Kouss opens up about rock roots, legal past, and rise in electronic music

Los Angeles-based rock drummer turned electronic dance music producer, Kouss, shares what it takes to make knockout productions that get you noticed in the music business.

You have something in common with Armin van Buuren: you’re both trained attorneys! Is that where the similarities end?

Kouss: Hopefully not! [laughs] Armin’s “production masterclass” was actually the first thing I watched top-to-bottom when I decided to launch the Kouss project. I was neck deep in legal work full-time, but I couldn’t stop thinking about making music. His class gave me a framework to start creating. I also recently had the opportunity to see him perform for the first time. The way Armin DJs live is what I aspire to with my own sets. His precision and command of the room is insane. So yes, we’ve both got law degrees, but his consistency through the years and his ability to bring people together through music is what I really connect with. He’s a G.O.A.T., for sure.

When did you begin producing music professionally? Is that the same time you knew you wanted to become a DJ?

Kouss: I’ve been around music most of my life. I started playing drums in local rock bands when I was 12 years old. Eventually, I was in a rock band that toured internationally. The band was called Stellar Revival and we got signed to Capitol Records. I grew comfortable with writing and performing live. But producing electronic music started more recently. DJing came hand-in-hand with that, and once I realized that DJing live had a ton of similarities to playing drums live, I was all in.

The electronic dance music scene is enjoying a sort of renaissance lately. Where do you find yourself in the current EDM scene? What DJs/producers do you love to hear and whose music do you listen to as a consumer of music?

Kouss: I’d say I live at the intersection of EDM and pop music. I’m always chasing a great hook or melody, much like a pop artist would. That said, for me the most fun part is still diving into the production process. I’ve got a lot of love for artists like Zedd, Deadmau5, Porter Robinson, Avicii, John Summit, and of course, Armin van Buuren. They all built worlds around their music in their own ways. I’d like to build something similar with the Kouss project.

What is it about your favorite DJs/producers that attracts you to their music? How have they influenced you in the past, or how do they influence you now?

Kouss: I think it’s less about genre and more about intention and attention-to-detail. The best producers make choices that feel deliberate and exciting. Guys like Calvin Harris, Zedd and Deadmau5, they know how to make something feel massive without overthinking it. Don’t force it, just make it hit hard.

Let’s talk more about your rock band, Stellar Revival, from 15 years ago. Few EDM producers can say they were in a successful rock band before they started DJ’ing, not to mention a rock band that got signed to a major label!

Kouss: Yeah, that was a wild chapter. We toured a lot with major acts and we played the biggest music festivals in the world. We had songs on the radio. It was the whole thing. It taught me a lot about performance, discipline, and how to connect with an audience. My background with Stellar Revival gave me a different lens when I started producing dance music. A lot of newer producers come up through the software side first, but I came from the stage. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to eventually building a show, not just a DJ set. And I’ve been blown away by how many old Stellar fans have found me again through Kouss. It’s like we’re all evolving together.

Oh? Expand upon that. It sounds exciting!

Kouss: We shared the stage with artists like Metallica, Black Sabbath, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman and Skrillex. On the festival circuit, we performed in Europe at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, and on the mainstage at the Download Festival in England, which is considered one of the biggest rock festivals in the world. In the U.S., we played Earthday Birthday in Orlando, Florida, and others. Like I said, it was wild! [laughs]

What’s amazing is that pretty much immediately upon your first foray into electronic dance music, you’ve had success. It’s not usually so easy. The industry is extremely competitive.

Kouss: It was surreal. “Can’t Go Back” was literally the first track I finished under the Kouss name. I didn’t expect it to move so fast, but the response was overwhelming. SiriusXM added it to their Top 20, iHeartRadio spun it like crazy, and it started popping up on FM radio stations all over the U.S.! I was getting DMs from other artists and influencers letting me know how much they loved the song. You hope people connect with what you’re making, but that kind of response? That early? Definitely wasn’t something I took for granted. That track set the tone for everything that came after. Most importantly, it proved to me that this was more than just a side project. This was real.

Your current release is “Call Me On Your Way Home” on Steve Aoki’s DIM MAK. How did that release come to fruition?

Kouss: That one came together quickly and ran fast out-of-the-gate. I made most of the track during a late-night session after dealing with the hospitalization of a family member. You can sort of hear my stress in the production. The vocalist on the track, Alisa, delivered a beautiful vocal, and I just shaped the track around that. I sent it to Dim Mak and, to my surprise, they got back almost immediately. It just clicked, and I fortunately found the right home for it.

Can you describe your relationship with Dim Mak and Steve Aoki?

Kouss: Steve and the Dim Mak team have been incredibly supportive. I met Steve Aoki for the first-time during Miami Music Week last year. The entire Dim Mak squad is so fast-moving and artist-friendly, which you don’t always find. They have built a culture that I respect a lot. We haven’t sat down in the studio together yet, but watching how Steve Aoki balances the business and the chaos is truly a masterclass in operating at the highest level.

What new music are you working on now? What are the next releases on the horizon from Kouss?

Kouss: Right now, I’ve got a melodic drum & bass cover of Oasis’ “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” on deck. Timing-wise, we’re lining it up to drop around the Oasis reunion shows this summer. Also, my single “The Moment” is gaining steam at radio stations across the country. It’s been wild seeing it get added to rotation, in real-time, and that song really feels like it’s picking up momentum.

Where can music-lovers catch you DJing, nowadays?

Kouss: We’re lining up some key plays right now with clubs, festivals and a few big support slots. I’m trying to be intentional with it. I’ve spent years on the road as a touring drummer, so I know how powerful live energy can be when it’s dialed in. I didn’t want to rush into quick situations; I’ve been waiting for the right moments where I can bring a full, proper live experience to the table.

Lastly, what is the most important element you want people to remember about you?

Kouss: That I’m not trying to play a character. That I’m just doing what I love at the highest level I can. Whether you’re hearing my music in a club or in your headphones, I want the music to make you feel alive. And if you come to a show, I want you to leave feeling like my set was something worth spending your precious time on. That’s the goal.