dreams he’s still chasing, “Winning” stands as both a personal milestone and a bold declaration of everything still to come.
What was the first spark for “Winning”? Did it start with that bold hook or something else?
Yeah, so pretty much one night, my best friend and I were in the studio trying to cook something up. We found the beat and wanted to create an anthem about winning; that’s where the hook was born. From there, the rest is history. After our session finished, I ended up writing the whole track and creating what is now the final version.
There’s a strong, aggressive energy to the track — but you make it clear: “We do no drillings.” Why was that line important for you to include?
The reason I had to include that line is that drillings and drill music are a big part of Australian rap and street culture. But for myself and my team, even though we’ve been around that life, it’s not something we want to represent. To drill someone or to steal/rob is a sin in our culture, and we don’t need to take those actions to look bigger or to make money. You can be a good person and still outgrow the people around you and earn more than they do through dedication and hard work.
What part of your own story were you channeling when you wrote “Winning”?
Honestly, it was a mix. I wrote my own story into the track, but I also wrote my future dream into it. My goal was to create something anyone could bump to, something that would get them fired up. It’s a song based on strong ambition and big dreams. It’s based around a winner’s mindset, my mindset.
The music video rides like a movie trailer. What was your vision going into it, and how hands-on were you in shaping the visuals?
Yeah, so with any music video I film, I like to be very involved in the creative and directive process. “Winning” was no different. My director and I discussed different ways to bring my vision to life. One of the key scenes was me on the moon. That represented my desire to be bigger than this earth, to exceed expectations and cross into new worlds, you know? My director did an amazing job creating a realistic image of everything I had only imagined. The rest of the video was more straightforward. It showcased the lavish lifestyle we’re living now and want to continue living in the future, surrounded by a small circle that feels more like family than friends.
You’ve always had a sharp eye for style and visuals. How do fashion and visual presentation play into the Kush K brand?
Okay, so I personally believe fashion and visuals go hand in hand. You can have great visuals but no fashion, and then your personality doesn’t shine. Or you could have great fashion but weak visuals, and that won’t showcase your story properly. Everyone thinks differently about this kind of stuff, but that’s how I see it. I’m super passionate about fashion and clothing design, which may be why I’m biased. But I believe if you want to be a commercial and global artist, both your fashion and your visuals need to be intertwined.
Sometimes hardship unlocks new creative energy—did you find that happening for you after the accident you had recently?
Yes, definitely. At first, after the accident, I was really lost. Lying in the hospital bed, I kept rethinking my entire life and all the decisions I had made. I was extremely sad, stuck inside my head for way too long. Day by day, I felt like I was sinking deeper than I ever had before. But as time went on, through all that darkness, I felt a spark reignite inside me.
A spark that told me to keep pushing and not give up on my dreams. The accident opened my eyes in many ways, and now I want to do so much more once I fully recover. The level of creativity I’ve unlocked during this time and the tracks I’ve written during rehab are unmatched. You guys are definitely in for something big.
How does “Winning” represent where you’re at in your career right now?
“Winning” is a step up from my last big release, “Making Moves.” In that track, I talked about the hustle and the progress I was making at the time. “Winning” is the cherry on top. It reflects where I’m starting to arrive as an upcoming artist, working super hard behind the scenes to show the world what I can do. It represents my journey and my future.
What’s next after this? Another single, a full project, or something unexpected?
There’s a lot coming after this. For now, while I’m still in recovery mode, I’ll be dropping singles until I can fully get back on my feet and shoot more videos. I also have a few music videos I shot before the accident that are still in the works. Those will be dropping soon. But I’ll just say this, you guys are in for a massive surprise. There’s something very unexpected coming in the next few months. We’re working on something insane that I can’t talk about yet, but it’s going to shock everyone who’s been following my journey.
Melbourne’s got its own flavor when it comes to rap and trap. How does the city influence your sound, and do you feel a responsibility to represent it on a global stage?
Honestly, my sound is inspired by a mix of places from around the world. I wouldn’t say Melbourne specifically influenced my sound, but it has definitely shaped me as an artist, as a producer, as a vocal engineer, and as a person. I’ll always represent my city on the global stage because it’s where I grew up and learned everything. It’s embedded in who I am. Same goes for my city in Punjab, India. For me, representation is a big thing, and both of my cities will always come with me wherever I go.
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