Kai Straw - Do or Die (Lyric Video)

[@KaiStraw]

This one was inspired by a handful of life experiences, conversations and thoughts that or too complex for a caption or song but here’s an attempt. I’m always auditing my pursuits, my drives, my ambitions. I ask myself - as I lay what I think are bricks, building what I think are stairs toward some higher self - is what I hold really a shovel? Is the height I’m building toward actually a depth? And when I discover the hole I’ve dug how old will I be and how much time will I have lost? It’s easy to end up with a life we don’t want, essentially - and I don’t mean this in terms of wealth or status; I mean this in terms of the peace and gratitude and purpose we feel or don’t feel in our own hearts. Sometimes internal failure hides behind external achievement. I think of the Johnny Cash song, “Hurt”. He sang it at the end of his life. “You can have it all, my empire of dirt.” Or I think of Tyson Fury, the boxer, becoming heavyweight champion of the world - then spinning into suicidal depression. Or the food critic, Anthony Bourdain, same thing, except he didn’t survive his. We can have positive wants and desires, healthful ambition - needs that spring from purpose, inspiration and skill. And we also have phantom wants and desires - needs that spring from feelings of worthlessness, ego, and insecurity. The more our desires are driven by the latter, the higher the probability we’ll feel empty when we meet them, and the higher the probability they’ll feel like our masters and not our muses. I’m always working to better recognize the timbre of both of those voices. The musical style of this song was inspired by watching Chef’s Table on Netflix, haha. I was inspired seeing the chefs fully discover and pursue their unique tastes - regardless of how bizarre or unique those tastes may have been to those around them. I was reminded; it’s the artist’s responsibility to hear and cultivate their unique voice, not to conform to the voices around them. Thanks, Indiana. This song sounds different, yeah, and I think I’m the only one who could’ve made it. I hope it finds whoever needs it. 🏴‍☠

[@aprillilly5889]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences. This one hits deep! For so long I've fought with depression & other things. Cried soo many tears.... what kind of life am I building here? Am I proud of this life? Am I proud of who I am? I'm 42 & I've made some huge changes & I'm finally feeling excited about my life again! I'm excited to see my next 40 years bring. It feels beautiful & bright ✨️💕✨️ A friend of mine introduced me to your music. Everything's Sweet was the first song she played for me. She told me "this is you, in song". Made me cry to know someone sees me and what I've done to change & it was hard, but i did it. 💕💀💕✨️✨️

[@lovethepandainyou]

As a 33 year old dude who found his calling, I still had to realize this year that I am not living the life I want outside of my career. I spent years just studying and being busy doing things hoping to see the end. And I somehow realized I forgot how to be myself for the last 10 years. I struggled for so long to found what I want to do as a job that I forgot what I like to do as a person. I somehow got molded into the qualities I needed for my job and fell into overwork. Slowly, I am trying to find myself and my own happiness again. Still, it feels like I got robbed of my twenties and now, it's do or die. I am, of course, melodramatic and all that. But your music resonates and helps let my own frustrations breathe out. Thank you!

[@Slingin_Mary_Alex]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@AunteeDee]

😭 speaking to our hearts and souls, Kai! Thank you for doing what you do and sharing your wisdom. Peace to you always

[@Phantom3pilot]

Hi Kai! I'm reading the book "Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough" by Michael Easter. This book is not what I thought it would be. In some ways I find it very simple and profound. The battle you are talking about in your statement is drawn out in this book and the feeling you express is one that I also live with on the daily. I have a ton of achievements but I am always striving to learn about self. I always feel "Pressure" but I don't know why. More importantly, I don't understand why most people don't have that feeling. One of my strides led me to Scarcity Brain by Easter but only after reading the book "Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering" by Joseph Nguyen. These books are a capstone for me understanding myself and developing a conscious awareness of why I am the way I am and why others are the way they are. Know thyself! Thank you for your music. It is very crisp and introspective. I appreciate you and I'm grateful that you share your journey. On to the next one!

[@CatR666]

"And when I discover the hole I’ve dug how old will I be and how much time will I have lost?" both this, and the song, hits hard ❤‍🔥Amazing ❤

[@JointdaleRecords]

foreal

[@lizardkip1663]

Hey Kai, I just wanted to say thank you, your music has been one of the few things helping me fight my depression, and I'm always excited for the end of the month even after all the lows I've been in so I can hear another of your gems, so again, thank you

[@KaiStraw]

Glad my stuff is helping you out, Lizard! Thanks for being here - and keep fighting.

[@KCVRK]

Strip me down to the bone and reconstruct the marrow of my mind. Reconnect the fibers of hope and dance w the fire inside. Love it kai. That’s a line that came to me while listening 🤷‍♂️ #inspiredToWriteAgain

[@aprillilly5889]

That's beautiful ✨️💕✨️

[@pokemonmaster1234518]

Your music never fails to give me pulsating goose bumps

[@KaiStraw]

Ah, man, huge compliment, thank you.

[@bethstratton3391]

Love the lyrics to this track and your delivery of them is powerfully evocative. The violin with the strummed guitar along with the mix effects are so brilliant. 💛🔥👏

[@felixjost8206]

You're a true poet, this track hits different 🔥

[@KaiStraw]

Glad you're feelin' it, thank you!

