IN CONVERSATION WITH KURILO

interview by JOIAH LUMINOSA

Hailing from Ukraine, Kurilo's journey began behind a drum kit, where years of percussion shaped his instinctive understanding of rhythm and groove. By his early twenties, he had already released a string of records and performed at renowned clubs across Europe. Now based in New York, he is the co-founder of Trance Pandemic, a resident at Signal, and runs his own studio practice. With a sound rooted in technical precision and forward-thinking energy, Kurilo continues to make his mark on dance floors on both sides of the Atlantic.

LISTEN TO KURILO’S EXCLUSIVE MIX FOR NUMÉRO NETHERLANDS HERE

all images courtesy of KURILO

You started playing percussion at a young age in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and eventually found your way into electronic music, DJing, and production. How has your relationship with rhythm evolved throughout your journey, and how does it continue to shape you as an artist today?

I started playing drums when I was 13 years old, and at that point I knew absolutely nothing about electronic music. I was listening to bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, and other rock artists. Everything changed when a guitarist joined the rehearsal studio where I was practicing. He played really trippy and atmospheric music that immediately resonated with me and opened my mind to a completely different world of sound.

When I was around 16, I bought my first drum sampler, which became the bridge between acoustic drums and electronic music. Soon after, I discovered clubs, DJing, and music production, and everything naturally came together.

Looking back, I realize that without drums none of this would have happened. They taught me discipline, patience, and consistency, and most importantly, they taught me that rhythm is at the heart of everything. Even today, rhythm is what drives me every time I step into the studio or behind the decks.

Now based in New York, you’ve become part of a vibrant and constantly evolving electronic music community, both through your residency at Signal and your own projects. How has living in NYC influenced your sound, your approach to music, and the way you connect with the scene?

Living in New York has completely changed the way I listen to and understand music. I’ve been here for a little over three years, and during that time I’ve learned to appreciate records that I probably would have overlooked before.

Spending countless hours digging through New York record stores and searching Discogs has helped me develop my own taste instead of following trends. I’ve realised that good music doesn’t have to fit into a specific style or energy—it just has to make you feel something.

The city has also introduced me to so many talented artists, collectors, and music lovers, and being surrounded by people who genuinely care about underground music constantly inspires me to keep learning and evolving. I’m very grateful to New York for shaping both my sound and my perspective.

You are the co-founder of Trance Pandemic, a label built around innovative and boundary-pushing electronic music. What was the original idea behind creating the label, and what kind of artists, sounds, or emotions do you want it to represent?

The idea for Trance Pandemic came after my friend Komponente, who sadly passed away last year, and I attended the Brave Factory Festival in Kyiv in 2019. Hearing Jane Fitz and Carl H play the closing back-to-back set completely changed the way we thought about electronic music. We had never experienced anything like it before, and we left the festival inspired to create music that felt timeless rather than trend-driven.

When the pandemic began, we suddenly had nothing but time to spend in the studio, so we decided to build a label around the music we truly believed in. That philosophy hasn’t changed. Trance Pandemic has always been about releasing honest music with character—music that we genuinely love and would play ourselves, regardless of trends or expectations.

You have several exciting releases coming up, including projects on Seven Hills Records and a major release on Wicked Bass with Reptant. How do these upcoming releases reflect the direction your sound is moving toward right now?

These upcoming releases represent the sound I’ve been developing over the past few years, especially since moving to New York. Everything I’ve discovered through digging records, collecting music, and spending time in the studio has naturally influenced where my sound is today.

Whenever I write music, I try to stay honest to myself instead of thinking about trends or genres. I’ve also spent years building my studio with instruments that inspire me, and they’ve become an important part of my sound.

Collaborating with artists like Reptant and Tom Peters has been a great experience because we share a similar musical vision while still bringing different ideas into the process. I think these releases are the strongest reflection of where I am creatively right now.

Between running labels, producing, performing live, DJing, and collecting records, you’re constantly moving between different sides of electronic music. What are you most excited to explore next, both as an artist and through the platforms you’ve created?

More than anything, I’m excited about the opportunity to travel, perform around the world, and share the music I’ve spent years creating. I feel more motivated and prepared than ever before, and I’m looking forward to seeing how people connect with what I’ve been working on.

At the same time, I want to continue growing Trance Pandemic and support artists whose music feels honest and timeless. Music has always been at the centre of my life, and my biggest goal is simply to keep evolving, stay true to my vision, and share that journey with people through my music.