3.3Breach Magazine
Music Critic [Freelance]
A long-form artist profile for Breach Magazine, founded by James Dylan and Michael Avedon.

I wrote a long-form profile on multidisciplinary artist Kris Esfandiari— best known for her project King Woman—for Breach Magazine. Inspired by the observational intimacy of writers like Gay Talese, the piece used scene-setting, sensory detail and character-led storytelling to build a textured portrait of Esfandiari across her many creative identities.

Structured as a narrative encounter rather than a conventional interview, the profile explored her artistic evolution, her frustrations with industry gatekeeping, the launch of her independent label Genie Mob, and the personal history, discipline and intuition that shape her work. The writing foregrounded Esfandiari’s voice and presence, capturing the shifts in tone, mood and persona that define her creative life.


Photography: Jason Thomas Geering


Selected Copy [Excerpt]
Her fond memories of Australia shine through as she describes Sydney's "peaceful beach vibes."As our conversation drifts, she peels a mandarin, revealing her intentions of returning to Australia. "I've always loved Sydney and even see myself settling there in the future for a gentler lifestyle, possibly venturing into film scoring," she muses. Her current downtown LA environment has her yearning for a home surrounded by nature and tranquillity. "Living in these busy cities, it's sometimes hard to hear yourself think." As she rubs the mandarin peel, her pearlescent acrylics catch the light, becoming oddly mesmerising.

With years in the music industry under her belt, Kris has cultivated a seasoned perspective. She began as a vocalist for Whirr in 2010, eventually branching out to helm a diverse array of projects, including Dalmation, King Woman, Miserable, NGHTCRWLR, and Sugar High."I've seen a lot of stuff go down this last decade," she admits, adding, “I don’t want to deal with shitty, misogynistic, disrespectful, out-of-touch dinosaurs anymore.” Regardless, she remains steadfast in her desire to innovate, harbouring ambitions for her new label Genie Mob. This endeavour, she elaborates, is about crafting “a space where artists can freely express themselves without constraints.” The path is strewn with challenges, but Kris is grateful for friends who have helped her navigate them along the way.

She doesn't hide her frustration with the industry's narrow focus. “I feel like making my own label is the next chapter for me," she says. "So much of my life has been spent trying to pitch artists to A&Rs, and I'm just thinking, ‘You guys are stupid; these are some of the greatest artists of our time.’” With a touch of irony in her voice, she parodies the industry's obsession with social metrics: "‘What are their TikTok numbers?’, “But where is their content?’” Taking a deep breath, Kris passionately asserts, "I don’t give a fuck, I’ll go bankrupt trying to put out good music.” Through it all, her mission remains clear: to prioritise genuine music, support undervalued artists, and express her multifaceted talents through Genie Mob.