Contributing WriterKOTA (BR) is half of HIGHLOW, but he’s spent years developing his solo sound. Inspired by the more emotional end of the spectrum, he blends Afro, melodic and deeper electronic influences into his work, often with subtle vocals that make all the difference. He has long released edits of classics that blend rap, trap, and hip-hop, and he brings that knowledge of how to get a crowd moving to this debut on Stereo MC’s connected.
Hey KOTA, great to see you today! Your track ‘Do You Want Me?’ came out October 30th. You’ve been working for years to develop your solo sound. What was the journey like to get to this release?
Glad to be here, guys! The journey has had its highs and lows. I started mainly producing rap and trap beats in 2018 and sending beats out to as many rappers as I could. I started to really get into house music as a whole back in 2021-2022, and it inspired me to start creating my own versions and iterations of house music. Since then, I haven’t looked back; I’ve released numerous edits through SoundCloud and originals through labels on all streaming platforms, with my most recent being this one with Connected.
KOTA (BR) is a new alias of yours. Was there a particular reason for starting this new moniker?
For about 3 years, I’ve been releasing music under HIGHLOW, which is a duo group with myself and one of my closest friends, Jeff Gardner. “KOTA” is a way to start releasing music under my own sound and inspirations, the way I view the many subgenres of house music.
You’re one half of the NYC-based electronic music duo HIGHLOW. How does your sound differ when you work alone? Have you found that the style you’ve developed together comes through in your solo work?
The sound definitely differs; I’ve always been on the more Afro/Deep house side of the curve, and that shows through a plethora of my edits on SoundCloud. I think it definitely shows; we learned from one another about different mixing techniques, different melody trials, and the blend of our sound felt unique to the tech house side.
You’ve released edits of classics that blend rap, trap, and hip hop. Are these genres that you have always liked, and how do they influence your original work?
Yes, for sure. I remember growing up listening to Hot 97.1 or Hot 95 on the radio back in my home state of Virginia/DC and falling in love with Rap. From 50 Cent to more recent artists like Playboi Carti, I have always been a fanatic, and one thing I vividly remember is listening to the beats of these songs, not really the lyrics. The smallest percussion or the mix of the kick with the bass in certain songs is what made me love them more than the lyrics themselves. Clearly, that passion never stopped; once I got into making beats, it felt like an easy transition and learning path.
Your tracks blend Afro, melodic, and deep electronic influences, often with vocal elements. What is your production process like, and how do you bind these sounds?
I usually like starting with a vocal sample, either from an older song or of my own, and building the melody around it and finishing it off with the drums. It’s always been more efficient for me to create drums around melodies because it’s easier for me to find the small spaces where certain grooves and hits can squeeze in. Once I get the main melody sound in around the vocals, it’s smooth sailing from there; it just depends on whether I like the song enough to see it through and build it out!
You say you are inspired by emotion in music. How do you work with and manipulate sound to convey different feelings in your tracks?
Definitely, I’d say my favourite genre within the umbrella of electronic music is Afro House, and a lot of the songs are based on these beautiful, bold lyrics with emotional pianos and other elements. I get a lot of inspiration from older Brazilian Jazz, Bosa-Nova, as well as more tribal songs. Once I hear the lyrics or the groove, I imagine how I’d want to hear it in a club setting and try my best to make my imagination come to life, adding different melody elements or harder-hitting drums with a powerful sub-bass.
Your music knowledge, influences, and depth in your tracks span across many different genres. Many DJs don’t like being pigeonholed into one sound because it feels limiting. Does this resonate with you?
100%, I think the biggest thing with being a music producer is not letting yourself be boxed into one genre. If you can throw on different Apple Music/Spotify stations from certain categories like 80sBrazilian Jazz or anything you may not listen to on a daily basis, you’ll find inspiration. I used to not want to listen to any other genres, but once I realised that music is subjective and if you hear the slightest 10-second blip of a song that you can sample, beat-making starts becoming more fun, and your creativity will take off.
Thank you for talking with us today. What can we expect from you in the coming months?
Thank you, guys, for having me! Within the next few months, you can expect more mixes and edits on my SoundCloud, and hopefully more originals and gigs to follow. This is just the beginning for KOTA.
