INTERVIEW: Five Minutes With… Kachina

NexGen Record superstars Kachina will be supporting the Bloody Beetroots at Electric Brixton on June 23rd, presented by the Playground.

Described as “music from the spiritual dimension to sharpen your senses and calm your soul” the UK trio tap into your emotions with sounds of dark and light, melodies floating in harmony, basslines rolling into the night.

We caught up with them ahead of the event for a chat….

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
We try make music which will sound good in a club or festival, whilst also being able to jam to it at home just relaxing. We always focus on the melodic elements using natural instruments and vocalists but also got to put in a weighty bassline to shake the dancefloor! Our sound is a tribal blend of UKG, house and bassline with a cynical twist.

What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
We don’t feel that albums in dance music are a true representation of what we’re into as most producers focus on records/singles/eps and most of the big dance albums came out in the 90’s but these albums have influenced us:

Prodigy – Experience
Goldie – Timeless
Mad Professor vs Massive Attack – No Protection
Burial – Untrue
Trentemoller – Last Resort

Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
El-B – Keeping garage alive
Prangman – Heavy basses tight percussion
Killjoy – Cheeky bangers
Synkro – Deep garage pioneer
Lowsteppa – Bass heavy house very smooth production
MJ Cole – Legend

Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
What’s already out is mainly software created serum and is used a lot for basses, Omnisphere, Korg M1, Wavestation, Alchemy, FM7 and Sampletank for music. We have lots of hardware now which you’ll be hearing in our new music next year

What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
With music production software readily available and DJ equipment so cheap for the masses, it can make it harder for unsigned artists to get heard and make a name for themselves as there’s so many people doing music now. That being said , it’s also driving the scene as so many talented people are making amazing music, and more music is always good!

Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
Hardships of life love and loss, spiritual concepts, good stories/films/series, dreams/visions. We work with lots of different singers and producers so ideas are never in short supply

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
We usually have a Sunday session though that’s been on ice for months while studio has been upgraded, but we’re ready to get back on it now so tunes will start flowing again faster than before. We start with a preset or a riff or a sample and take it from there few drinks and some herb essential!

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
The best and the…..

And the worst?
….worst is yet to come!

If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
Zurcs – Neurosurgeon,  Sparx – Mad Scientist,  Wigz actually is an electrician!

If you could perform alongside any other band or artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Jimi Hendrix of course!

Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
Anywhere and everywhere! We love music and love performing our music out to a crowd, its not where you are, it’s about who you’re with and if the crowd is pumping and enjoying themselves, then anywhere can be special. That said, Ministry would be nice!

The Playground is giving away VIP tickets to the event, including a backstage passes and a nights stay in five star luxury. Follow our Facebook  page for more info. Click here for more details on the event and here to buy tickets. 

Follow Kachina:
https://www.facebook.com/kachinamusic
https://twitter.com/kachina303
https://soundcloud.com/kachina-4