Kisk’s Interview (+mix) by Le Visiteur
“Kisk is an artist in every sense of the word. He is the man behind the brilliant Apparel Music. After launching in 2009 he has gone on to establish an incredible musical pedigree at the label. Bringing together the cream of underground artists from across the globe he has showcased many artists who would go on to become established names on the scene including SCSI-9, Lopazz, Elon, Delano Smith, Moodymanc, Domu, Tuccillo & Huxley. It is a label which first and foremost has music at its very forefront.
He followed that in 2017 with the launch of vinyl label Apparel Wax which is one of our favourite labels here at LV online for the sheer stand-out quality of the music. It is very much a concept label. Dispensing with artist and track names each track is simply listed by number of EP and its place on the EP. It is a concept designed entirely to let the music speak for itself without being defined by preconceived notions of the artist details. Indeed it is perhaps the perfect vehicle by which to bring music to life. Equally quirky is the fact that each edition comes with a rather bonkers gift from Mini Jelly Slapping Hands to Snakes & Ladders. More recently he has also added another sub label ‘Apparel Tronic’ into the mix it’s a label designed to support artists who play live music and mainly focuses on trip-hop, downtempo, jungle, beats and Lo-Fi.
Throughout his career Kisk has defied notions of normal when it comes to electronic music, often fusing his productions with artistic concept. He learned his DJ craft playing in Milan’s finest clubs from Old Fashion to Trattoria Toscana as well as appearing at Squat clubs, fashion shows and making Radio appearances. It was a musical upbringing rich in experience.
Kisk’s musical journey has taken in everything from trip hop to swing, jungle and Detroit house, through classic deep house. He also has an overriding love of Jazz which has informed many of his productions once he started to create his own music.
When you add into the mix Jazzy his project to make Jazz and Electronic communicate with One boy a live DJ and musician project with which he toured all over Europe and his Discokit® project, a kind of “sensory stimulation kit” you start to get an idea of the breadth of his musical mindset. As well as his own projects Kisk is also the project manager for Claudio Coccoluto’s label ‘the dub’. Kisk is a truly fascinating figure whose electronic music journey is quite unlike any other we’ve come across.
We asked Kisk in for an interview so we can discuss some of these concepts with him and see what is behind the foundations of his musical ethos which has led to so many fascinating journeys. We also discus his label Apparel Music’s 10th Birthday release schedule which features 8 singles, one a week, coming from the 20th July all the way through September culminating in an album and a book.“
Kisk Also put together this sublime mix for us, packed full of house class.