I think it would be fair to say that some people whose out put is quite regular suffer from quantity over quality. For Malik Kassim, the Amsterdam based producer also known as Retromigration, this just is not the case. With three records out already this year and plenty more on the horizon including a full LP on Wolf Recordings, it seems Kassim is determined to debunk the quantity over quality theory and prove you can very much be both. His records do the speaking for this argument, with his styles ranging similar to modern greats like Folamour and Kerri Chandler massively influencing off funky and up beat rhythms yet still maintaining that punchy four to the floor techy beat and its in these influences we move on to Phonica Mix 96; Retromigration takes us on a trip through many styles here across jazzy beats, funky rhythms, pumping house and melodic piano riffs, its very much a day in the Sun kinda party mix and he definitely helps us imagine that setting here.
Hey Malik Thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind
it was?
My pleasure, and thanks a lot for having me! For this mix, my idea was to incorporate some
of the different styles I really dig; hip-hop, broken beat, house and just showcase some
music and artists that I admire.
Could you tell us a little bit about your background, perhaps where you grew up and what
first got you interested in music?
So, I am from Heidelberg, Germany. Growing up there definitely had an impact on me
musically. My parents always played a lot of music at home, mostly jazz, funk, and soul,
which started my love for music. Heidelberg was also one of the birth places for German hip
hop groups, and I grew up listening to a lot of local legends such as Torch, Toni L, and the
Stieber Twins. That’s how I also got introduced to US hip hop and consequently started
getting into house music as well.
Can you tell us a bit about how you usually approach recording a mix or a set?
Usually, I just start selecting some tracks and get a rough idea of where the mood is going.
From there, I just go with the flow and feel the moment.
What’s your preferred method for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in
dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
I really enjoy going to record stores and digging around for music. I definitely discovered
some of my favorite artists by randomly finding their records in a store. Still, I also buy music
online and dig around on platforms like Bandcamp, etc. I also like digging on YouTube as
there are some amazing small channels that introduced me to a lot of stuff I had never
heard of before.
You have put out lots of quality 12″‘s in merely a few years. What’s your process in
developing ideas for releases?
I usually don’t try to think too much about what I’m doing and just go with the flow. Often, I
go through my record collection and start chopping up and making a beat on my MPC. From
there, I usually just start jamming with different instruments, recording them and building
ideas from there.
What do you have up your sleeve for 2022?
I have my first LP coming out later this year on Wolf Music, which I’m very excited about.
Then there are projects with the Sounds Familiar and Handy Records fam with some dope
remixes. I also did quite a few remixes which will also come out this year. One I’m
particularly looking forward to is a remix of Makéz ft. Ava Lava on Heist Recordings. It was
super fun working with some sick vocals. Lastly, I am working on a live music album with
some of my good friends, which we can hopefully finish this year and also perform live at
some point.
