About this Playlist
Where To Start With Kimchii on Spotify
Kimchii’s magical single “Windsurf” gets remixed by dutch power house Kraak & Smaak. Bringing new life to the already groovy original. With that, Kimchii joins a long list of prominent Kraak & Smaak collaborators, ranging from Moby to Jamiroquai.
Kimchii is the project by Stockholm-based producer, DJ and artist Kim Söderlund.
Influenced by artists such as Arthur Russell, CHIC, Empire Of The Sun, Fred Falke and Kaytranada, Kimchii moves freely in diverse musical dimensions, blending the sound of RnB, Disco and House in dreamy ways – always with a deep, energetic & futuristic feel. With a background as a Jazz & Rock guitar player, Kimchii has formed a unique sound that keeps evolving with his strong passion for electronic music.*
The Hoof caught up Kimchii for a chat
Tell us about yourself, when and how did you get into music.
I got my first two CD’s when around 1996, MJ – Thriller and Kiss – Rock’n roll over. I think those CD’s have had a huge impact on me until today. I love rock n roll and I love to boogie.. 😉
It wasn’t until the age of 12 when I started to play guitar. It was a strong moment that I remember clearly, it was in music class when I played the acoustic guitar for the first time. I striked my first G-major chord and I knew instantly that music was gonna become my life. I went home to find my mom’s old nylon guitar and the following summer I locked myself inside with tons of Coca-Cola and just played guitar solos all day long. I also became really chubby that summer since I stopped breakdancing and put all my time into music.
Before when I was breakdancing I was introduced to songs like Rapper’s delight, Apache and Grandmaster Flash – The Message. I believe that time has had a huge impact on the music I create today.
In high school, I studied Jazz Music and moved to Stockholm to continue music studies when I graduated. When I started to DJ around 2013, I realized that producing is what I wanted to do.
What’s the inspiration behind Windsurf and your music in general.
Windsurf is a messed-up fantasy of mine that I wanted to give life to. I recorded most of the sounds in the song with a Mellotron (It’s a sample machine with all the epic string and brass sounds)
The sounds of it had me really hyped and so the lyrics came naturally. I envisioned myself in some kind of 60’s film and I transformed to some kind of swap version of Sinatra and Serge Gainsbourg when I recorded the vocals. In the process when I added organic piano and found these classical elements – to me that’s where the magic happened. I couldn’t decide which notes to go for, because I was so lost in the music haha – I love the process.
In general, I get inspired when I listen to new music – I study the production, mixing, and details, and I get super excited by interesting vocals, small phrases, and vocal snippets. I just want to make people feel dope when they listen to my music, the same way I feel when I listen to my favorite tracks.
I usually come up with most of the lyrics on the subway or when I’m walking in the streets – the creativity begins there.
Some great remixes out there from this one for Kraak and Smaak and the Anoraak version, how did they come about and who would have been your dream remixer if you could have had anybody from any era do it and why.
I’ve listened to Anoraak for over 10 years, a big fan! So the story is.. one-day last year when I logged into Instagram I found that Fred (Anoraak) had reposted my song When You Feel the Time Is Right on his IG story. Obviously, I was hyped, and so a conversation started already then, and when I and Marcus Liesenfeld (How Do You Are? And Too Slow To Disco) started talking about finding a remixer for Windsurf, I was already 100 % sure that Anoraak would be the perfect one. The outcome is out of the remix is just out of this world, and better than I could imagine.
P.S. there’s a music video to the Anoraak remix on YouTube. I and Fred recorded separate quarantine videos from our homes when we jammed to the track, then Fred edited it and we had a music video – highly recommended!
It was Marcus Lisenfeld that introduced me to Kraak & Smaak – they are definitely living legends. I’ve listened to them and played their music in my sets for many years. They definitely took Windsurf to another dimension. It’s like a journey every time I listen to it.. like riding on an Icelandic horse in the desert at night.
I love both the K&S remix and Anoraak remix as much as the original!
Speaking about Kraak & Smaak – I gotta recommend their song ‘Naked’, it just takes me to a higher dimension every time I listen to it, it’s just TOO GOOD to be true.
Btw, I’m making a remix for Kraak & Smaak, stay tuned!
Tell us about a classic track, something that has inspired you or just one you love and never get sick of listening to.
Daft Punk One More Time it has saved me / elevated me so many times and continues to do so. It’s everlasting. I will always remember when I got the Discovery cd from my dad on New Years’ eve 2001. I get goosebumps when I think of it.
Guru ‘Never no time to play’ from the Jazzmatazz Volume 1 album. When I heard it for the first time a new world opened up for me. It’s just so funky, upbeat, and groovy – the best of all worlds and the ultimate track.
Can you recommend any new music, something that you have just discovered or are just really digging at the moment.
Lately I’ve been really inspired by artists like Caribou Myd and Disclosure amazing producers.
Yes, a band from Stockholm called FRANGIE check them out! Other great artists from Stockholm is Bella Boo and Storken
Also, there’s a band from France called Later really cool guys!
Lately, I’ve been inspired by artists like Caribou Goldlink, Pnau, Myd Disclosure and Étienne de Crécy I also listen to a lot of old-school Hip Hop atm. Oh and Girls of the internet and L’Impératrice It’s so much good music produced at the moment, it’s crazy.
How have you kept busy during the last year has the pandemic stifled your creativity or the free time allowed you to experiment more.
I guess I actually started to release a lot of music during the past year, and I’ve been busy in the studio. I’ve definitely become a better producer and songwriter. I think making music has been the light at the end of the day for me.
What does 2021 look like, your hope and dreams, exciting future plans, new releases, tours or gigs.
I’m making a lot of remixes at the moment and finishing up new singles that will come out this year. I’m also featuring on a track with NICOLAAS whom I worked with a lot before, that will be released on Marcus label How Do You Are? I’m really excited to share this one – It’s very funky.
Aside from that, I’m gona play at a few big parties and gigs and I also rehearse for an upcoming live show, stay tuned!
Do you think playlists are important – what’s the future of the playlist, can you let us about any other playlists you admire or just really digging at the minute.
It’s definitely important, sharing is caring and playlists connect music and people. I’m humbled every time my music is added to a new playlist. The future will tell.
How do you connect with your audience – email, social media, PR firms, etc.
I guess instagram mostly.. I can’t wait to vibe with you all on the road soon!
What’s best, 10k streams on Spotify or 10 albums sold on Bandcamp? Why?
10 albums for 10K EURO each on Bandcamp HAHA. Joke aside. Really, I just want the world to hear my music and vibe to it. The more the merrier.
What’s the best way a fan can help you today? If they had a spare ten minutes – what is the best thing they could do to help you.
Comment, and share the music. I get super hyped for every elevating comment people share with me, keep spreading love!
* text provided by label
