Exclusive Interview: Koven on “Nervous System,” Collaborating with Steve Aoki, and the Future of Drum & Bass

In this Beatportal Exclusive interview, Koven dives deep into their groundbreaking collaboration with Steve Aoki on "Nervous System," the evolution of their sound, and the exciting future of drum & bass.

Monstercat
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6 min •
Oct 23, 2024
Proyecto nuevo

Koven, the London-based duo consisting of producer Max Rowat and vocalist Katie Boyle, have been captivating the global electronic music scene with their signature blend of emotionally charged drum & bass. Over the years, they've developed a reputation for creating powerful and energetic music that seamlessly fuses raw, emotive vocals with pulsating beats. Known for their work with Monstercat, Koven has been pushing the boundaries of the drum & bass genre while earning legions of fans with their electrifying performances at festivals worldwide.

Their latest release, “Nervous System,” in collaboration with the legendary Steve Aoki, marks a significant milestone in their career. Debuted at Tomorrowland 2023, the track is a thrilling fusion of Koven’s drum & bass roots with Aoki’s high-energy EDM sound. The track’s infectious bassline, paired with Katie’s powerful vocals, serves as a perfect crossover between two iconic styles, and it’s already making waves across the dance music community.

Steve Aoki has been a long-time admirer of Koven’s work, and when the opportunity arose to collaborate, both parties were eager to bring their unique styles together. “Nervous System” represents the synergy between Koven's intricate drum & bass rhythms and Aoki's arena-filling production, resulting in a track that bridges the gap between two massive electronic subgenres. As drum & bass continues to grow in popularity, particularly in North America, this collaboration is sure to boost the genre's visibility on the world stage.

In this Beatportal Exclusive Interview, Koven shares insights into the creation of "Nervous System," their ongoing journey with Monstercat, and their future plans. Below, Koven discusses their experience working with Aoki, their thoughts on the drum & bass movement, and what’s next for the dynamic duo.

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Exclusive Interview

Beatportal: "Nervous System" has been an exciting crossover with Steve Aoki. What was the inspiration behind the track, and how did you find a balance between your signature Drum & Bass style and the high-energy elements of EDM?

Koven: The track really came together naturally. We had a demo we’d started and sent it over to Steve, and he added so much to it in ways we wouldn’t have thought of. Then it became a back-and-forth process online between Max and Steve until we got to a final track that was a perfect balance between both our sounds.

Beatportal: You’ve been with Monstercat for a while now, releasing some standout tracks. How has working with Monstercat shaped your sound, and how do you feel they’ve supported your journey as artists?

Koven: I’m not sure if it’s shaped our sound because we’ve never really made music for the label it’s released on. We’ve always just made music to our own taste and what makes sense for us and our shows. But in terms of supporting us and our journey, they have been HUGE. Things really changed for us in a big way after we started releasing with them. We managed to hit a whole new audience, and it really helped with the snowball effect we experienced. They also gave us so many great opportunities within the gaming world, which have been crucial to our success.

Beatportal: Collaborating with someone as established as Steve Aoki must have been incredible, but what other projects have you been working on? Can you tell us a bit about what’s next for Koven?

Koven: Yes, it was an incredible opportunity, and we were very grateful—it was all very exciting. We have another collab in the pipelines with Blanke as Aeon Mode, which we’ve been testing out at shows. It's been sounding so good, and we’re really excited to get that one out.

Beatportal: Drum & Bass is growing rapidly, particularly in places like North America. How does it feel to be at the forefront of this movement, and how do you see your music continuing to push the genre forward?

Koven: It feels really special to be one of the DnB acts from the UK to continuously get booked across the US. Especially getting bookings like EDC Vegas on the Circuit Grounds stage—that one was particularly crazy for us. The mad thing is, we could be constantly touring the USA if we had the time, but it’s hard to take all the offers due to also playing shows in Europe, Australia, and NZ. It’s such a privilege to know the opportunities are there for us.

Beatportal: Your performances are always filled with energy, and Tomorrowland was no exception. What was it like debuting “Nervous System” on such an iconic stage, and how did that experience differ from some of your other live shows?

Koven: Honestly, it was the most surreal and exciting moment of our careers. It was lovely because Max and I were both there (Max doesn’t come to that many shows), so we were just so giddy stepping onto that stage. The Tomorrowland mainstage is like another world all on its own—it even has an artist bar built into it. I had a vocal cord massage while waiting to perform! It was such a crazy experience.

Beatportal: You've had great success with Monstercat, delivering powerful, emotionally charged tracks. How do you keep evolving your sound while staying true to the core that fans love?

Koven: We’ve always made music for ourselves. We make songs that I (Katie) know I’m going to love belting out on stage and dancing to. So, our sound just naturally evolves with our own tastes and style. I think as long as we keep loving what we make, the audiences will too (hopefully).

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Beatportal: With “Nervous System” marking a big moment in your career, how do you plan to build on this momentum moving forward? Are there any other collaborations or releases you’re particularly excited about?

Koven: It’ll be pretty hard to top releasing a collab with Steve Aoki, but we are confident about the rest of the unreleased music we’re sitting on, and we believe it will still make the same impact.

Beatportal: Looking back on your journey with Monstercat and your recent collaborations, what have been some of the key moments or milestones that have really defined your career so far?

Koven: I think releasing our first album, Butterfly Effect, was crazy and did big things for us. Other than that, it’s been the endless number of crazy shows and festivals we’ve been lucky to be booked for, as well as being able to do our own headline shows, which are continuing to grow.

Beatportal: What can fans expect from Koven in the near future, both in terms of music releases and live performances? Any major projects or surprises on the horizon?

Koven: We have a big project on the horizon regarding releasing music, but that’s all I can say at this point. As for live shows, we want to do something incorporating live strings—that’s what we’ll work towards next.

Beatportal: As your sound evolves and you explore new musical directions, what’s something that has consistently driven your creativity and passion for music?

Koven: We’ve always had a huge drive to succeed. There were many times we could have given up when things weren’t going well for us, but we never did. We love what we do. We did it when we had 10k followers, and we’ll continue now with 100k. The love for the music we make, combined with the lovely feedback from fans, is what drives us.

What’s Next for Koven

Koven’s collaboration with Steve Aoki on "Nervous System" signals a new chapter for the duo as they continue to shape the future of drum & bass while bringing their music to a broader audience. With more exciting projects and collaborations in the pipeline, Koven shows no signs of slowing down. As they prepare for the next phase of their journey, fans can expect more innovative music and unforgettable live performances from this unstoppable duo.

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