DJ, artist, musician, producer – Kronic goes by many titles. The Plus Ones had the opportunity to delve into this man about town, and how he’s taking the industry by storm globally. With his newest EP, Sophisticated Ignorance, having shot right to the top of the charts; we got insights into what went into the masterpiece, what he’s got in store for us next, and much more.
Tell us a bit about your background – How did you get into the industry?
After I left high school in Adelaide, I was just DJ’ing house parties, making mixtapes and giving them out. Back then, making music wasn’t even on my radar, I was just trying to DJ as much as I good. As I started playing across Australia, I’d have ideas for songs that would sit back in my head, and eventually I sat down and attempted to them into reality.
And, the name – we love how bold it is. How did you come up with it?
Sophisticated Ignorance actually comes from a Kanye West lyric. I took that and made it my mantra. Oh hand, Sophisticated Ignorance is about taking things to artistic extremes. NRG, The Storm, Dark Shapes, could all easily be straight forward club bangers. But by making them orchestral, and adding complex narratives, they become something beautiful. But they still have ‘drop’s – that’s the ignorance. There’s a lot of ignorance in music, but only a few present that in a creative way that pushes boundaries – that’s the sophistication.
I’m sure you’ve come across all sorts in the industry by now. Who were some of your favorite people you’ve worked with?
Lil Jon and Pitbull are some of my favourite people to work with. As a DJ, I grew up on their records, and when I met them on a personal level, they were both super humble. They’ve accomplished things beyond most artists wildest dreams, but you’d never guess it from the way they act.
On the flip side, Nikki Jean is one of the most talented and brilliant artists I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. Nikki takes my ideas, and helps me transform them into complete visions. She actually appears on almost every track of my EP – it’s almost as much hers as it is mine.
And, are there any particular industry figures you look up to or aspire to be like? Any mentors?
Kanye West & Quentin Tarantino are the artists I look up to the most. Their dedication to their art is unparalleled. Whenever I watch interviews with them, I’m constantly inspired by the passion they have for their craft, and their depth of knowledge in their field. Kanye could talk for hours about a 3 minute song the same way Quentin could write an essay explaining a brief scene in his films. Every detail is by design, and every element exists for a specific reason that adds to the whole. Think about the intricacy of a Kanye record, like Runaway. And then turn on the radio and all you hear is a bunch of loops that sound just like someone else’s bunch of loops.
You must be stoked about Sophisticated Ignorance EP being out. Tell us a little bit about it.
So stoked to get it out, you have no idea! Sophisticated Ignorance is a project that has consumed the last year of my life. When I started working on it, I was just working on songs, I wasn’t planning on writing an EP. But everyday I went into the studio with like-minded individuals, and the ideas just kept coming.
This EP is my transition from entertainer to artist. As an entertainer, I’ve spent the last few years writing my music to serve purposes – something that works on the radio, something that works in the club, something that works in a film, etc. This time around I wrote this music for me. These are my stories. I don’t care if it works in a club or works at radio. This EP is for me.
Were there any inspirations behind the EP?
I find inspiration in a lot of areas. Thematically, the EP is inspired by my life, my struggles, my relationships, my anxiety, my frustrations. Sonically, the music and movies I grew up with are my biggest sources of inspiration. Pulp Fiction is as much of an influence on my production as Wu-Tang and Steppenwolf are.
The cover is quite striking as well. Who was the artist/designer?
I had quite a specific idea for the EP cover, and I started digging through Tumblr, Deviant Art looking for artists who could bring my ideas to life. That’s how I came across Bri Valdivia. She’s an amazing artist and painter, based in San Diego. I’ve got the original painting hanging my studio.
https://www.facebook.com/Bri-Valdivia-Art-211459382360163
Who were some of the other people involved that helped make it happen?
Nikki Jean, Patty Crash, Xavier Dunn & Israel Bell are the primary vocalists on the EP. I could speak for hours about each of them and how brilliant they are. Nikki Jean you might know from her collaborations with Lupe Fiasco – Hip Hop Saved My Life. Nikki’s voice is distinct, but her writing helped bring out the narrative and story of each track.
Patty Crash is an Iceland-born, Philadelphia raised writer/singer/rapper who’s worked with The Roots quite extensively. Patty has a bizarre vocal tone that sits so well on every track. She opens up the EP on Bulimic. Now that my EP is finished, I’m actually producing Patty’s EP.
Xavier Dunn is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer & performer who is talented beyond comprehension. Even on the tracks he doesn’t perform, he had a hand in the writing, and playing live instruments.
Israel Bell is a former pastor turned writer. He has an incredibly soulful tone, and he writes with a depth beyond his years.
And finally, my engineer Mike Jerz played a big hand in this. Apart from recording every track on the EP, Mike helped shape the production on a few tracks. Mike controlled the vibe of every studio session, and created a safe environment for us to get as creative as we wanted.
You seem to tour quite a bit as well! What were some of your favorite destinations?
In the US, Scottsdale in Arizona is one of my favourite places to play. It’s a college town, so it’s filled with tens of thousands of college kids ready to get wild. South Korea and Japan are two of my favourites. The festivals and venues I play there are mammoth, and the crowds are rabid. And then know all the words to my songs!! That’s amazing – that people in non-English speaking countries can sing along to my songs. It’s a humbling experience.
And, have you got any tours coming up?
Absolutely. Right now, I’ve got a few shows in North America coming up, and then I’m heading back to Asia in October, starting with a festival in South Korea. I’ll be back in Australian for the summer to tour the EP and debut some new music as well.
As a man with his fingers in so many pies, have you got any projects coming up or you’re working on that you’re particularly excited about?
I’m excited about everything! I try to only take on projects that excite or challenge me. I’m putting the final touches on Patty Crash’s EP which I’m really hyped about. I’m also working on Nikki Jean’s project, which is already sounding amazing. Beyond that, I just wrapped up a week of studio with Austin Mahone, and I can’t wait for some of those records to come out.
You’ve worn quite a few hats in the entertainment industry – DJ, producer, artist. What have you enjoyed doing the most?
DJ, Producer and Artist are actually all intertwined creative processes for me. Being a DJ has influenced my production more than any other single thing, and that in turn has helped me develop as an Artist.
That said, the artist hat fits best. Music is about story telling, and I like telling my stories the best. Not because I’m an ego maniac, but because I have a such a deep connection with the story and inspiration behind each of my songs.
So what does Kronic love doing when he’s not touring, performing, or making music?
Outside of music, I’m a huge movie fan. Music and movies are both about telling stories. I’ve actually been working on a screenplay. It’s a companion piece to my next EP. I feel there’s a lot of parallels between music production and film making, and I’m really enjoying exploring that.
Sophisticated Ignorance EP Link: https://soundcloud.com/dj_kronic/sets/kronic-sophisticated-ignorance/s-Nhu08
Blood in the Water Lead Single Link: https://soundcloud.com/dj_kronic/kronic-blood-in-the-water
For more information on Kronic, go to:
http://www.djkronic.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/djkronicfanpage
https://twitter.com/DjKronic
https://soundcloud.com/dj_kronic
https://www.instagram.com/djkronic
