Melbourne multi-hyphenate Callum Padgham has stepped into a bright new chapter with his debut EP, 'Love is the Centre of the Universe'. The four-track release is an unashamedly optimistic pop collection, blending big-hearted melodies with a clear underlying mission: to bring a bit more light into the listener's day.
Padgham—formerly known in electronic circles as DJ Be Kind to Other People—is no stranger to large crowds, having graced stages at Croatia’s Balance Festival, hit the decks at Burning Man, and supported local heavyweights like Eskimo Joe and Flight Facilities. Yet this debut EP marks a far more intimate shift. Taking three years to pull together, the project brought together an ensemble of 27 collaborators, spanning international arrangers to local beatmakers.
Reflecting on the personal growth behind the project, Padgham shared: “I’m so proud of the perspective I’ve gained through life’s challenges, and I feel a profound sense of responsibility to help others find this within themselves, too!”
The record balances previously released highlights, including the viral, sunny hit ‘Everything is a Blessing’ and the reflective ‘When I Was a Little Boy’, with two fresh offerings. ‘Whatever I Need I Already Have’ serves as a piano-driven, Tim Minchin-esque reflection on contentment, given added weight by an orchestral arrangement from US composer Samuel PK Smith. Meanwhile, ‘Honour Yourself by Honouring Others’ leans into nineties nostalgia, punctuated by crisp vinyl scratches courtesy of Melbourne turntablist Agent 86.
To mark the release, Padgham dropped a candid, documentary-style music video for ‘Whatever I Need I Already Have’, documenting a high-wire recording session where the track and visual were conceived and completed on the exact same day.
“I vividly remember a sense of nervous energy - this was the first time we’d all been in the same room together, let alone made any music… I first showed the band my demo at 9am and somehow, by the end of the day, we had a finished song AND video!”
'Love is the Centre of the Universe' is out now on vinyl and all major streaming platforms. Be sure to stream the EP and give Callum Padgham a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more.
