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**SHAQUIRA:**  Hello. I’m Shaquira. Lovely to meet you.
**K3SS:**  Hey Shaquira, I’m Ken. Very nice to meet you.

**SHAQUIRA:**  Can you tell us about your journey into the world of progressive house music and what inspired you to pursue this genre?
**K3SS:**  Well, with progressive house, I kind of slowly evolved into it. I started off in 2018 with trance; that was my thing. I was making trance and I was in love with trance. And then, as my sound was shaping, it started drifting. You know, as you’re listening to all the music, you think, “I want to make this and I want to make that.” While I was always kind of into trance, I would test out other little things. I even tried melodic bass for a bit, but I didn’t like that. Then I went back to trance, then techno, and eventually, progressive house kind of happened by accident. I started doing trance with techno, and it evolved from there. Before I knew it, I was making progressive house. So now I live in a world of progressive house melodic techno, with a little mainstream sound. It’s super fun.

**SHAQUIRA:**  So, your new single “Climb.” Can you share the inspiration behind the track and what fans can expect from it?
**K3SS:**  “Climb,” the one that came out in May, had a two-part inspiration. There’s an artist named Ummet Ozcan who came out with a new song a couple of years ago, reinventing his sound, and I really liked it. I kind of made my own version of that song he made. When I made it, I realized it was a really fun song to open my sets with. Depending on where my set slot is, I like opening with “Climb” a lot. It’s very high energy and kind of in your face. That’s how it happened.
Then, my EP that came out almost two weeks ago, it has two songs: “Real” and “Come Home With Me.” With those songs, my vibe is a little different than what most people do. Most people try to evoke an emotion like love, sadness, or happiness. For me, I aim to turn people on, get the dance floor moving, and think about desire, not so much love or sadness. I made these two songs intending to play them during the same sets together. I didn’t plan to release them together, but when I finished them and sent them to a label for review, they came back saying they wanted to release them as an EP. It made sense, so we did it. That’s how the EP “Real” came to be. All three songs were actually made around the same time: “Climb,” “Come Home With Me,” and “Real.”

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**SHAQUIRA:**  And as you say, you don’t try to hit the emotional side of the music, but I feel your sound still has that emotional connection. It doesn’t matter who’s feeling what; your music seems to fit into everything. Is that something you’re going for?
**K3SS:**  Got you. Yeah, someone having a tough time could still listen to it, but if they want to dance, they can get up and dance too. It hits every level. So, first of all, thank you for saying that. While I have my intentions when I make a song, it’s not my business to tell you how to feel. Some people might say, “That’s a really nice song. I really enjoy it. It’s real pretty.” And I think, “Pretty, huh? Okay, cool, thank you.” While I aim for a certain vibe, at the end of the day, what’s fun is seeing people dance and have a good time. They can feel however they want. As long as that’s happening and they’re feeling something, it’s a win. The big picture is that people like it and enjoy it. It’s not my business to tell them how to enjoy it. I can guide them in my mind, but if they feel something else, that’s great too. So, yes, in short, to what you said.

**SHAQUIRA:**  Talking about dancing, you’ve performed at some iconic venues. What has been your most memorable performance and why?
**K3SS:**  My most iconic performance? Gosh, Exchange LA is awesome. It’s like the final boss in a video game. That’s the club in LA, and it was incredibly fun to play there. The headliner that night is a really close friend, so getting to play on the same ticket with him was incredibly fun. But something that made that night extra memorable was playing a song of mine that wasn’t released yet. It’s since been released, called “Deeper,” and the vocalist, Britt Lari, lives in LA. I invited her to come on stage, and we played that song. Britt is a phenomenal artist, and she knows how to own the stage. When I called her out, the energy we had together was amazing. We have a lot of chemistry and work well together. Seeing how the crowd reacted to her was something different for me. I hadn’t seen that in a long time. Everyone was engaged, dancing, and having a good time. That moment stands out because it was more than just a DJ set; it was a performance that connected with the audience on another level.

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**SHAQUIRA:**  That sounds incredible. It’s those kinds of experiences that make performing live so special. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
**K3SS:**  When I first started, I was a huge fan of Above & Beyond. I was really into trance and loved their sound. As I got older, my taste in music evolved. Now, it’s hard to pin down just one artist because I like so many different ones. Lately, I’ve been vibing to Gorgon City and their style. I’m influenced by their melodic, emotional, and catchy music. I’m also a big fan of CamelPhat and their sound, which blends techno and progressive house. Their music is dark, gritty, and fun. I try to channel that in my work. Lastly, Yotto is a major influence. He produces clean, fun, deep, and groovy tracks. I draw a lot of inspiration from his style as well.

**SHAQUIRA:**  With that in mind, how do you see the future of progressive house music evolving, and where do you see yourself in that evolution?
**K3SS:**  That’s a loaded question. The future of progressive house will evolve as everything does. Trends come and go, and I’m curious to see where it goes. I think it’s going to keep pushing boundaries and blending with other genres. Artists are always experimenting, and I see progressive house incorporating elements from techno, trance, and even mainstream pop.
For myself, I want to be at the forefront of that evolution. I aim to keep my sound fresh, stay true to myself, and innovate. I’m excited to see what the future holds and to be part of the ongoing transformation of the genre.

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**SHAQUIRA:**  You’ve had a pretty impressive journey so far. What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or performances we should look out for?
**K3SS:**  Yeah, I have some exciting things coming up. I’m working on a few new tracks and collaborations that I’m really excited about. There are some performances lined up, but I can’t reveal all the details just yet. I will say that I’m always looking to push myself and take on new challenges. So, stay tuned for more music and performances coming your way soon.

**SHAQUIRA:**  Fantastic. I’m sure everyone will be looking forward to that. Thank you so much for your time, Ken. It was great talking to you and learning more about your music and journey.
**K3SS:**  Thank you, Shaquira. It was a pleasure talking to you. Take care.

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Follow K3SS
Linktree – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

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Press Release 29th June 2024 (below) HERE

Progressive virtuoso
K3SS
unveils spellbinding
two-track melodic techno EP
REAL
via Of Us Records

Real EP is out now across platforms

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AMNPLIFY – DB