Orlando Kallen:When the Music Is Personal but the Vision Is Global

Kyra Greene

There’s a quiet conviction in the way Orlando Kallen talks about his craft—an understanding that honesty, not spectacle, is what lasts. Whether he’s writing alone to access his most vulnerable truths, building cinematic universes through pop songs, or standing firm in a creative vision he’s fought to protect, Kallen is navigating artistry with intention. From embracing his Australian roots to balancing intimacy with scale, music with acting, and instinct with strategy, his evolution feels less like a reinvention and more like a steady alignment with who he truly is. This is an artist learning to trust his voice—and letting the rest of the world meet him there.

Your music carries a strong emotional undercurrent while still feeling polished and modern. How do you strike that balance between vulnerability and control when you’re writing or recording a song? I like to write by myself a lot because I find that’s where I’m most honest. If I’m writing with other people in the room, sometimes I don’t really dig deep enough to what I’m actually feeling or what I am wanting to express. Writing is all about vulnerability, and if you’re not being truthful, it’s not going to resonate as much. That being said, not every song has to be a vulnerable, heartbreaking song. You can have fun with it. There’s really no rules to it, so I think that’s the best thing about writing. 

 Coming from Australia and building a following that spans millions worldwide, how has your sense of identity evolved as your audience has grown more global? Do you feel pressure to represent where you’re from, or freedom to redefine yourself? I feel like I wasn’t embracing being Australian for a long time, but now I’m realizing that it’s pretty cool. I feel like I’m kinda becoming more Australian by the day. Even with the way I talk, I’m using more Aussie slang and I’m really digging into my roots. TikTok is a great way to meet fans all over the world and connect with people that you would have never connected with in person. It’s just a great opportunity to be seen globally. 

 You move fluidly between music and acting, two disciplines that require very different types of presence. What does music allow you to express that acting doesn’t—and vice versa? I’m equally as passionate about music and acting. Music allows me to express more of myself, as a person. When I’m writing songs, it’s all about me. It is what I’m feeling, my emotions, my experiences. Whereas being an actor, I get to escape sometimes. There’s days where I don’t really want to be myself, and I just want to put myself in someone else’s shoes. Acting is a really great outlet for that. There’s no barriers of what you can do when you’re an actor. 

Many artists talk about “finding their sound,” but your work suggests a sound that’s still intentionally evolving. At this point in your career, what excites you more: refinement or reinvention? Refinement and exploration. I don’t think I’ve got to reinvent myself. I have found the lane that I’m in, the direction that I’m going. I think it’s definitely about refining that vision, but also not being scared to still explore and experiment with different things. The most amazing moments come from when you’re exploring and just having fun and not thinking about the outcome of what you’re gonna create.

With social media playing such a major role in how music is discovered today, how do you protect the creative process from becoming overly performative or driven by metrics rather than instinct? I think we’re actually lucky enough today where music is becoming more real. There was a bit of a phase where people were just making songs for the algorithm and TikTok appeal. You can’t really say, “oh he’s a TikTok artist” or “he’s making TikTok music”. That’s not a thing anymore. But, for my upcoming music, I’ve definitely got ideas of what would be the TikTok viral part. So, it is still important to keep that in mind when promoting your music. 

Your songs often feel cinematic, almost like chapters in a larger story. Do you approach your projects with a narrative arc in mind, or do the stories reveal themselves over time? I love cinematic music. One of the reasons I fell in love with acting was because I loved the music behind movies. That cinematic appeal really stuck with me. When I’m making music, I always have a concept in mind. I love turning my concepts into dramatic stories. For example, “Don’t Worry Baby” is an upbeat, pop song, but if you really dig into the lyrics, it’s about accidentally killing someone and protecting the ones you love. I love a concept album where everything works within itself. I want it to feel like I’m creating a universe around this music. That’s what I am doing with my upcoming album. 

As someone with a strong visual presence, how involved are you in shaping the imagery around your music—from videos to fashion to overall aesthetic—and how important is visual storytelling to your brand? You can learn to love a song even more if it has a great visual to it. My latest single, “greece ‘n paris”, I love that song even more because of the music video, and the memories behind making that music video. My dream is to just make the most cinematic, movie-like music video. When it comes to my aesthetic, imagery, and fashion, that’s all pretty much just my vision. I have never had a stylist, it’s just stuff from my closet. All of my content is done by my sister and I. It’s a very “in-house” thing, and I think that’s cool, that I am still at the stage where I can express myself exactly how I want to. 

There’s a tension in your work between intimacy and scale—songs that feel personal but built for big moments. When you’re creating, who are you imagining on the other side of the music: one person, or a crowd? I would say both. My biggest dream is having a big crowd sing my song back to me, but also, when I’ve ever felt lost, or at a place where I’m really unsure of myself, and I hear a song like “Don’t Worry Baby”, it feels like a message to myself. I think making music that someone can listen to when they’re alone is equally as important. 

What has been the most challenging creative growing pain you’ve experienced so far, and how did it reshape the way you approach your artistry today? Especially this year, I’ve learned that I’ve got to really stand my ground in my creative vision, and to be careful with the people that I let into it. A lot of people are gonna take you for a ride if you don’t know who you are as an artist, and if you don’t have a vision for yourself. That’s why I think it’s really important to have that stability in your creativity, and that understanding of who you are, before letting other people try to tell you or change who you are. I’m finally at a place where I’ve found my direction with my own creative vision. I still love collaborating with people but it has to be the right fit for both of us. 

Looking ahead, what does “success” look like to you now? Is it about numbers, longevity, creative freedom—or something that hasn’t revealed itself yet? Success to me is definitely longevity. I want to go on a tour next year to connect with and build my fanbase. I’ve also got some acting projects in the works that I am really excited for. 

 You were named Independent Artist of the Year, a major milestone in your career. What did that recognition mean to you personally, and how did it affirm—or challenge—the way you’ve chosen to build your career outside the traditional industry system? Honestly, that happened at a time where I was pretty low. I was really second-guessing a lot of stuff, and I was feeling pretty insecure of my place in this industry. I was feeling really lost, and then I just randomly got this call that I won Independent Artist of the Year. I received my trophy and it was a bit of a reality check that there is something here, and that I should keep pushing and thriving for success, because I can do it. It was a special moment, for sure. It gave me the confidence to keep going. The music industry is a really hard industry, and it’s brutal sometimes, but this was a way of proving to myself that I can do it, and that I should keep going.

Winning Independent Artist of the Year arrived at a moment when doubt was loudest—but for Orlando Kallen, the recognition didn’t signal an ending, it marked a turning point. What followed was clarity: a recommitment to longevity, to creative control, and to building something that can stand the test of time. With new music unfolding as a fully realized universe, acting projects on the horizon, and a desire to connect more deeply with audiences through live performance, Kallen isn’t chasing quick wins. He’s playing the long game—rooted in self-belief, creative freedom, and the confidence that comes from knowing there is something here, and it’s worth protecting.