Kumarion has been pretty busy in the past months. He released a collaborative EP with Smoakland on Deadbeats, co-headlined the eponymous High Rollers national tour with them, and played a set at Red Rocks as invited by Ganja White Night, plus, in the incoming weeks he’ll bring his signature bass sound to Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and even in the UK just to name a few. Even if his explosive debut in the scene happened just three years ago, at this point it’s completely unnecessary to spend words to present Kumarion. With a true coup, he stole the spotlight in 2020 but far from being a one-shot sensation, since then he has carved out a solid place for himself in the US scene through a series of remarkable releases and a clear-cut vision. His dedication to the promotion of the drum&bass world in the US has naturally led him to be one of the most influential and sought-after voices in this regard. This is precisely why we reached him out for a chat about his most recent experiences on the road, his latest EP, and his first thoughts about this year’s festival season.
First and foremost, I need to know your reaction when you saw Tiesto ripping drum&bass on Ultra’s Mainstage earlier this year.
It was surprising to say the least; For a mainstream tastemaker to drop a jump-up tune at one of the biggest dance events in the US says something about the trajectory drum and bass is headed in here in the US.
it definitely is making actual waves here albeit it’s still not nearly as massive as I would like it to be (yet). Good things take time to grow!
This episode, though stand-alone, fits into the larger framework of the 2023 festival season where seems D&B is having a more widespread and structured presence than in years past. Is it just a (social media-induced) perception or is it indeed happening?
In my opinion, it definitely is making actual waves here albeit it’s still not nearly as massive as I would like it to be (yet). Good things take time to grow!
What was your experience playing Red Rocks and what did you hear from your friends who DJed at EDC?
It was amazing. I think it was the right moment and the perfect time to introduce some faster music to the crowd. I think people are starting to like the change in pace.
Everyone smells it in the air, and that’s what matters at the moment.
Looking on a more local scale, how did the High Rollers tour with Smoakland go? Is there a nourished network of D&B promoters across the country or is it still a largely virgin territory?
I’d say the majority of the promoters we’ve worked with are still new to drum and bass, but are very enthusiastic about helping push the sound to new crowds. Everyone smells it in the air, and that’s what matters at the moment.
Which tracks turned out to be the fan favorites on the road?
I’d say my ‘Dominate’ bootleg has done a lot of damage on the road haha.
Off the High Rollers EP, ‘Worth All The Wait’ is the song that most departs from the “classic Kumarion sound.” Can we expect more liquid-oriented projects from you in the future?
Most likely! It’s just a matter of finding the right vocalists to work with or it depends on my mood while I’m writing.
It’s okay to let go and let the creativity flow. Run with the ideas that work and to never force anything!
Name one (production-related) new thing you learned while creating this EP alongside Smoakland.
It’s okay to let go and let the creativity flow. Run with the ideas that work and to never force anything!
Let’s switch from music production to music curation. As a key figure in the US drum&bass scene, do you see the space for the birth and establishment of an equivalent of UKF in the States?
Anything is possible! I certainly wouldn’t mind.
You own the infamous DnB for Dummies playlist: name three d&b gems from your that collection that everyone should know.
‘Neverafter’ by Justin Hawkes, ‘Wait For Me’ by Subsonic, ‘Wavelength’ by Levela.
Any plans for a Kumarion album on the horizon?
In the works as we speak :)
