Kong Speaks
Origin: None
I am and always have been an extremely auditory person. I used to (still do) study tons of foreign languages. I’ve always been fascinated with sound and almost all my inspirations have stemmed from that fascination. I am hugely influenced by so many sounds, songs and artists that it’s almost not fair to just mention a few…. I have a pretty wide taste in music and I feel like I absorb ideas, concepts and feelings from everything I hear…
Interview
Home Town: Fairfield, IA
Currently Living: Iowa City, IA
Origin Of Name: My original name was the Gorilla Stomp Project. I knew that I wanted my music to have the freedom to continue expanding past myself. I wanted the project to eventually grow into a collective of passionate artists that use the project as a vehicle for expression. It eventually evolved into the name, the Gorilla Stomp Squad. The only problem was I was still the only official member of the squad and I wanted an alias that could encapsulate my own individual musical identity. At first I chose the name LoKi. I started playing a lot of shows and started gaining momentum but as I got closer to my first release I realized that there were twelve other (literally twelve) Lokis on Beatport. It took me about two and a half months to come to the name Kong Speaks. It’s perfect, the gorilla has always been my musical spirit animal. I almost think of Kong as a sort of alter ego. He only comes out when I play or create music and music is the language Kong speaks.
Weapon of Choice: The stuff under my forehead. In terms of software: Ableton Live. I started out with Reason and used it for about 3.5 years. I loved it but eventually I just needed to be able to use external plugins…they’re just a whole other world of audio processing that eventually I couldn’t pass up. I made the switch to Ableton and now I’m hooked. In terms of plugins I use a lot from Native Instruments, Fab Filter, Sugarbyte and Waves.
Source of Power: In terms of bass music and EDM, Bassnectar has definitely been one of my earliest influences. Others include Noisia, Koan Sound, Culprate, Cookie Monsta, Brown and Gammon…ok I’m gonna stop it’s not fair to the others.
Was there one particular moment in the recording or mixing process for your Discovery Project entry that made you feel like you were creating something pretty damn special?
The meat of the track came together very quickly. I was driving in my car and I actually was in the middle of two other tunes at the time but I just became really inspired. When I got to my destination I just wanted to plot out the drums and the bassline that I was hearing in my head so I didn’t forget it…but it started coming together really quickly and I just kept working on it that night. It was pretty much done in three days (which is quite fast for my usual workflow). I remember being really excited that it came together so quickly.
Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
I did a lot of singing and acting when I was young. I played piano for a few years before that and really liked it until my teacher suggested that I learn a tune that I didn’t want to. I also took tap and swing dance and was in numerous plays and musicals. I loved performing and have always been hugely influenced by music of all varieties, be it Prodigy, Tool, Stevie Wonder or Zeppelin.
What do your parents think of what you are doing?
My parents are abundantly supportive of what I’m doing. They know I’m a pretty serious person.
What’s the strangest part of your job? What makes you shake your head in wonderment about being a DJ and producer?
Strangest part: turning the lights off, climbing under my mixing desk at 4 am and clinging my body to the sub to determine if the sound I’m working on has what I’m looking for. Shake head in wonderment: Watching a crowd simultaneously stomp or jump or smile or laugh…
What would people be surprised to find out about being a DJ?
We’re all a bunch of geeks.
How does what you do for a living affect you on a day-to-day basis?
Hahaha, you should ask my girlfriend this question. I pretty much spend all my free time making music…and actually quite a bit of my un-free time as well. I’m definitely a little bit of a hermit. My family and friends get it though.
What is your ultimate career dream?
To found a collaborative collective of all kinds of artists who come together to throw massive shows centered on art and community.
Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
I often have something in mind when I sit down to write a tune. If I don’t, I’ll just work on sound design until I’m blue balled by inspiration and must start a track.
How important is it for you to experiment and take on the risk of failure?
I think it’s extremely important to experiment at all times. I try to make as many brand new sounds and textures as I can think of. I think it’s really important for bass music producers to continue doing what the genre is so good at: pushing the limits of technology and sound design while expanding the boundaries of acceptable grooves and musical concepts. That’s always been a primary reason I’m so drawn to bass music.
What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
Using music as a vehicle to bring people from all walks of life together to stomp and sweat. It’s healing and it reminds us of our innate, undeniably similar nature.
When you look at electronic music and the surrounding culture, what worries you about the future?
My main concern is about the “why.” Why listen to this kind of music? Why attend music shows? I think the why should start (and continue) to be inspired by a desire to experience our intrinsic unity as human beings; a desire to look at a complete stranger in the crowd and know that they get it, and you get it, and we’re all getting it together. I want to facilitate/participate in this experience on a large scale.
Do you have a secret passion?
Definitely. I’m really into studying foreign languages. When I was little my life goal was to become a Kung Fu Master. Eventually I realized that if I really wanted to become a master I’d have to go to China and learn from the best. I figured I would have to know how to speak Chinese, so I started learning. I soon became really excited about learning foreign languages and ended up studying my way though five. Several years ago I realized that my favorite one is music.
What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Put the time in. Be obsessive. Stay true to your style. Keep asking yourself if you’re ready. If there is the tiniest thing that you could improve in your tune, whether it’s making a ride 1 dB louder or rewriting the entire bassline, do it. Don’t be lazy. Make sure your tune sounds just how you want it to. Trust your taste and your artistic vision.
Winning Track:
Winning Mix:
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