Words: George Gray, Images: Camara Fiestas (Cesar)
For years, Barcelona has been a hub for artists and creatives, a melting pot of influences, sounds and brilliant live events. With this in mind and the genre diversity of modern music it’s unsurprising that one of the fastest growing genres of dance music, NUKG is blossoming in Barna.
At the forefront of this emergence is Dokku, the young garage producer and DJ that alongside collective Garage Kidds has been making waves in the international dance scene. Under the guidance of manager and promoter Uri Soulans, Dokku and his gang have already hosted sell out shows across Spain, hit up Italy and the UK.
With no sign of slowing down, we grabbed a coffee and sat down with Dokku to get to know how the renaissance of a UK genre has catalysed a thriving break-off community across the continent.
“It all started with a love for electronic music, House and Bass House specifically”, the young Catalan begins. We’re sat in the Garage Kidds studio, tucked in an apartment block, production paraphernalia and empty coffee cups dotted around, Dokku seems in his element. “For as long as I can remember that was what sparked my love”, he continues, revealing the likes of Night Bass records and Tchami were on repeat from young.
This love for electronic and Bass house soon formed the building blocks for something more than a passion. It was during the strict Spanish Covid quarantine that music positioned itself central to his life, from soundtracking his home-schooling to getting him through tough moments. “Before long I’d find myself tumbling down youtube rabbit holes, from set to set, playlist to playlist, I kept discovering more”.
It was when he stumbled upon his first NUKG set (New UK Garage) that Dokku realised he’d found the sound that could change his life. “I’d heard the odd Virji track, but when I started listening to full sets by him and the likes of other icons of the genre like Conducta, the love really became alive”.
Like many a Catalan, he comes from a family with a deep-rooted passion for music. A Grandfather that created Sardana music and a Dad that listened to bits of everything raised him in an environment with both traditional cultural music and a mix of contemporary sounds.
It was when his dad played the odd house tune that made him realise where his own interests lied. “It hit the spot like nothing else”, he laughs, and with his discovery of NUKG, the pieces had fallen into place for Dokku to begin producing.
His venture into producing didn’t come without challenges though. Dokku is very self-aware that the world of electronic music is becoming increasingly saturated, but if anything this pushes him to further stand out.
“It’s a complicated world, someone may have done something similar to you so if you don’t take inspo from them and put your own spin on it, you’re not doing it right”, Dokku says with a relaxed expression.
A refreshing mentality from the young producer, akin to Virgil Abloh’s 3% rule, just showing how switched on Dokku is to the challenges of the industry. “I’m always finding inspiration, and all these tastes are what fuel my learning and creative vision”, he reinforces.
As time’s passed this pool of inspiration has just got wider he reveals. “I listen to more than just electronic now, from Alt-indie like Gorillaz to 80s tracks”, Dokku attempts to take himself out of the electronic world and keep his eyes fresh to new sounds.
“At times I can be so immersed in making music, that it’s hard to separate it from normal life”, the two worlds often colliding for Dokku. This is a challenge taken well though, finding balance through uni life, and spending time away at home in the Catalan countryside.
An engineering student by day and a producer by night, Dokku is no stranger to finding new solutions in production and combining resources to create new sounds. His new EP Cursed lands in little over a week and hopes to launch his own distinct sound to the public. “It’s been a steady process but I truly believe people will find something new from the tracks”, he affirms.
One track in particular that is bound to shake things up is a NUKG track featuring Catalan vocals from rapper and co-member of the collective Gior Di. “Music will always be at the heart of tradition and culture in Catalunya” he reiterates, and with this track Dokku is shining a proud light on his mother tongue and heritage, with hopes that it’ll only lead to more crossover.
As a key part of the Garage Kidds collectives, this dream has day by day come closer to reality. “They’re there to inspire you in the hardest times and pick you up when you’re down or low on energy”, Dokku tells of his compatriots. “As soon as you get home, you’re even more excited to get back out there with your mates.” What began as a passion project is now clearly a staple of the Catalan electronic scene.
He credits this to the receptiveness of the Catalan people, “they’re very open to new ideas and genres here luckily”, further crediting the range of the genre, “I think people were particularly receptive to all the off-shoots from two-step to four to the floor”.
Looking to the future Dokku’s energy remains on producing music with a laser focus, “I want to fine-tune my sound, release more original tracks and fewer remixes, so that my professional profile is really sharpened. With all this in mind he’s got some big goals too, “by 2030 I’d love to be releasing tracks that are still fresh but playing on bigger stages, maybe Boomtown or Outlook”, and the ultimate dream – “a set on Rinse would be sick”.
He’s not letting this take away from what he’s got now though, it’s clear at the base of it all is a great patience and passion for staying true to himself. What’s for certain is that Dokku and the Garage Kidds of Catalunya are sure to keep having fun.
Stream the new EP out on the 21st May!
