KIRIK: “Croatian people are more open to making contact with you”

We spoke to Kirik, one of Ukraine's most renowned house and minimal artists prior to his debut performance at Dobar House!

Hi Kirik, it’s great to have you for this interview, how do you feel right now?

Kirik: Hey, thank you for having me! I'm good, but I have a small problem with my knee after a football game. Unfortunately, I'll miss the derby of my NK Croatia Hrastje with NK Zelina this weekend, but I'll cheer for my team in the stands. I hope to recover fast and get back in the game soon.

What do you consider to be the most important skill for a DJ to have when performing live, and how do you cultivate that skill?

Kirik: I think the most important skill for a DJ is to understand what the crowd wants and what they expect from you today. Sometimes you plan something approximately, but then along the way, you change everything. So, you need to have a feel for the audience. To cultivate this skill, I try to evaluate the audience in advance, especially if I'm playing at a new venue. If I know the atmosphere beforehand, it's easier to get a sense of what the crowd wants.What techniques do you use to keep your sets fresh and exciting?

What techniques do you use to keep your sets fresh and exciting?

Kirik: I always try to play super fresh music, especially music that I've made myself or promos from my friends. I also love to do some fresh "edits" of country music that I'll be performing, such as Croatian songs. I think this approach works well with the crowd.

What motivated you to pursue a career as a DJ, and what drives you to continue today?

Kirik: I've always loved music, and I'm never tired of it. When you get feedback from the crowd and see happy people enjoying your music, it drives me to continue.

Touring can be demanding and often takes you away from your family for extended periods. How do you balance your career with your responsibilities as a spouse and parent, and what strategies have you found to be effective in maintaining those relationships while on the road?

Kirik: It's tough when you travel alone without your family. But now, since we are based in Zagreb, it makes me happy because we are in the center of Europe, and I can use my car. My wife is a professional photographer, so she can travel with me, and when I have daytime parties, my daughter can dance and support me on the decks.

As you said, you're now based in Zagreb, which has a growing and diverse house music scene. How has living in this city influenced your style as a DJ, and what do you appreciate most about the local scene?

Kirik: Living in Zagreb has influenced my style as a DJ, and I now make more house music with more energetic styles because at every corner, you can hear local music on the radio, TV, and in bars. I love the coloring that the local music brings. I appreciate how Croatian people support and love local music. It's fantastic; in some bars, you can hear local songs played on an accordion, and everyone sings together while drinking rakia. I love it.

How did you meet Franky Rizardo, and how did you guys started working on music together?

Kirik: Franky Rizardo has been supporting my music for a long time by playing my tracks on his FLOW party and radio show. We were also in contact on Instagram, and one day, I asked about a collaboration. At the same time, he was also looking for someone to collaborate with, and that's how we created our track "Diamond". After that, I released my solo EP on Franky's label, LTF Records. Finally, he invited me to his show at ADE, "Listen to Flow", where we met many personalities. It was a magical party at Club Lovelee with Franky Rizardo, Luuk Van Dijk, Latmun, Jasper Fioole, Marco Tropeano, and Motion Sky. Franky is a super nice person, and I am glad that we know each other personally. 

Among others, you launched your own label, Memory Remains. What inspired you to start your own label, and how do you approach curating the artists and music that you feature on the label?

Kirik: I started my own vinyl label, Memory Remains, because I had a lot of music in 2014 that I wanted to release on vinyl, but no one wanted to release my songs. I tried to find a solution and started my own label to release my own music. Now, Memory Remains is one of the best vinyl labels with "edits" content. I accept a lot of demos and listen to them myself. If the demo sounds like it's in lineI accept a lot of demos and listen myself every demo, If sounds so close to the label view, I will release it.

What’s your favorite track right now that you just have to play?

Kirik: It's two tracks on my EP for Dobar House. Kirik - IN DEEP EP.

You played several shows in Croatia recently. What do you enjoy about performing in our country, and how does the energy of the Croatian crowd differ from crowds in other places you played?

Kirik: Yes, I haven't had too many shows to compare deeply, but the main thing is the big energy you feel from the feedback of the crowd on the dance floor! What differs maybe is that Croatian people are more open to making contact with you. They demand a closer relationship on the deck, with eye-to-eye contact, smiles, and so on.

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming release on Dobar House?

Kirik: As I said before, it's a super nice EP with a house groove! When I first found out about Dobar House, I decided to make something special for the label. I hoped that it would be in line with the label's style as well as my personal style, and I think it turned out that way.

You are also headlining our second show in Rijeka, we are super excited – what message do you have for the boys and girls coming to dance with us on the 29th of April?

Kirik: Come, let's spend this evening together, have a glass of rakija, and dance. I will also prepare a vinyl as a gift, and we can give it away randomly. The last two times in Rijeka were amazing, so let's repeat that experience! I'm looking forward to it all.

Kirik will play in Rijeka on the 29th of April. Get your tickets HERE.