Interview: Kikko
From Palermo to Amsterdam, with London becoming a recurring chapter in his story, KIKKO’s musical journey has been shaped by three distinct cities and one clear instinct: following the energy of the dancefloor.
Rooted in Tech House and driven by groove, percussion and vocals, his sets are never mapped out in advance. Instead, they unfold through a constant exchange with the crowd. MITA Magazine caught up with KIKKO to discuss the places that shaped him, his evolution since Reverse and the next stage of his artistic journey.
MITA: How have Palermo, Amsterdam and London influenced your musical journey?
KIKKO: Palermo is home. It’s where everything began and where I first started experiencing music in a very instinctive way.
Then there’s Amsterdam, where I’ve been living for some time and which has become part of my everyday life. I discovered London mainly through music. I’ve played there several times, and every time I’ve immediately felt at home.
They are three very different cities, but each one has played a part in my journey. I think you can ultimately hear their influence in my sound too.
MITA: When you step behind the decks, how do you turn a DJ set into a journey rather than simply a sequence of tracks?
KIKKO: I never prepare a playlist or a fixed running order. I step behind the decks and make every decision in the moment, based on what I can see, hear and feel around me.
Every track is a way of communicating with the crowd. I enjoy playing with groove, but I also use effects, loops and vocals to build tension, change the rhythm or take the set in a completely different direction.
It’s a constant exchange. I play a track, watch the reaction and use that response to decide what comes next. That’s why every set is different—I never know exactly where it will end up.
MITA: How has your sound evolved since the release of Reverse, and what can we expect from the music you’re currently producing?
KIKKO: Reverse was one of my first releases and an important starting point for me. It helped me define my sound more clearly and understand which elements I wanted to carry forward in my music.
Since then, I’ve focused on making my productions more personal, working extensively with groove, percussion and vocals. I’m still closely connected to Tech House and to music created for the club, but now I’m particularly interested in giving each track more character and making sure it works naturally within my own sets.
I’m currently working on new music that better represents who I am today. The idea is to keep evolving without losing my identity.
MITA: What is the most important milestone you would like to achieve over the next year?
KIKKO: I simply want to take another step forward: to play at increasingly important venues, bring my music to new cities and continue developing as an artist.
There are definitely clubs I dream of playing, but more than anything, I want to build a recognisable project and discover how far I can take my music.
For me, the most important thing is to keep working, producing and performing. Everything else follows naturally.
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