Interview: Keys N Krates

Keys N Krates are a trio from Toronto, Canada who truly display the art of live remixing. The group is comprised of Adam Tune on drums, David Matisse on keys, and Jr. Flow (Greg Dawson) on the turntables. They’ve added their own flavor to tracks by the names of Bassnectar, Zeds Dead, and Madeon. They also have their own EP titled “Blackout”. The trio add an organic feel of remixes to a very digitalized era and are very unique and original; characteristics that we at GoodMusicShared are always looking to promote.

Dan: Where did the name Keys N Krates come from?

Matisse

“Keys n Krates came from  Flo and myself one day trying to come up with some kind of name for what we were doing. We had a bunch of names we were shooting around and when this one popped in the air  we liked the way it sounded.”

Dan: Who had the initial idea for the group, how did you all come to collaborate together, did you all know eachother prior to working with one another?

Flo

“Matisse and myself kinda were on the same idea but approaching it different ways before we met each other.  I was  trying to meet with  musicians and jam some stuff out.  Matisse was in the live soul circuit and really wanted to branch out and work with djs.  We had a mutual friend who introduced us to each other and from there we realized  we kinda had the same vision.  Tune and Matisse had known and been in bands together for years before that so when we started this Matisse told Tune about the it and that’s how Tune got involved.”

Dan: Toronto… Best music scene in Canada? I mean so many artists that have or are currently making a huge impact in their own genre’s come from Toronto, how do you feel about your home town, how does it compare to the energy you have at shows in the U.S.?

Matisse

“Yah  our city is kind of shining internationally.  The talent has always been here but our local music industry was always shitty.

Once the internet opened the playing field up, it kinda allowed the talent here to finally be seen. We have a lot of do it yourself talent here.  So I think this new musical climate of YouTube twitter blogging etc really helped a lot of us  out.  We created our initial fanbase via YouTube.”

Dan: How has the mindset of the group changed since you all started, did you ever think you would find the following you now have today and the opportunities KNK has provided you all with?

Tune

“Well when we first started this we didn’t even know how people in our home town would react to what we were trying to do.  And to see that a few years later it’s taken us across the world and on big stages with artists we’re huge fans of is really cool.

Another thing is, we always had wanted to play festivals and now we’re doing them like ultra music fest and Detroit Music fest.  And also to now be opening shows for artists like Skrillex, Bassnectar and Diplo,  Its cool to look back and see the progression.”

Dan: Being such a diverse group of musicians, KNK really seems to be pushing boundaries and forming a new genre, what are some of your goals and aspirations?

Matisse

“Total world domination.  And to play a show on the moon one day.”

Dan: How long does it take to normally produce one of your remixes, and to practice them so that they are ready to be performed live?

Flo

“It really varies.  if we’re lucky some can happen in a few days. Others are a wonderfully painful long process.”

Dan: Where do you all receive inspiration from? And ideas for new remixes?

Tune

“Everywhere and anywhere.  We listen to a lot of music wherever we can.  new  and old.  We just keep looking for any sounds or rhythms that seem fresh to us and use those as inspiration.”

Dan: Is there any genre you would like to do a remix for next that you haven’t explored yet?  

Matisse

“Nah not really.  We’re pretty much doing exactly what we want now.”

Dan: What are your personal lives like? Hobbies? Sports? Interests?  

“Matisse:  Our personal lives are a mess       Haha.”

Dan: Good music should be shared… What song would you choose to share with us?

“We really like that song Jumanji by Azealia Banks produced by Hudson Mohawke.  That shit bangs”

Dan (137 Posts)

I like music.