Dubeats
It’s with great pleasure that we announce Kisk’s first LP in a long time, titled ‘Jazzyness’, which perfectly represents his free spirit as a producer.
Jazzyness is a carefree miscellaneous of Jazzy sounds and virtuosities and it’s a flawless portrait of his way of thinking music. Every track of the LP is a journey through Kisk’s musical mind and a perfect display of his influences: great taste for sampling and a relentless will to find the perfect groove. The result is a rhythmically fulfilling work decorated by masterly written harmonies and tied together by his simple yet striking approach to production.
Jazzyness is out 10/05/20 on Apparel Music
Artist: Kisk
Title: Jazzyness
Label: Apparel Music
Release Date: 2020-10-05
Interview with Kisk
1.) Can you give us a bit of background on yourself as an artist?
Kisk has been my stage name since 1996 and I founded Apparel Music exactly 10 years ago in 2010. My approach to music dates back to the late 80’s, when I started taking the first accordion lessons. I was born in a village called San Salvo, located in the center of Italy, on the coast. In 1998 I moved to Milan to study Law but my main focus was always to follow my passion for music. After years listening and studying Jazz, Trip-Hop, Deep House, Jungle and all kinds of introspective sounds, selecting music as a DJ for events, fashion shows and festivals, I started producing my first tracks. For alla these reasons and after this path, founding my own record label came natural.
2.) Tell about your new Album on Apparel Music?
During this summer of forced seclusion, due to the pandemic, I finally had the time to work on this album. In recent years I have mainly dedicated myself to producing and promoting other artists, putting aside ideas, producing some remixes and opening new collaborations, such as the 2KS project together with Ludovico Schilling. With Ludovico we decided to create a new label dedicated to experimental sounds (‘Bliss-Beat’, that’s how we like to call our vision towards these sounds), Apparel Tronic. In 2019 I started working on the arrival of B-Day 10, an important milestone for Apparel Music which I wanted to be celebrated in the best possible way. The result is a book that retraces the last 10 years and a double vinyl. I worked for more than 8 months on the production of my song ‘Your Face’, working in several studios to record live trumpets and drums, until I collaborated with Robert Owens, who sang on the track. Then I started browsing through the folders of past projects and during the summer I selected and completed what became, at the age of 42, my debut LP.
3.) Who are your greatest influences as a artist?
I believe That the first artist that has opened my perception of music to 360 degrees is Afronaught. In my opinion, the song ‘Transcend Me’ includes different genres, from Soul to Deep elements, but also Brokenbeat and Nu-Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQkSRybhPTk
The second artist who has always influenced my productions is Sonny Rollins. My song ‘Apple Moon feat. Oneboy ‘is a reinterpretation of the classic ‘St. Thomas’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA2XIWZxMKM
Lastly I’d say Delano Smith represents the Deep House part of my soul. For years I have listened to his productions and I had the opportunity to share the console with him, in Milan at the ‘Dude’ club. I make you listen the tracks I had the honour and pleasure of publishing on Apparel Music some years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIWw_57CK0
4.) Please tell us about the electronic scene in Milan. What artists do you love past and present that have inspired and encouraged you and what parties that you love going to have helped your musical evolution.
A difficult question to answer to, right now because the lockdown certainly imposed a revolution, forcing many smaller music scenes to resize massively their plans, or in sadder cases, to even die. Fortunately Milan is a city in constant movement, evolution and I am sure that new noteworthy music scenes will born and grow. In the past I have had the opportunity to collaborate with many groups of party promoters and clubs, starting from my residence at the Sunday brunch of Old Fashion, passing to the residence for a year at Amnesia, New Years at Bitte, the first ‘Privat’ parties, then community center such as Leoncavallo, Bulk or Pergola Tribe (these were the places where for the Italian Jungle and D&B scenes). I’ve always had to get by on my own and few djs / producers have inspired me. A really important figure who helped my out a lot is a Milanese DJ, Bobo, resident of the old Trattoria Toscana. Thanks to him I approached the world of the DJing: he revealed the first tricks to me, teaching me how to interpret a moment with a sound or a BPM, without belonging to one culture or another, but living music without limits.
5.) How have you been keeping busy during lockdown?
During the lockdown I had the opportunity to live my family full time, immerse myself as I said earlier in the productions and finding the time to finish and release the first Apparel Book.
6.) What else can we expect from Kisk over the next year?
Much more new music I hope!