INTERVIEW: zKosta

Miami Encode catch up with zKosta ahead of his new release “Smoke Break” on Soniquarium. We find out a bit more about his new release, his music and what make him move.

 

Tell us a bit about where we find you today, what are you doing and what do you plan to do?

I reside in Austin, Tx. I am really just enjoying life, working with the local music community and doing volunteer work at the homeless shelter. If I am not doing that, I am making music or going to shows an events trying to meet new artist and get ideas through experiences.

 

Do you feel it’s important to carve out a distinctive sonic space, even if it means deviating from the norm? Could you share an instance where this thinking influenced your work?

When I am working on the mix of my track I try to maintain a balance between space (frequencies not overlapping), Perfectly panned percussive elements (really into auto panning), and making sure everything sits perfectly to the industry standards as well as to my liking and personal preference. It’s hard to balance mix ideas sometimes, so If I get stuck I generally go on a walk or wait a day or so until the brain fog clears or I can ask my peers what they feel would be more effective.

 

Can you share a concept or idea that has been a game-changer in your creative journey? How have you incorporated this into your work and how has it transformed your compositions?

When I am working on the mix of my track I try to maintain a balance between space (frequencies not overlapping), Perfectly panned percussive elements (really into auto panning), and making sure everything sits perfectly to the industry standards as well as to my liking and personal preference. It’s hard to balance mix ideas sometimes, so If I get stuck I generally go on a walk or wait a day or so until the brain fog clears or I can ask my peers what they feel would be more effective.

A very basic concept I learned early on was to overproduce the music, then come back and strip it down. You can always have to much, but simplicity is key when making sure every element has its appropriate position.

 

As an electronic music artist, you’ve had the opportunity to experiment with a wide array of tools and gear. Could you pick a couple that have been pivotal in shaping your unique sound and share a story about how they came to be so important to you?

I try to keep my life simple, just like I keep all things simple in production. I take my time when trying out new vsts and hardware. Some vsts I have found useful are the Aurturia V7 collection (they have V8 now I think), Kontakt, I really like the Sound-toys FX bundle, and as far as hardware goes I own a Korg Kronos and Korg SV2 (inspired by some organic hip hop elements I heard with my ear, I bought it off my buddy who used it live).

 

Life experiences often echo in the music we create. Has there been a moment or phase in your life that fundamentally shifted your creative process or the direction of your music? Could you share that story?

So as I discussed briefly in my interview with Como Las Grecas, Each song on this album is socio-political statement as well as has a very personal story behind it.

I was going through a mental breakdown when I finished this EP a year ago, a breakup, and dealing with other personal issues (a couple of deaths, addiction, and being diagnosed with a life long illness). This EP really has a lot of soul to it. Maybe, I will go into detail in future interviews, or podcasts.

 

Creating an album or EP is a journey in itself. Could you take us behind the scenes of one of your new release “Smoke Break”? How does it mirror your evolution as an artist?

As far as evolution goes, I definitely have grown technically and artistically since this release, but you can also listen to the tracks and see that I was trying new ways of implementing ideas (such as a lot of the sounds in “We got this” are live percussion and sounds sampled from nature).

 

Many artists use their platform to bring attention to social issues. Are there any causes you feel a deep connection with? Could you share a story about how you integrate this passion into your music?

Without getting too in depth about the meaning behind every song I do imply with some of the lyrics and names my socio-political messages and ideas. These are topics I would like to discuss in a live interview.

 

In the course of your career, you’ve likely come across mentors or collaborators who’ve left a lasting impact. Could you share a story about a transformative experience or lesson from someone within the music industry?

I’ve encountered so many great humans in my years DJ’ing. I try to take a little bit from every person I interact with and learn from the experience. Some People who have shaped my ideas and thoughts on my sound and vision begin back in my club days with my introduction to the scene by Jt Skyy, and then we fast forward to the labels and artist I’ve worked with to name a few Antdadope, Bravo (Soniquarium), Corrupt.Uk, David Sien (Herbsky). A couple of memorable experiences I’ve had were opening for DMX (He was amazing and a true talent), Opening for Deorro at Cowboys (In San Antonio), or fast forward to my set at Concourse project playing direct support for Steve Aoki.

Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for you? Are there any particular projects, collaborations, or ideas that you’re excited to explore in the near future?

I am currently exploring a new sound as we speak, but generally speaking I am always trying new ideas out. I am really just looking forward to sharing my music with the world and on a larger scale than ever before, and I can’t wait to see what happens. I like to go with the flow.

https://www.beatport.com/label/soniquarium/32548

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