Interview: K LSY talk about their new feel-good house EP “Ranin All Over the World”

K LSY are a house music duo from Italy whose new release on Mantide features three feel-good tracks that are ready for the summer party season. We caught up with the duo to learn more about their new release and background in music…

How did you first discover electronic music, and what made you decide to become a DJ?

“We first encountered electronic music around the age of 9 when Daft Punk’s Alive 2007 had just come out. My brother (Piero) was playing the album in his room, while I was sitting just outside building Lego. I still remember hearing “Robot Rock” for the first time, and it drew me in completely. From there, Alessandro and I started listening to them together. We started DJing after coming back from a tour in the UK with our old band. We realised it was time to explore a different direction, as we wanted to find something more current, and more open. Electronic music felt like the right space for us to evolve into.”
 
Who are some of your biggest influences, and what makes them so inspiring?

“For young people with a musical background inspired by music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, the major electronic artists to look up to are those who also draw inspiration from the ‘romantic’ sound of that era. For example, Daft Punk sample tracks from those years, as does Fatboy Slim. But if we had to name our greatest love, then it would be The Chemical Brothers. They have this incredible ability to take those psychedelic sounds and bring them back through synthesisers. Of course, we’re also inspired by artists closer to our generation, but we focus more on their sounds and rhythms. What’s striking today is how tracks sound so powerful, which wasn’t always the case 20 years ago. We’d love to bring those two worlds together.”
 
At what point in your career did you decide to start making your own music?

“We started by producing music, and then moved to start performing DJ sets. We both used to be musicians in a band, which meant we already knew how to make music. Music production is at the core of our career, although we had already played public DJ sets as K LSY, before we made our first official release under the alias. What excites us about the world of electronic is the process of creating new tracks, as it feels like a game, and is always a fun challenge. DJing came to us naturally, and it has been a great way to share our tracks with the world. We have used DJ sets to build a local audience, and experience how the music we make impacts a dance floor.”
 
Can you talk through the concept of the tracks on your new “Ranin All Over the World” EP?

“Ranin” is one of those rare tracks that came together perfectly on the first try. We had this beautiful vocal sample in our library, and a new LFO plugin for the synthesisers that made the lead sound. The bassline came together spontaneously during the track’s development, and the parts just clicked, creating an upbeat, fun, and energetic atmosphere.

“Ylrx” stands for Yesterday Laws Remix, and it’s the first fully electronic track we ever produced. It has a riff that sticks in your head and won’t leave, paired with original vocals that we wrote ourselves, and had two of our friends sing. We wanted to break down the track, and evolve it into a sound that felt more like us. We really love revisiting our older tracks, and this is one we are very proud of.

“Kill’em All” started as an experiment to where we tried to replicate a Brazilian sound, but it ended up turning into something totally different. The marching rhythm is almost militaristic, but it paired so well with a melody that was light, happy, and playful. It’s a track that’s full of energy, and gives us a smile that never fades.”

How do you approach making a new track, and what studio equipment is essential to your sound?

“A new track can come from different elements. In the case of “Ranin,” the idea started with the vocal, while for “Kill’em All,” it all began with the rhythm. At the same time, we believe that creativity should be spontaneous, and it can’t be forced. You can’t lock yourself in the studio, clench your fists, and say, “Today, I have to make a new track.” For us, the inspiration usually comes after listening to music with headphones or after being at a concert/festival. In the studio, we only have three synthesisers, but we’ve learnt that within each one lies a whole world of sounds to explore, and countless ways to tweak them.”

Your new Ranin All Over the World EP is out on the Mantide record label, how did you first make contact with the label, and which other imprints have you worked with?

“We made contact with Mantide thanks to Dyno, which was a chance meeting that blossomed into a friendship, and now we have three collaborations with him. We opened a club right behind his house, making music late into the night, and let’s just say the neighbours weren’t too happy about it. One day, Dyno called me out of the blue, and said, “You’re crazy for opening a club in this area. Be careful, they’re about to make your life difficult.” I really appreciated this call, as the locals were gathering support to try and get the club shut down, but Dyno was on our side. That same day, Dyno came over to my place, and we met for the first time. Although, it was years before we played him our music, and his first comment was simply, “Very nice.” Thanks to him, we landed our first release with Sonoros, which is a label under the Sirup Music Group.”

In your opinion, what sets DJs apart from bands or other performing artists?

“In general, I think a band or a live performance has a greater opportunity to express itself, and connect with the audience in that moment. It’s a natural thing, as the intensity of a riff played on a guitar or synthesiser can change depending on the situation, and how the artist feels in that moment. This is something that a DJ can’t replicate as easily, as there are limitations on how much you can manipulate a track made by someone else. However, a good DJ can read the crowd’s expressions, and create a vibe with a carefully chosen selection of music. On the other hand, the polished sounds a DJ can deliver playing mastered music through a sound system is almost impossible to replicate live, as live music always has imperfections. It’s two different experiences, as imperfections can sometimes be what makes music interesting. I don’t think one is better than the other, as they are both unique in their own way.”
 
What are some of your passions outside of music?

“We both share many passions outside of music. Along with some other friends, we run a design/stage design studio, where we create installations and manage the setup of events. We grew up with a creative soul, and I just love the fun of making cool things, even if they don’t necessarily have a functional purpose. Alessandro is passionate about technology, and enjoys studying the mechanics of light design. Another shared interest we’ve had since we were kids is theme parks. In general, we’re both fascinated by anything that can surprise us, offer a different experience, and leave us wondering how the hell did they do that?”
 
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, what else is coming up in your schedule, and is there anything you want to add before we finish?

“Thank you so much for giving us this space. Coming up, we have some live sets scheduled in Italy, and we’re hoping to take our performances abroad soon. We hope you enjoyed our music, and would love to see you on a dance floor soon!”

Out now, buy K LSY’s new EP “Ranin All Over the World” HERE.