“Sometimes you can talk about everything with an Uber driver. And sometimes you lie to yourself.”
Kev Koko’s range spans from Berghain DJ to indie boy. In his layered music, the sound architect creates soundscapes where his listeners experience highs and lows. Whether techno, indie, or rap, at the core, all of it is connected by emotion.
Read the full editorial now in German for vakuum print Issue 4 “Chaos/Ordnung.”
When you think of everything at once or emotional chaos – what does it trigger in you?
When too many emotions hit me at once and overwhelm me, it’s not immediately positive. But nowadays, there are so many influences that emotional chaos is simply part of it. You start questioning yourself – and doubt is part of being human. It’s completely natural.
Is it easy for you to shed your layers and show people your inner self?
I’m already very outgoing – but it also always depends on the situation and the people. Sometimes you can talk about everything with an Uber driver. And sometimes you lie to yourself.
“People project their own stories onto you – and they’re often completely wrong.”
Is there a side of you that surprises people when you show it?
There are definitely many. Especially when people only know you online, they quickly form a fixed image. Because of my illness, alopecia, which means I have no hair, most people on the street assume I have cancer. People project their own stories onto you – and they’re often completely wrong. That unfortunately comes with it.
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How do you translate your feelings into melodies and sounds?
That happens automatically. Making music doesn’t work without feelings. Whether it’s a techno beat that just hits or an indie song exploring emotions and vulnerability – every melody needs an emotional starting point. You have to remember a moment when you’ve felt that feeling before.
Which emotions drive you the most right now?
What also drives me is the world I feel from the outside. We live in a time with more wars and uncertainties. Music can no longer be naive 2000s happy pop – it has lost power. Art today has to reflect reality, with edges and roughness.
Can you express yourself better through music or in personal conversations with friends?
Both are forms of communication. Talking with friends is one thing – music and art are another. Sometimes words aren’t enough, then you need music or dance. This has always existed in human history: we need these forms of expression.
Is there an emotion you personally struggle to control?
Definitely. I can sometimes crash out. For example, if one of those fiber-optic people rings the doorbell – in the middle of the day, when I’m supposed to be productive – it annoys me to no end. Maybe I could use a bit of anger management there.
Which feeling would you like to give more space to?
Gratitude. I often don’t take enough time to look back and consciously appreciate the good things. When you achieve goals, you sometimes immediately forget that they were once just dreams. When I was 16, it was my dream to just make music – and today I get to do exactly that. I sometimes forget to remind myself of that.
“Honestly: you get used to everything – the apartment you live in, the next new product.”
Do you have a goal you want to look back on in five years?
Honestly: you get used to everything – the apartment you live in, the next new product. But in five years, I want to look back and know I’ve released my music. I’ve already recorded 30–40 songs with rappers – that’s cool, and I can make a living from it. But I want even more of it to be released. As an artist, the best thing is being active and bringing your own songs into the world.
Do you ever fear exposing yourself too much in your music?
Yes, of course. It definitely takes courage and effort to expose yourself in your music. We live in a time where everything has been done, where so much has already been said – which is why it’s important to address taboos or choose topics that haven’t been discussed enough. Art must be brave – then you are rewarded. But of course, if you make a club hit, it would be cringe to get too deep.
What’s the best treatment for a creative block?
Realizing that creativity is infinite. Pharrell once said: music is like a library. You can go in every day, find a new book, and get inspired. This library is everywhere – in your head, online, on Spotify. You just have to dare to go in and let something new inspire you.
Do you believe in a happy ending?
I either want a happy ending – or a completely crazy ending. Nothing in between.