K-Mack Talks Life in London and Recent Work

London-based artist K-Mack is fresh off the release of his stellar remix of “Late Night Disco” and we caught up with him to chat about it!

Hailing from London, K-Mack is a phenomenal house music artist who’s earned respect from some of the hottest names in the industry, such as Lee Foss, Eli Brown, and Solardo. He has a tune for every type of occasion, whether you want to get groovy to the classics or shake what your mama gave you with a dose of future-forward energy. Boasting tracks like “Jerk,” “Gym Queen,” “Love,” and “Time,” there’s never a dull moment when K-Mack music floats through the airwaves.

When it comes to his collaboration game, you would be wise to check out the vast array of beats alongside Andre Salmon, like his brand new tune “Satisfy Me,” a sexy dance floor heater which we’ll touch on later in the interview. And when taking a look at his remix abilities, there’s no question that he is a master at lifting the vibe to the next level – listen to his rendition of Preston Zane and MC Flipside’s “Late Night Disco” and feel the spark in your dancing feet.

Between pumping the party at iconic venues such as Octan, Tantra, and Eden in Ibiza or his wide array of radio programming via Data Transmission and Select Radio UK, K-Mack has all of your dance music needs covered. Of course, there is so much that we wanted to get to know about this exciting house music aficionado, so we caught up with him for a little chat. Without further ado, sit back and relax, and read on to get to know the man behind the music!

Stream Preston Zane, MC Flipside – “Late Night Disco” (K-Mack Remix) on Spotify:

Hello K-Mack, thank you for taking time out to chat with us today. First things first, how’s London’s music scene handling the pandemic these days?

It was very hard, most clubs had to shut, and some have not opened again. The music scene went underground with lots of parties out in the woods and hidden in warehouses. The rules changed, and then it was seated events, but this really put DJs off as who wants to play to people who cannot dance?

Is everything slowly getting back to normal or in what ways is the scene still struggling?

Events are back on, and the festival season has been good for the industry; events will now move inside. I really hope we can move forward and finish off the year on a high!

Since we’re on the topic, can you talk about some of your favorite “lesser-known” spots that we should check out if we were to visit from the States?

London has some very good venues like Ministry of Sound, Egg, Studio 338, E1, and Fabric. However, if you want a more intimate night, you have 93 Feet East and Basing House with lesser-known brands and more local talent on show each week!

Do you have a fun story you can share from one of your favorite residencies?

I used to play every Thursday at a small venue with an intimate 150 ppl. I could really take people on a journey for hours and hours! I remember I turned up to play once, and the DJ equipment had been stolen, so I went home and got my own. A few weeks later, they found out the kebab shop next door broke in via the ceiling above the shop. They got caught because they tried to sell the decks to one of the workers.

When it comes to the studio, many of your productions drip with infectious old-school energy. Can you discuss some of your biggest inspirations from decades ago and give us production insight into how you weave the old school into your personal sound?

I would say it varies as I’ve used garage, classic house, or even some R&B styles to some of my productions over the years. Sometimes you have an idea, and I have to write it down and find the track. My fiance also has some amazing ideas too.

I would say less is more and let your ideas show; otherwise, it’s just another bootleg.

For the tech-heads out there, paint us a picture of what your studio looks like. What are some of your favorite products/programs to use, and what is your dream product that you’d like to acquire someday?

Sorry to let you all down, but I’m not into my equipment. I’m just using Ableton, Push2, Waves, Ozone, CLA, and most of the apps available in the DAW product. The technology available can really give you what you need. Time, effort and original ideas can make you the best; just look at John Summit!

Without further ado, it’s time to talk about your exciting recent releases, including a remix of MC Flipside/Preston Zane’s “Late Night Disco” as well as “Satisfy Me” alongside Andre Salmon. What are some of your personal thoughts on these two tracks and can you break down some of the production highlights?

“Late Night Disco” was already a heavy tech-house hitter, and I felt I could make a remix to fit some earlier sets and also give it my own sound. With remixes, I don’t want to lose the original sound of a track. I just want to give it a different direction.

“Satisfy Me” was actually made with another track called “MUMA,” which was signed to SOLA. The idea was for an EP with the two, but sometimes it never works out how you plan things. I wrote the track and a lot of sounds I built with a different vocal. However, Andre suggested we use Cami Jones as he had used her before, so she covered the sample I had originally, and the rest is history, as you say!

Andre Salmon is someone that you’ve worked with on quite a few collaborations including “Deep Dance,” “Salmon Man,” “I Play Every Nite,” and “Kickflip’s Megachild.” Can you talk about your history together, from how you met to some of the highlights of your professional relationship?

It’s a long history that really has conquered many big labels, and it’s only just started!

We both work in different time zones. I’m awake when he’s asleep; so much is done with shared projects, clips, and ideas. I start he finishes, or vice versa. Andre has a great studio and is a master of sound engineering, so post-production, he will always hit the mark!

We met via a connection from Mihalis Safras, he was a guest on my radio show, and I met him for an interview we were talking, and he told me about Andre, and I asked him on as a guest. I started production, and he signed my first releases for his label Ouch & Material, and that’s how it all began.

You’ve always been active on the radio/podcast/mix front with features on Data Transmission, Selectradio UK, and your own K-Mack House Sessions, just to name a few. What’s new for you in the radio realm and what has been the most challenging part about juggling all of your roles throughout the years?

I started a radio show on BloopLondon, which was great for a while during the lockdown. I’ve launched a new show on Data Transmission called “K-Mack’s Label Showcase.” This is dedicated to labels across the world. This will be a good platform for lesser labels to have their music heard! I’ve also started working for one of my favorite labels as A&R called Nastyfunk, so that’s a big tick in the box for me this year!

What is your biggest goal for the next year? Any labels you have your eyes on or big things cooking in the studio that you can tease?

I’ve hit many milestones this year with another EP on Hottrax and my first release on Sola. I’m working on some great collaborations with Chris Larsen, Bigstate, and Connor-S, to name a few. Work with Andre is always ongoing, with some new releases coming in the future. I have a few EP’s out in the next few months on SAFE, VIVA, RIM, Material, and 303, to name a few.

Finally, I always like to end on a fun note. Outside of music, what makes Kris McEvoy tick? Any interesting hobbies or strange habits that your fans would be surprised to find out about?

During the lockdown, I collected LEGO and Jigsaw puzzles. My hobbies are traveling to new cities and experiencing new cultures, and working with new producers, of course!

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