Exclusive Interview: Martin Ikin Revives The Korgis' Classic "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" with a House Twist
In an exclusive chat with Beatportal, Martin Ikin reveals the inspiration and process behind his latest remix, blending timeless melodies with modern beats.
Martin Ikin's latest single is a house reworking of The Korgis' 1980 hit Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime. The remix will cast an all-new light on the song that has tugged at the heartstrings of listeners for over a decade. As an icon in electronic music, Ikin now unpacks how he merged the nostalgia of the original with the up-to-date energy of house music. This track is deeply personal in origin. Ikin recalls that the rave version of that song from the early 90s was a tune that really made a big impression on him. "It's always been one of my favourite vocals," he says. The decision to create his version came during a rare sunny day in the UK and the melody popped into his head while he was relaxing in his mother's garden. It was that 'aha' moment; he knew he had to rework it into his sets.
While reworking a very popular synth-pop hit into a dancefloor-friendly house track, Ikin kept both ears on the emotive core of the original. Curiously enough, Ikin replayed the iconic piano part with the same vintage synth from 1980. "It's one of those parts you don't need to change or mess with," he explains. The license to get creative came when introducing beats and bass, where he injected a modern vibe. Choosing which classics to rework isn't always a calculated decision. Ikin says Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime came to him organically. But when it comes to modernizing a song so beloved by so many, well. Success lay in the details, like finding and using the original synth, which took some experimentation. Once he discovered what had been used in the 1980s track, everything fell into place, and the reimagination flowed naturally.
Ikin has secured support from industry heavyweights such as Tiësto and Martin Garrix—a fact he does not boast about. "It's such a good feeling when those big dogs play your stuff too" he says, acknowledging the industry recognition of his talent. As for collaboration, Ikin has managed quite a few, notably by artists such as Matroda and Sian-Lee. In this regard, he says his friendship with Matroda grew from performing at gigs in the U.S., brainstorming their ideas. Once the concept was locked in for their collaboration, Ikin knew straight away that Sian-Lee's voice would complement the track. "She came to my flat one evening, and we recorded the vocals there," he says, underlining just how organic the creative process was.
As for the future, Ikin's vision with his music keeps unfolding. Being a DJ, his sound takes shape quite naturally with his club and DJ experiences. Although he does few remixes out of the necessity in time and energy invested, classics like Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime are the opportunities which he simply cannot turn down. Having picked up momentum, Ikin stays really sober-minded and looks to the world around him for constant inspiration. "The smallest things can spark inspiration," he underlines the importance of being open to new sounds and ideas. He doesn't like to repeat himself; with each new record, he wants to take another step forward. While as for what's next, Ikin works on several new projects. "More music," he laughs, with four new tracks in progress. With his blend of timeless inspiration paired with newfound innovation, this sets the precedent that such a journey is far from over for Martin Ikin.
