Last month, Dubai’s minimal maestro, Vladan Krstic aka KICA brought you the smash hit Cuckoo ft. Yohani.
Join him as he jets from Sri Lanka, all the way to Jamaica to bring you his latest floor filler, ‘Clockwork’ available 14th June on his very own label, KICA Records
Ex professional athlete and curator of extreme sports events, Vladan Krstic, was inspired to spin beats by the incredible artists booked for these events such as Ricardo Vilalobos, Rolando and the Martinez Brothers. After moving to Dubai in 2015 he quickly began turning heads with his trademark dynamic sound.
By 2020, he was one of the most in demand DJs in the UAE, releasing on Baikonur Recordings. His debut single Mini reached 4th place on Beatport, followed by a list of hit singles such as Street Dance, Dor E Dor and Caje Caje.
After two years intensive research into the broad spectrum of electronic music and honing his skills to black belt level, Vladan Krstic has emerged like a dragonfly as KICA, with an armoury of fresh new beats from around the world, from New York to Negombo, Jamaica to Jakarta and Detroit to Dubai.
KICA’s second release, ‘Clockwork’ will have you dancing from the start with its Cuttin’ Headz style rhythm, big bouncy basslines, samba snares set to attack mode and funky synth chocalhos getting you into that groove, until around 50 seconds in when KICA takes it up yet another notch announcing ‘Clock / work Clock / work’ to bring in the orchestra of synths, samples and the most vibrant Jamaican patois vocal line.
From here, KICA brings in an infectious synth riff, doubles it up and builds again, proving himself as a master of taking music from across the globe, forging it in a pot of molten minimal magma to make a sound so fresh and so hot, the edges are still glowing red – first with the Tamil tech-house of Cuckoo and now with the Caribbean laced ‘Clockwork’.
KICA tells us more: “I’ve been looking for a new sound from Latin America and the Caribbean. I was inspired by UK/Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don. I chopped the vocals to make it more seductive. Adding Jamaican rap to my take on a Cuttin’ Headz style rhythm just works.”
‘Clockwork’ is exactly the kind of tune you would expect DJs like the Martinez Brothers to play when filling the dancefloors of Ibiza this summer. Sheer class again from KICA.
