Name: Kino Todo
Occupation: Producer
Nationality: Israeli
Current release: Kino Todo's debut full-length Chances is out July 21st via Pop Tomorrow. The most recent single off that release, “How You Feel,” is out now.

If you enjoyed this Kino Todo interview and would like to find out more about his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.  



For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

I usually come up with an idea and I know exactly how I want it to be. I‘m a very specific person.

That said, of course, there are always surprises and things that come out during the creative process.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

There is no special preparation. I produce in a very digtial way, so I dont need a lot, just the computer with me.

I always make many versions of a track, and then pick my favourite one.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

No, I dont have any special rituals. I just get into the studio and get to work. I do have one rule and that's to always turn off my phone.

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

I start thinking of a beat, and then a groove. It comes out to kick drums and then the bass. I think it's the basic formula that I follow for every project that I have done so far.

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

For me, the lyrics come after I have the basic beat. I like to listen to that first and then think about vocals that will fit.

Working on the lyrics is not something I do myself, as I usually collaborate with singers that I admire. I usually do the lyrics together with them in the studio, as it flows more when you do this in person, as you can try things out, change it and rework what doesn't work.

This way the studio days are always productive, and we can find the lyrics that we feel have the right vibe. And from that point on, we develop the music further.

What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?

In my opinion, good lyrics should make listeners connect and recognise the track. I believe lyrics also give more depth and feeling to music.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Actually, I am not a very spiritual person. For me, the creative state is something that comes here and there, and when it does, you need to catch it and make the most o fit.

Especially in the digital age, the writing and production process tends towards the infinite. What marks the end of the process? How do you finish a work?

For me personally, it ends when I feel that I don‘t have anything I need to add anymore. I always play the tracks with friends and those close to me to get a feeling for their opinions and thoughts. Listening to it in loops for a few days is also important.

Sometimes you listen and know it's exactly what you were aiming for, and sometimes you just move on to the next track.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

I feel that there is a point, where I feel you can't change anything more about a track. Sometimes you spend too much time on it, or a certain element that it drives you crazy and you are still never happy with it. You struggle to look at it in a different way, so to get an external perspective on it, is key.

Always ask for help, as someone else can suggest something that works better. Also, expanding your knowlegde is never a bad thing.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

Production is obviously the most important thing for me, as this is how I make my music; by producing on my computer.

Regarding the mixing and mastering, I work with people who I regard are the best in their field. It's a specialist job and it’s important to get it right. So I take a step back and let them do their thing.

Of course, I always have notes and ideas which I can suggest for them to implement and try.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

To release your own music to the world is never an easy thing. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. You just don‘t know until it‘s out there.

But the most important thing is to keep going and create more. For me, this is what helps me avoid the emptiness. Usually, I really love it when my music comes out and I feel like I am always progressing and moving forward.