Exclusive interview Kryder: 'Putting the party back on the dance floor'
Jul 23, 2018
Kryder has launched his very own Kryteria label with Spinnin' Records, kicking things off with the massive tune 'Romani', featuring none other than Steve Angello. We hooked up with him to talk about the new label, his music, work and highlight so far.
Hey Chris, first of all: what have you been up to lately?
"Hi guys! I’ve been really busy, festival season is in full swing as well as Ibiza so I’ve been working nonstop! I recently played at Ushuaïa which was awesome and played Tomorrowland and Parookaville festivals this weekend. After this weekend’s festivities I travel stateside for four shows in the US, firstly at Marquee Las Vegas, then Portland, Foundation Seattle and finally Belmar New Jersey, all in the space of 3 days, 27th-29th July. Release wise I have been putting most of my attention into the debut release on Kryteria with Steve Angello ‘Romani’, and prior to this track I have released a few standout remixes, including last month’s Wankelmut remix ‘Work Of Art’ and I also recently remixed ‘Unforgettable’ from Robin Schulz’ album."
You have just launched Kryteria Records. What is the thought and vision you have for this label?
"Kryteria records is such an exciting project for me; being able to find new talent and help them gain exposure, plus the opportunity to collaborate with some of my favourite artists and just releasing good quality groovy club music. Plus, it is great being able to work with such a passionate team that I have built and work with the music powerhouse that is Spinnin Records!"
In musical terms, what can we expect in the near future from Kryteria?
"This is such an exciting project for me to work on. Kryteria is about putting the party back on the dance floor; big, energetic, feel good club tracks to get you dancing. The focus is for me to collaborate with artists I love and to head hunt new talent and help them gain exposure, plus some solo projects too."
The first single on Kryteria is ‘Romani’, featuring Steve Angello. What can you tell about the creational process of this record?
"Steve has been a musical inspiration for me for a long time, so to get to work with him is a real highlight for me. We’ve played on the same bill a number of times and discussed working together on something, so the first release of Kryteria seemed like the perfect opportunity to put it into action. We bounced ideas back and forth, each time one of us tweaking or adding something new until we came to a final track we were both happy with. It was great to get another perspective and I think having more than one person involved helped the creative process and made the finished track stronger."
What does this new record, and also the launch of Kryteria, say about your musical evolution as an artist?
"I think Kryteria and this record marks a turning point in my career. I have been working towards this moment, building the foundations that will hopefully make Kryteria a success. Having prior experience running the Sosumi label, and also growing the Kryteria fanbase with the weekly radio show, has given me a chance to launch Kryteria with the best chance of it being a success, and having Steve onboard means it has a great starting point from which to move forward. Musically, I have always stuck to what I believe in, and that is bringing an energetic party to the crowd, and although my influences are always changing and developing, I feel with that solid ethos I am able to make music that stays true to myself."
What has been the coolest thing in your musical career up till now?
"I have had so many standout moments it’s hard to pinpoint one but working alongside Steve on this record and launching Kryteria definitely has to be up there amongst the other countless memories I have made so far in my career."
What do you think is the most interesting development in dance music these days?
"I think the digital revolution has had such a huge impact on dance music that it has almost unrecognizably changed the industry over the past few years. With a huge shift to streaming and online presence it’s vital that you remain active and the barometer for success has definitely changed. I see it as a positive, as it has made the space more open -anybody can build their presence online and it helps to work yourself into new territories that might previously have been difficult to be exposed to."
What goals do you hope to have reached by the end of the year?
"My focus is on Kryteria, I have a number of plans in the pipeline to expand the label and plenty of collaborations and features, coupled with a number of remixes that I am excited to reveal!"