Up-and-coming EDM artist Nuri is hitting the Dance music world with a storm, boasting his uplifting tunes celebrating life’s vibrancy and bringing out emotions. Influenced by various electronic music styles together with Hip Hop, Nuri has managed to create a distinctive sound featuring danceable beats and captivating melodies.
Inspired by the works of elite DJs such as: KSHMR, DVBBS, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Avicii, Martin Garrix and Swedish House Mafia, Kenya based Nuri has put his efforts into producing his own brand of music. He’s kicked off his career with an exciting debut single called ‘Blue Lagoon’, released on the 3rd of May, 2015 and there is much more yet in store from this talented producer.
We’ve had the chance to catch up with Nuri to get to know him better and have a chat with him about what he’s currently up to and what he’s got in mind for the months ahead.
Hey Nuri, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. How are you today and what’s going on in your world?
Thank you for having me. Not much, just looking forward to my upcoming releases.
Where are you currently based?
Well I’m from Nairobi, Kenya.
How would you describe your current style and soundscape?
My style is basically energetic, pumping music. I love making my “Drops” really big and loud. I want someone to be able to listen to my music and just loose themselves in it and forget about their daily problems and challenges.
Did your sound go through any major changes along the years?
No, I’ve just stuck with this sound – ‘Blue Lagoon’, my first release was quite different from my current releases because that was my first attempt at producing, which I’m quite happy with.
When and how did you start getting involved in the Dance music scene?
I really didn’t know much about it until I heard a track from my favourite artist KSHMR called ‘Burn’ with Dallas K. It has just made me thinking that it would be so nice to learn something new and make such music. So basically I taught myself, bought a copy of Ableton, some plugins, soundsets and then hit Youtube for some enlightening tutorials.
Who were your influences growing up?
I was into Hip Hop music when I was growing up, so the likes of Eminem, Akon and 50 Cent were what I would listen to on a daily basis. I even made a few Hip Hop style beats as a teen.
Do you consider yourself more of a DJ or producer?
I consider myself more of a producer because I feel I put my emotions into what I do and I really haven’t played my stuff out live. I feel being a DJ is more of a cliché really these days because if someone can make a mix they call themselves a DJ. It takes a lot more than that; it’s about entertaining your crowd not just playing music.
You have recently released your debut single ‘Blue Lagoon’. What can you tell us about it?
Well, I’m proud of ‘Blue Lagoon’, that’s for sure. It’s my first production on Ableton Live and I’ve put a lot of work into it, I learned from it, and I open that project from now and then so that see what I have learned and where I started.
Where did you drawn inspiration for the name?
It’s quite a romantic story – I was in India at a nice restaurant and my girlfriend ordered this cocktail ‘Blue Lagoon’. She usually doesn’t drink, because she doesn’t like ‘bitter alcohol’. So when she gets this drink, she gulps it down, and orders another. This was the time when I was working on the Blue Lagoon project, so from “Project 1”, it has now become ‘Blue Lagoon’.
Where would you like to see this track being played?
Depends really, if it fits in certain places, certain crowds etc. But everywhere would be nice.
Do you have any other projects coming up in 2015?
I have quite a few tracks done, there’s ‘Thunderstorm’ which will come out for free – That’s one I really enjoyed. Then there is ‘Fireworks’, ‘Jump’, ‘Reasons’, ‘Freedom’, and many others. I am constantly working to improve myself, and if you hear my work, you will see the efforts.
Walk us through your current production set-up.
I use a Macbook Pro with Ableton Live set up. Two KRK 5’s speakers, hooked up to a Focusrite Saffire audio interface. I have a Macbook air as well but I use it mostly for social media and to browse stuff. I have a midi keyboard, and a bunch of controllers which I rarely use because I prefer using the track-pad to key in things. The rest of the power is inside Ableton Live with all the cool plugins like Massive (I use that a lot), Sylenth, Nexus, Fm8, Soundpacks from Vengeance, and Vandalism – it’s a lot of stuff.
Is there anything you’d like to add to your set-up this year?
A few awards next to it, would make the set up look nice, don’t you think?
Where would you like to see yourself in the months ahead?
Hopefully getting my first big event to showcase my talent, I’m really looking forward to that day.
Tell us something that not many people know about Nuri.
I’ll tell you something nobody knows about Nuri, I’m an Indian!
Anything to add/shout outs?
Yes, a very big shout out to N&R Records, thank you for signing me, and I will not let you down! Shout out also to their newest signing, Swaen, he’s a talented young lad and his release is massive! Looking forward to that. That’s all because I can go on for all day if I don’t stop.
Thanks Nuri!
Nuri Online