[@VoidMySoul]

I hate seeing you still pumping out these masterpieces and not getting 1% of the recognition you deserve. Youre an incredible artist

[@m0t0g1rl]

Wow. Just... THANK YOU! ❤️

[@KaiStraw]

❤️❤️❤️

[@TobiiRheaStarr]

🔥🔥🔥fire track!!🔥🔥🔥

[@YoungPilotOfficial]

Absolutely Love this one! Amazing work Kai!

[@eveline5858]

Gorgeous Kai❤ The initial plan is not always what is needed most. Sometimes you just have to take the time to breathe, regain confidence and let go. yes you are unique and I feel it 🥰 Merci du fond du coeur 🤗

[@KaiStraw]

Merci ❤

[@StacyPledge]

Love this 🔥🔥🔥

[@Vintage.EvenStar]

Such a dope track!! Love the beat in this too!! 🔥

[@KaiStraw]

Thank you!

[@JointdaleRecords]

this track is so much 🔥🔥🔥 beat goes wild.....and just plain great vibe ont his....keep rockin bruh !!!

[@KaiStraw]

Thank you!! And will do!

[@JointdaleRecords]

@@KaiStraw ur in a leauge of ur own sir....keep killin it...

[@JointdaleRecords]

@Bannerman246 i prefer a real collab. and hopefull well get one today :)

[@JointdaleRecords]

@Bannerman246 nah ren fans are on kai's ass for a while for a collab, i asked kai before (in comments of his previous track) go read his answer...i wont spoil it here. Kaj and ren collab would be SICKKK ..and yeah been asking kai for some instrumentals to make the remix happen...no answer....yet ;)

[@TobiiRheaStarr]

😝

[@cecilyshea444]

Kai, this is amazing. So much truth and real in your words, and I appreciate it in ways you may never know.

[@khylewalters8768]

Always looking forward to the last Friday of the month

[@KaiStraw]

Thanks for being here!

[@steppedzeus5825]

New Kai, new fire 🔥🔥

[@SkoomaFish]

*thankful for you kai, appreciate you sharing your work with us

[@KaiStraw]

I’m thankful for you, too. Thanks for listening to it.

[@tinalarkin2642]

Love it Kai!! Beats, lyrics, vibe, and the truth ❤

[@Tinkerbell9332]

Hey Kai!!! Always love your videos!❤ Thank you so much for this!

[@KaiStraw]

❤❤❤

[@Tinkerbell9332]

@@KaiStraw ❤❤❤❤ also thank you for replying back 😁

[@fullhousehero4038]

You got a lot of talent. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. No wonder Ren featured you. The rawness and the Emotion in your Songs is incredible!

[@kevinkrochak2546]

Thank you! You said that you hope that this song finds who needs it....that would be me, for sure.

[@foreign-friendly]

Amazing!! Thank you Kai!

[@KaiStraw]

Thanks for listening!

[@tetraspective]

Everytime....."can he make more?" 👏🏻🤙🏻🙏🏻yessssss EVERYTIME ❤underrated but that's how we love it. Kai you legend 🙌🏻

[@codyvanasse2775]

Love the music makes me happy sad and just feel.

[@KaiStraw]

Glad it's connecting with you, thanks for listening!

[@MadLittleBrunette]

This song just awoken something in me 👏🏽💀☠️

[@KaiStraw]

❤☠️❤

[@AunteeDee]

Those strings 🔥🔥🔥

[@joshuabeard1574]

Great song!

[@river9619]

i felt this on a whole different level so much is going on in life right now. ☠

[@smileswithgunsxbox5875]

I've said it before, you're way too underrated. Oh yeah, I'm playing this in Toronto 👊😎

[@333Alzy]

If Kai don't blow up soon something seriously wrong with the industry 💯🔥

[@josefprosek3209]

So true and inspiring 🙂. Thank you, even made me write a poem 🙂. And thanks to Ren also, I am here because of him 🙂.

[@bodyflightspotlight]

Sooo goood!

[@Wut-A-Trip]

wut a fkn trip dude lol this is wild i love it. taking me on a jorney tonight whoooooooooo aaaaarrrrrrreeeeee yyyyoooooooouuuuuuuu!!!????????????? such a nice blend of so many diff genres and sounds and instruments.....most unexpected but in a good way

[@zacharypanarra6542]

Fire

[@MeyerSol]

keep going :)

[@KaiStraw]

I will!

[@gabrielhenrique5368]

que musica boa!!

[@essencesofgaia7491]

Kill or be killed is a big theme right now

[@amyshakib9153]

❤💀❤️

[@KaiStraw]

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

[@sezzie1992]

❤😢❤❤😅

[@vallymarie1208]

haha im "like" 420 Which really is a shame, because this song is amazing.

[@vinzceazar]

you sound like CG5

[@nevaehcavazos2415]

Reading deep into the lyrics this song just explains how I feel and gives me peace to know that there are others who have the words to express what’s going on in their mind, I’ve been listening to your music for years and it has helped me get through some of my darkest times. 💀🫶🏻