Introducing: KiNK

Introducing: KiNK

1 July, 2010 | 4.37AM

• Written by: Beatport Mike
• Filed under: Music News: introducing, kink, ovum

In just a short amount of time, Strahil Velchev aka KiNK has come from being a relative unknown even in underground house circles to being one of the most in-demand producers and remixers to burst out of the trenches and skyrocket into the limelight. His unique take on classic house music, with a focus on Chicago’s jacking boompity and early acid tracks, has caused quite a stir. But his sound doesn’t just re-hash what we’ve already heard in the past. His ability to incorporate musicality within raw and edgy grooves has helped define him as a leader in the new-school of four-to-the-floor.

His ‘Rachel’ EP for Josh Wink’s Ovum imprint, for example, included one of the most frequently charted tracks at Beatport, ‘E79’, getting played everywhere from the darkest warehouses to the sunniest terraces, yet breaking all the rules dictating what a hit record should sound like. Further releases on Rush Hour, Pets Recordings, Liebe Detail, and Freerange Records have only helped cement his name as a person to take very, very seriously.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with KiNK and have a friendly Q&A session with the Bulgarian producer in the midst of his rise into underground superstardom. Check it out following the jump.

Where does the name KiNK comes from?

My good friend Theo from Sofia suggested “KiNK,” and the meaning fit my production and DJ style, because it always has some twist. In my case, it doesn’t have anything to do with fetish, bondage, goth or metal. I don’t like guitars and black leather!

How did you get started making music?

I heard techno on a radio show at the end of 1991, and it was love at first sight. It was my dream to be connected with this music since I was a kid, but I didn’t have a chance to start DJing and producing before the new millennium.

Who gave you your first big break?

My collaboration with UK artist Neville Watson, ‘Inside Out, released in 2008 on Rush Hour, was my breakthrough.

When did you first feel that you had finally discovered your own individual sound?

My music taste had shaped many years ago, and the only thing I needed was to learn how to transfer my ideas from my head to a recording. I think in 2003 or 2004 I felt that my knowledge of the audio production was enough for that. Since then I went through different styles that I can call my individual sound, but as my breakthrough happened later, with more old-school based tracks, I guess people say that my style is old-school influenced dance music. I’m excited about the future, I would like to show different aspects of “my” sound to the audience—of course, without cutting the connection with the old music that I like. 

Do you DJ or play live (or both)? How would you describe the sets you play?

I do both. I love to DJ in the old-school way, without a computer or automatic beatmatching. I like the risk of making a mistake on stage, and that includes mixing incompatible (at first sight) tracks and genres together. I was against playing live with laptop, looking like I was checking my e-mails and the new releases on Beatport, but as I started to get requests for live PAs, I was forced to learn how to perform my music live and I found the great possibilities of using the computer on stage. Sometimes I use some additional hardware for my live and DJ sets, like a Roland TR-707, MFB Synth II, Nord Micro Modular, and other small gadgets.

What’s your preferred time of night (or day) to play a set?

I love to play in the peak time of the event—doesn’t matter if it’s day or night—but sometimes it’s great to open or close the party, you can afford playing more special records that are not necessarily floor-fillers. Every part of the lineup has its charm.

How do you explain your music to your family members?

My parents don’t think it’s music. But they support me. My girlfriend (we are together for 10 years) understands what I am doing and why. She is a classically trained vocalist, and although she finds modern dance music very boring, she is helping me with great advice for my tracks, and I have to admit that she contributes a lot for the KiNK sound. And I decided to call my EP on Ovum after her, in return.

Where do you record?

My bedroom. It’s great to have your machines around you, any time you need them. But that causes some troubles—my neighbour from the upstairs complains that I torture his wife with strange noises, and my neighbour next to me asks what kind of weird, bass-making washing machine I use.

Do you currently have a favorite piece of gear or software?

My favourite software is the one I have used for over 10 years, it’s called Jeskola Buzz and I still find new features in it. As for Hardware, I recently bought a nice basic analog synth, called MFB Synth II. I’m amazed by the sound, the functionality and the ease of use of such a low-budget analog machine.

Are you a morning person or night owl?

Morning person.

What inspires you when you go into the studio?

I rarely wait for inspiration. Most of the times I have some idea of what I’m going to do while I’m having a breakfast or when I’m falling asleep the night before a current studio session. My main inspiration is life: the music that I liked since I was a kid until now, a nice conversation about audio production with friends, some random noises on the street, or a new piece of gear.

Which record do you wish you had made?

Aphex Twin, ‘Windowlicker’.

Do you feel you have made any mistakes thus far in your musical career?

I spent too many years using headphones in the studio, every day for many hours, and the result is tinnitus (a quiet ringing in my right ear) for the past year. Thankfully, according to tests in a few hospitals, my hearing is still great.

If a tsunami were headed for your house, which *one* record would you rescue before the waves hit?

There is one track used as a jingle for a lottery show on the Bulgarian national TV since the ‘70s. I grew up with it and I still love it. Discotheque, ‘Disco Special’, I would save that record. 

What was the best party/gig/festival you’ve ever attended, and why?

I started to visit electronic music events in 1994 (since we have them in Bulgaria) and although the music there was not in my favourite electronic genres, I keep very special memories from those early underground events in my country. There was less profesionalism, but more enthusiasm. I knew less about DJing and producing and I was just enjoying the parties, not analyzing them.

What was the best party/gig/festival you’ve ever played, and why?

I played at some good venues around the world, but my most memorable nights are on our local events in Sofia with my old friends, a DJ crew called Porno BPM. We are at home, we have our audience and we go crazy, doing things (musically) that are not allowed.

Musical genre: horrible, constricting categories made up by journalists and PR lackeys, or fields for creative play?

Necessary evil. I don’t like hybrid names like tech-house or electro-clash, maybe because I don’t like some of the music tagged like that. For me it is techno or house. Although I’m not crazy about all those small titles, I find them useful, helping me to know what music to look for… or to avoid!

When you’re not listening to electronic music, what do you listen to?

I don’t classify the music as electronic and other. When I’m not looking for DJ friendly tracks, I listen to musique concrete, minimalist composers like Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, La Monte Young. Other composers like Piero Umiliani, Henri Mancini, Johnny Harris, David Axelrod. Weird music from the ‘60s and ‘70s. I love jazz, funk, and disco, I also like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Autechre, early proto-hardcore rave records, I like jungle. I love old hip-hop, ragga, dub. The list can be endless.

When you’re not making or playing music, what’s your preferred pastime?

Sleeping, eating popcorn or other unhealthy things with my girlfriend, watching soaps in front of the TV; I also like to read novels and manuals of music machines.

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases…

Just finished remixes of Riva Starr, Marc Romboy vs. Blake Baxter, working on a remix of Paul Woolford. We are working together with Neville Watson on new material for Rush Hour and Pokerflat. I have a proposal to make an LP on a good electronic label, but it’s a bit too early to reveal the details about it.

Upcoming gigs:

27 Jun Fusion Festival Larz (live)
16 Jul Moscow (DJ set)
17 Jul Jesus Club St. Petersburg (DJ set)
30 Jul Fibre @ Underground Dublin (DJ set)
10 Sep Arena Club Berlin (DJ set)
08 Oct Turmzimmer Hamburg (live)
20 Oct 15 Years of Ovum @ ADE (live)
23 Oct Systematic @ Boom Chicago, Amsterdam (dj set)

KiNK Beatport Top 10

KiNK

*Photo credit: Petar Cholakov

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