Q&A: KURA SPEAKS AHEAD OF TOP 100 DJS TOUR

We sat down with Kura ahead of the Top 100 DJs show in Istanbul...

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - 17:21

Kura is a portugese DJ who is ranked 42nd in our Top 100 Clubs poll, we sat down with him ahead of the Top 100 Clubs tour.

You have recently been awarded as Portugal’s best DJ. How does it feel to win this accolade?
It's very special for me to receive this award for the second year in a row; the support of the Portuguese fans has been incredible and gives me even more motivation to keep going

What is the Portuguese scene like at the moment? What are the clubs and artists to look out for?
The scene is getting bigger every year, and the Portuguese crowd is known to be one of the best in the world. I can speak for myself and a lot of international DJs say the same. People are very into dance music and they know all of the songs. We have a lot of big festivals hosting the biggest DJs on our scene and the level of production in the shows is next level. In terms of new DJs there are a few names that I’m sure will make an impact on the scene in the years to come!

You started out as a resident in a club in Lisbon, do you feel it’s important for DJs to experience being a resident?
For me it was a key element, I learned how to read a crowd, be eclectic, get rid of the shy side of my personality. I think every DJ should experience being a resident DJ to acquire experience before going to the main stages.

Who were your influences in the early days?
Axwell, Steve angello, Laidback Luke and Carl Cox

What makes your DJ sets unique from other DJs?
I think besides all the work I put into my set in terms of bootlegs, mashups and my own songs, the way I play is very passionate and you can feel that, it's not something I do on purpose, I really love music, and I’m privileged to say I only play the tracks I like, so I believe the crowd can see and feel that I’m really enjoying what I’m doing.

Are you looking forward to playing at the Top 100 DJs event in Istanbul next month?
I’m very excited about the Top100 event in Instanbul, I’ve been getting a lot of feedback from Turkish fans, they are really into the music and I get messages on a daily basis from people that are going to be present! I’m sure it'll be one of the best shows of the year!

What can the fans in Istanbul expect from your set there?
A lot of new music, loads of energy and good vibes. I want them to remember my gig for a long time ;)

What else are you working on right now? What can we expect from Kura in the next six months?
I’m working on a lot of new music, trying different things, putting out quality over quantity so I’m being very picky about my new single, I want to surprise people in a good way.

You've just released 'Collide', what was the inspiration behind the track?
My main inspiration has been the XX, I’ve always been a big fan and had the idea of making a track with those kind of vibes for a while. The vocals came after, I sent the track to Sarah who wrote the lyrics with Benjamin Samama, who I work closely on my vocal tracks, and he’s an amazing writer and did a fantastic job with the lyrics on “Collide”. I’m very happy with the end result and hope people enjoy it as much as I do.