Khainz: "Through music, I tell the story of who I am"

Feb 11

Khainz is a Swiss DJ and producer who has been shaping the dance music scene for nearly 20 years. Initially skeptical of electronic music, he quickly developed a passion for DJing and beat matching, becoming skilled in mixing. Despite a challenging start with limited resources and no local clubs, Khainz took a leap of faith, abandoning a career as a painter to focus on music. Over time, his talent and work ethic paid off, and he's now known for his distinctive melodic techno style. With two albums and over 150 tracks released, Khainz continues to thrive in the music world, balancing a busy tour schedule with studio time. His focus remains on creating authentic music, always striving for perfection in his work.

Hey Khainz! Congratulations on your latest release "Consequences" with Binaryh. What inspired you to collaborate on this project, and how would you describe the chemistry between you two during the creative process?

Binaryh and I have been friends for years, sharing and enjoying each other's music along the way. When they launched their new label, "Decoded", they reached out to see if I had any tracks to release with them and if I’d be up for a collaboration. They sent over a few ideas they’d started, and I picked the one that sparked the most inspiration for me to dive into.So i took it from there and worked on the project until we had a final version.

In your EP "Infinite Space", created in collaboration with KhoMha and released on Spectrum, there’s a strong connection to the sound that defines Joris Voorn's label. How was the experience working on this project, and what were the key elements that guided you while creating these tracks?

KhoMha reached out to me on Instagram, asking if I’d be interested in collaborating. At the time, I didn’t know him, but after checking out his music, I thought it could be exciting to work with him since his sound was so different from mine. We swapped a few ideas and picked the ones we felt had the most potential. I sent him an unfinished version of Infinite Space, and he sent over his work on Xcape. From there, we each took the tracks and refined them in the studio. I was really happy with how both turned out, so I sent them to Joris to see if he’d be interested in signing them—and the rest is history!

You've had the privilege of playing at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, like Tomorrowland. Which live performance has had the most impact on you, and what does it feel like performing in front of thousands of people?

After over 20 years of touring, I’ve had the chance to play at some incredible festivals and venues. One of my all-time favorites is Universo Paralello in Brazil - amazing crowd, and the venue right by the sea, surrounded by palm trees, just adds to the magic. While performing at huge festivals is an amazing experience, I also love the vibe of playing for a more intimate crowd. It’s the perfect mix of both worlds that really excites me.

Your sound is often described as innovative and versatile, covering various subgenres of techno. How do you approach music production, and how do your ideas evolve over time to keep your style fresh and original?

I always aim to create music that feels distinctly mine - so when someone hears one of my tracks, they can recognize it’s me behind it. In a music scene where many artists follow trends and everything starts to sound the same, innovation and individuality often get lost. I try to stay true to myself and hope to craft something that stands out from the crowd. I love exploring different genres, not just sticking to one, and I draw inspiration from various subgenres of techno and house.

You've worked with major labels like Spectrum, Tomorrowland Music, and Module. How do you choose the labels you collaborate with, and what specifically attracts you to each one in reflecting your musical vision?

I choose labels to work with based on their unique sound, but it's also important to me that they truly invest in each release and its marketing. I don’t want my music to disappear into a "black hole" where it goes unheard. That’s one of the reasons I started my own label, Module. It allows me to release my tracks quickly, without waiting months or even years for a slot. Plus, if a release doesn’t land as expected, I can take responsibility and figure out exactly what went wrong (beyond just the track itself).