Kokiri

One of the UK’s most exciting new producers unleashes a Summer anthem

Interview by Dan Prince


Dude a massive welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today…?

I’m currently in my studio in Liverpool in the UK looking out the window at the dismal weather.

The first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed…

If we can class my alarm as the first piece of music, I’d say it was the “Radar” preset on my phone, if not my shower track for today was SG Lewis – The Masque.

You posted a photo of yourself on Facebook last week, aged two perhaps and I am hoping that jumper was some form of Everton garb? Being a true blue myself, just wondered what side of the fence you are on soft lad?

Haha I’m a Liverpool fan myself. In regards to the jumper, I actually have no idea what that is and I can’t make out what it says. Looking at the picture though the real question you should be asking me is ‘what is with the powerful blue cords?’

True! Well young man, ‘Retrospect’ is already being billed as one of the summer anthems. The track has quite some history…tell us the tale…

Well I’m one of those people that absolutely loves anything to do with growing up in the 90s such as games, toys, songs etc. When I started the Kokiri project I wanted to make a song that kind’ve took me back to when I was about 5 or 6 years old. My older brothers would be getting ready to go out at the weekend and so they’d have their ‘going out music’ on as they would be getting ready. I’d be in my bedroom playing on my computer games and I’d always turn the music down on whatever game I was playing so I could listen to what they were listening to. This song was sort of a homage to my childhood. The lyrics “how I wish I could turn back time” can be interpreted by listeners differently, however anybody wants but for me, it was all about just going right back to those moments.

Your adventures in dance music began 11 years ago when you were 13 when your brother explained to you that the track he kept playing was made by a ‘bedroom producer’ – something that you couldn’t quite get your head around as you assumed all big records were made in flashy studios. So you got investigating, you loved music and there was an inkling that you too could make records at home. What happened next…?

Yeah, I was just so shocked by this idea that anybody (even me) could make music just off a computer so I started doing some research online on how to do this. I’d always had an interest in music anyway just due to my brothers interest in it, so my research consisted of finding out what programs there were to be able to do this and then joining up to various forums and trying to learn how to do it. I’d already played on Music 2000 so i had a faint idea that it could be something similar to that…and to start off with it was, I started off just using loop based programs such as Dance Ejay and stuff which actually helped me with figuring out how to structure songs, like how many bars go here, how many go there and so even the little things like that have all be beneficial to help me get to where I am today.

Have you any idea what that record your brother played was – and also, does he come to your gigs and like your music?

Yes, the track itself was DJ Kurt – Rock Ya Hardcore, funnily enough after a year or 2 of following his music (after finding out that you can make it in your bedroom) I found him online and we’ve been speaking ever since! My brother did come to my shows but he’s recently had a baby daughter so he hasn’t been able to make it to any of my more recent Kokiri ones. He’s always been a massive supporter of my music, everything i’ve done from my earliest stuff all the way to my stuff now,  he’d be playing it any chance he got and being like ‘our Kev made this’ to his friends.

How did the whole DJing side of your life kick off, are you self taught…can you remember the first club you played in and how much you were paid?

Well initially when I was younger I didn’t really want to do DJ’ing because I was so focused on production. I just wanted to be a producer, produce my own music and perhaps produce stuff for people in the charts, that was my main aim out of all of this, get a track of mine in the UK charts. Of course, due to the type of music I’ve produced DJ’ing sort of goes hand in hand with it so I decided I’d have to DJ aswell as produce. I’d always practiced anyway so I had an idea of what I was doing when it came to DJ’ing as my brother used to do it as a hobby and a lad in my street also did so I’d always have a play about. My first show, thinking about it I’m pretty sure my first show was maybe 2009/2010, it was for an event called ‘I Heart Moustache’ which played like Dubstep and other bass heavy genres. I don’t think I got paid for that show but I did get a bacon butty at the end of the night so it wasn’t all bad.

What was the first super club you went to and thought to yourself, yes, I am having some of this…!?

As strange as it is, I’ve never really been one to go out clubbing in that sense, I’ve always thought that I want to be the person playing in the clubs that other people are going to see so you could say I really did come at this from a producers point of view.

Early DJ/producer heroes?

Absolute biggest inspiration for me and it always has been is Mike Di Scala. When I first started getting into production, he was producing the type of music I was trying to create and I’ve always looked upto him due to how diverse he is but how he is able to retain originality through his music.

What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…

In no paticular order:

Miura Keys ft Raphaella – Rise (Lushington Remix)
I got this through as a promo a few weeks back and i can’t get enough of it, the vocals are amazing!

Midnight City – Freak Me
Couple of local lads (and i’m all for supporting local talent) And the track itself is huge!

Joe Stone ft Montell Jordan – The Party
This track fits perfectly in my sets, it would be rude not to include it!

Kideko – The Jam
Absolutely massive!

Claude Von Stroke – Make A Cake
Cake Is Love, Cake Is Life!!

And 3 bucket list adventures you wanna do in your lifetime?

1. Road trip across the US
2. Go to Carnival in Rio, Brazil
The third one is for the child in me haha…
3. Go to a Pokemon Centre in Japan

A big night round the corner at Ministry of Sound for your label showcase. What have you in store for us…?

Yeah, I’m really excited for this show –  I can’t wait! At the show I will be showcasing a few exclusive remixes and a few new tracks I’ve been working on myself

What has been the biggest thrill in your career to date?

My biggest thrill for me has got to be everything that has surrounded ‘Retrospect’ so far, from the support it’s been recieving to the feedback I’m getting and the fact that it’s signed to Ministry of Sound (UK)/Big Beat(US). Ever since I can remember I’ve always wanted to have my music signed to them or at least get one of my tracks on a compilation and I’ve managed both of those, it’s a huge huge deal for me personally.

An album in your collection you’d hide if we came round…

I’m gonna say Will Young – Friday’s Child, or if you could get past my music taste we could put the album on and have a karaoke!

And finally…what is coming out next from you studio wise…?

Well I’m currently working on my next single(s) which is going well and I’m collaborating with a few people too. I won’t reveal too much but I’m excited to get all this new music out!