Frame of Mind with hklivingg: Documenting Culture in Real Time [Interview]

hklivingg is a name that has steadily grown into a creative force, not just behind the camera but at the heart of cultural documentation. Known simply as hk to those around him, he is someone who resists the confines of a single title. His journey started with video work, purely out of curiosity and a need to create something that felt like his own. Over time, what began as informal freelance shoots developed into a body of work with its own identity and rhythm. Today, HKLivingg is more than a creative name. It's a presence, a feeling, and a growing archive of culture told through his eyes.

One of hk’s most memorable ventures is HDay, an event he first coined in 2022 around the time of his birthday. Initially casual, HDay has since developed into a key moment for hk and his community. The 2023 edition was tied to a SoundCloud release from his circle of friends, but 2024 marked a new level of intention. HK finally got the chance to put on the kind of event he had envisioned since he was 16. With a curated lineup and a palpable sense of purpose, HDay became a celebration not just of music or birthdays but of community, ambition, and shared creativity. It offered the type of unforced energy that only happens when real connection is at the center.

HDAY EP - TEEN SKUM

Where HDay offers a public display of hk’s vision, his video series Sessions invites viewers into a quieter, more intimate space. In Sessions, hk captures behind-the-scenes moments in recording studios, where artists gather to experiment, laugh, and build. What makes Sessions stand out is its observational style. The camera lingers, letting moments breathe without over-direction or forced narrative. hk doesn’t dominate the footage; he lets the room speak for itself. While he didn’t set out with a fly-on-the-wall approach, it became a signature aspect of the series. It allows for something rare, a kind of realness that treats artists as full people, not just performers.

hk’s intention with Sessions is to humanise. He sees value in showing artists as they are in their most relaxed, expressive states. The series has shown viewers what happens in the quiet between verses, the banter before the beat drops, and the small but meaningful interactions that define studio culture. There’s something significant about witnessing a song in its early stages, watching it unfold and eventually become something released to the world. For hk, it’s a privilege to be present for that transformation and an even greater one to be trusted to film it.

Despite the casual nature of his presence, hk often plays more than the role of observer. Depending on the dynamic, he may be asked for creative input or feedback, offering a second opinion on whether a track should be developed further or what direction a song might take. In other sessions, he simply documents, allowing the moment to guide him. Whether he’s capturing jokes, moods, or melodies, hk’s presence is felt without being imposed.

Editing is one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of the process for him. After every shoot, he wrestles with self-doubt. He’s often convinced the footage isn’t good enough, only to rediscover its beauty in the edit. As the series evolved, so did his technical approach. By the fourth Sessions video, he was taking more risks, teaching himself After Effects and experimenting with title cards and subtitling. These risks paid off, elevating the aesthetic and giving the series its own distinct visual language.

The impact of Sessions is already visible. Songs like Ceebo's 'Memory Lane' were captured mid-creation, and viewers can now trace its evolution from raw studio energy to polished track. Small interactions have also become cultural markers. In one video, Ceebo and Kare meet for the first time, and the footage unintentionally captures the origin of a creative connection. hk compares it to comic books, where fans can look back and see the first time two characters shared a panel. It’s a subtle but powerful kind of legacy.

What runs through all of hk’s work is a devotion to joy, community, and documentation. He’s not trying to be a tastemaker or trendsetter. He’s simply trying to preserve the beauty of what’s already happening. He wants people who come to HDay to dance, feel free, and go home lighter than they came. He wants viewers of Sessions to sit down, take it in, and see the artists as humans before anything else.

policing is building a catalogue of culture, one event and one video at a time. His work doesn’t ask for attention, it earns it by being rooted in sincerity. In a time where content is often engineered for clicks, hk reminds us of the value of simply being present. Watching his work is like flipping through a live scrapbook of moments that matter, and the best part is, he’s only just getting started.