Interview with Nekrokick

1. Where are you from? What is the music scene like, in the area where you are from?

I was born in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Seattle, Washington in early 2000. Between 2002 and 2010, I performed as a Hardcore DJ at dozens of Seattle area raves, and crowds lost their minds to the 2000’s era Darkcore and Industrial that I was known for. The Seattle electronic music scene is fairly healthy, currently consisting mostly of EDM, House/Tech-House, Drum and Bass, Dubstep and Trap. The current Hardcore scene in Seattle is fantastic for the UK/Upfront/HHC/Freeform styles, but there is not a lot along the lines of Dutch Hardcore, Terror, Industrial, Frenchcore, and the like.

1. How did you come up with your DJ Name?

I spent a lot of time under another name, which was very obscure and cryptic. I decided that it was time for a change, and began brainstorming names by drawing logo concepts. I landed on Nekrokick after sketching/drawing while listening to some Industrial Hardcore, and I pretty much got stuck looking at it over and over. I think it fits my writing style and overall sound. Nekro: a stylized spelling of Necro meaning death; and then kick: the primary characteristic element, the kick drum, of the music I make.

3.What animal best personifies your music and why?

Clearly, a Vampire Bat!

1. What are you trying to convey with your music?

Mainly, I just want to convey some bass face. I like to deliver deep, heavy kicks, with tough percussive elements, screaming leads, and pounding dance-centric grooves.

5.Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?

I get very anxious leading up to the first mix in a set. I have been performing Hardcore music on stage since 2002, but I still get butterflies every time. When I see the crowd reacting to the tracks, its a real rush!

1. What moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ/artist or musician?

Signing with the Hard Electronic / Industrial Strength Records family was definitely the most exciting moment in my production career.

1. What was the first song or album that you remember listening too?

Ever? Well, Beastie Boys – License To Ill was the first album I ever owned. My uncle gave it to me on cassette and I literally wore that shit out! haha

For Hardcore? I believe the first Hardcore tunes I ever heard were “Neophyte – Braincracking” and “DJ Skinhead – Extreme Terror (D.O.A. Mix)”

1. What are your major influences?

I have always been heavily influenced by my appreciation for several Metal sub-genres, like Black Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, and such. I also appreciate a lot of the founders of Hardcore music like Lenny Dee, Neophyte, Paul Elstak, DJ Promo, Manu Le Malin, Mark Newlands, Nosferatu, and those people have had a strong influence on my musical tastes. I could name drop for days the Hardcore artists who have inspired me, but I would always feel like I’m leaving someone out. The Jungle of the late 90s up to the current heavy Drum and Bass, from Tech-Step and Hard-Step to the brutal Skull-Step/Tear-out/Pots-n-Pans styles have also held a special place for me in music. I’ve also followed a lot of the Hard-Techno out of Europe for many years, even occasionally performing Techno in Seattle, rather than my typical Hardcore sets.

1. Where do you see yourself a year from now?

Mainly, sitting on top of several more successful releases, working with more and more artists that I admire, and continuing to push the limits in hard music.