By Vanessa B
Newcomer on the electronica scene Kradriff has just dropped his promising, anagrammatic EP ‘Dark Riff’, and has answered some QuickFire Questions with us to celebrate its release.
The London-based DJ and producer fuses together driving, dark melodies with house music for a sound that’s thrilling and catchy with production that allows listeners to take a cathartic and euphoric ride on the beat.
Comprised on 3 tracks totaling a bit under 20 minutes of playing time, the EP takes a journey through sadness, anguish, and despair. Its narrative follows a protagonist on a journey to being reborn in a new avatar having become disillusioned by the difficulties of life, somewhat of a spiritual awakening tale, illustrated purely via the medium of pulsating electronic sound.
Kradriff shared an insight into each of the tracks and their narratives as follows:
01 Groans of Misery
This song is about being perplexed and unsure of what to do. It depicts the tale of a person who is presented with various possibilities but decides against them, continuing to carry the burden already on his shoulders.
02 Lament Soul
This song addresses the anguish and suffering brought by holding onto things for too long. The hypnotic melody portrays the monotonous life and how, with each passing day, the soul screams out for release.
03 Unconscious Despair
The disquiet and discomfort you have when something is wrong, but you do nothing to change it are the themes of this song. The melody makes you feel restless and agitated as if you’ve had enough of your problems and are ready to take charge of your life.
Listen to the EP and read our exclusive interview below.
What inspired the emotional content of ”Dark Riff”?
Naturally, I’m a quiet person. ‘Dark Riff’ is my way of reciting the story of Kradriff to the world. For years I found it challenging to work on music alongside my busy schedule. Not making music my priority is what made me unhappy eventually. This year, I decided to push myself, and now I’m certain that I took the right path. This is what Dark Riff is about, moving in the right direction step by step. I still have a long journey to take, and who knows what’s there at the end (idea for a 2nd EP :D). Fun fact, if you reverse the first four alphabets of Kradriff, it becomes Dark Riff.
What were the challenges of producing such a thoughtful and introspectively themed EP, if any?
I gave myself four weeks to finish the EP. And as I work full-time in financial services, taking time to complete all the songs was the biggest challenge for me. I used to wake up at 5 in the morning and found it super productive. I also pre-planned the four weeks and adhered to the schedule, which helped me finish everything on time.
What is your creative process like when producing music?
I think of music as a way of telling stories. Keeping that in mind, I pick an experience from my life and try to express it into melodies. For example, a few years ago, I was very nervous when I first scuba into the ocean. As I further dove down, I felt joy and happiness. From that experience, I would make the verse portray apprehension and the chorus full of energy and euphoria.
Did you use or were you inspired by any outside influences when producing these tracks?
There were many. Eric Prydz is the reason I make music. There are artists like Cristoph, Miss Monique, Paul Thomas, and Whoriskey, whose music inspire me to work on myself and be better every day. My short-term goal is to share a stage with them.
What do you do when you’re not making music?
I like to travel and explore new places. The experiences from travelling also become inspirations for my music. I have a Denmark trip planned for next month and am looking forward to it. Apart from that, I also do boxing and hope to get into a ring for an amateur event someday.
Do you have any upcoming projects or performances planned in the near future?
I have so many ideas in my head, so in the next few months, I want to make as much music as possible as fast as possible. Elon Musk once ranted on Twitter, ‘If you give yourself 30 days to clean your home, it will take 30 days. But if you give yourself 3 hours, it will take 3 hours.’ I’ve been following that for my goals and ambitions, and it works for me. I’m also prepping for my club debut soon.
