Interview with KICA for his new single “2 AM”

• Chatting about your background, could you tell us a bit more about your professional path as athlete and curator of extreme sports?
  

  As a kid, I was involved in several sports at a professional level while also being immersed in the art industry, frequently traveling to theaters.
  After starting high school, I began training professionally in breakdancing. Unfortunately, it’s not the best time to discuss it due to the recent controversy at the Olympics. For the record, I’m against the Olympics, but that’s a different topic.
  I pursued that career very seriously, eventually reaching the Top 100 in the world. I became a world judge and used to teach and give workshops across Europe. This was about 14 years ago, until I retired at the age of 24 or 25.

  
  
• How and when did you approach to music and who are your inspirations?
  

  Originally, KICA had a small stripe on top, but the world didn’t know that, so I decided to keep the ‘C’. After retiring from the sports world, I couldn’t imagine leaving behind the music, the scene and the dance. It just happened naturally. I was always surrounded by DJs and events, but I wasn’t initially that involved. However, I was passionate about music and knew the names of every album out there.
  One day, it just clicked out of the blue. I thought, ‘You know what? Let me start playing music.’ I began with funk and breakbeat because I was certain that was my path. But after about seven months, I realized that wasn’t the right fit. House music was where I truly belonged.

  From there, I slowly transitioned into the house music scene, and the rest is history. I’ve been in the industry for about nine years now. I made a strong decision to invest my time and resources into starting my own record label and producing my own sound.

  At first, I gravitated towards the darker side of tech house, but eventually, I moved into a happier house vibe, more in the realm of minimal tech and minimal deep tech. I found a way to create my own sound, which is similar to top-notch artists like The Martinez Brothers and Solid Grooves.

  When it comes to inspirations, The Prodigy and several breakbeat groups from the late ’80s definitely influenced me. Growing up in Serbia, house music started with classic house, techno, and psy-trance. Back then, there was no minimal tech, deep tech, or tech house. The scene was dominated by big festivals with a strong techno presence. House music was more of a bar vibe, without the dancing crowds.

  In those days, in Belgrade, Serbia, about 20 years ago, the best artists were Umek with his hit “Lanicor” Cristian Varela, Chris Liebing, DJ Rolando with “Jaguar” and especially Ricardo Villalobos. I love his sound, the impact he had, and everything he brought to the scene. There were so many hits back then, and you could really feel the impact of the sound on the crowd.
  
  

• What’s behind the title of your new single “2 AM” on your record label snd what’s your favorite hour of the day?
  

  “2 AM” is actually a commercial title, and I have to admit, it wasn’t the original name of the track. Initially, the track was called “COD” but on the day my team submitted it to Beatport, they suggested renaming it “2 AM” because the track itself isn’t as commercial compared to my previous two releases on my label. It doesn’t have those catchy, commercial vocals that tend to stick in your mind, but it does have a groove that resonated well—it even reached the Top 15 on Beatport and is still in the Top 100. It’s been recognized and respected by big DJs, which is a significant achievement, especially for an independent artist and label releasing a non-commercial track.

  The track actually started with an unreleased piece called “Better Life.” When I first created the bassline, I realized that it could carry the entire track. What makes “2 AM” unique is that it’s the only track I’ve released without those commercial vocals that can feel like brainwashing. That’s the original aspect of the track.

  As for my favorite hour of the day, I’m not one for after-parties. My favorite time is the beginning of the day, those first two or three hours in the morning. That’s when I’m happiest. I know most people are usually nervous when they wake up, but for me, I’m flying. As soon as I wake up, it’s two double espressos, and I’m ready to start the day!
  
  

• Which kind of music do you like to listen to while doing sports?
  At home, I listen to multiple genres of music, including a lot of Serbian folk. I know all the songs from the ’60s and old-school rap like Rakim. Even though I’m an electronic music DJ, I don’t listen to electronic music at home or while doing sports.

• In “Caje Caje” as well as “Cuckoo” we can feel the influences of your Dubai residency since 2015. What do you like and think about Middle-East music landscape?
  

  Well, I think it’s obvious due to the impact of being there and being surrounded by it. The vocal in “Caje Caje” is originally a Gypsy Macedonian one, but you can definitely feel Middle Eastern influences. The vocal in “Cuckoo” is from Sri Lankan artist Yohani, but it also carries vibes from the Middle East.

  So, while the music might not be purely Arab, being surrounded by so many different nationalities in Dubai where there are around 150 different nationalities leads to a natural fusion of influences. Dubai’s music scene is largely focused on Afro house and organic sounds, but I’ve found my own path in minimal tech. In fact, there are only two of us in town who specialize in that genre, so it’s a big challenge, but an exciting one.

• Which artists/labels would you work with in the future?
  Solid Grooves and The Martinez Brothers, with their style that I like to call “Pornhouse”, it’s all about happy vibes, everyone wearing sunglasses, super drinks, and a fancy, touchy atmosphere. Also, Kaluki Musik and Cuttin’ Headz!
  

  To be honest, I don’t have a strong desire to collaborate with a large number of artists or to have a big wish to support or work on a track with some DJ. I’m not focused on speeding up my career by releasing a track with a big name. I would be happy to do it and would gladly collaborate, but that’s not my primary goal. What I’m really aiming for is to showcase my own sound and keep working in that direction, if possible, while releasing on big labels at the same time, back to back.

  
  
  
• What’s coming next for KICA and KICA RECORDS?
  

  I recently had showcases in Albania and Greece. I’ve just signed a track titled “Levanta,” which will be released in October on Hot Fuss, featuring Brazilian vocals. The next several releases will be solely my own work. I already have a few names lined up that I can’t reveal yet. I’ve spoken with some artists about making a significant impact on my label. At the moment, it doesn’t make sense for me to release for someone else as I’m the single independent record label who is growing. I believe we need some time to become stronger and achieve better results.

  Besides KICA, I also run two companies in the UAE. One company, called Planet Sound, is dedicated to sound systems, lighting, and DJ equipment. The second company, under the KICA Group, specializes in scenography productions. For example, we collaborate with Sony Entertainment on movies, and I handle the pre-production and production of events. I also worked on a festival called “Lost Nomad” in Dubai, which was created for around 1,000 people and required large props, decoration, planning, operations, booths, and more.

  I also have my own project called Exotika, which focuses on house music along with my own decoration style. I’m working to grow Exotika as both a music project and a brand, aiming to leave an impact, teach people about the sound, and share my unique style.

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