In January 2024, Germany-based artist Korora released Kivi, a beautiful track that fit perfectly with his ‘Arthouse Techno’ manifesto. Now, the Korora – Kivi (Rushkeys Remix) has been released, and it sees the original track transformed into a textured and expansive rework that embraces the concept of wide, open spaces where you can truly breathe.
The Korora – Kivi (Rushkeys Remix) is certainly a track of two halves, starting out with a pulsating feel before building slowly into a track with more beats, deeper basslines, and enhanced depth as a result.
“Using the Korg MS-20 Mini, [I] crafted basslines that highlight a new harmonic direction while the Roland Aerophone adds an expressive, organic layer in the second half. The result is a remix that feels like a gradual emergence capturing the sense of transformation that’s also present in the original version”.
Says Lithuanian artist Rushkeys of the remix. Elsewhere, Rushkeys preserves the reflective tone of the original whilst overtly pushing its boundaries, giving the undulating synths and gently pulsating rhythms more space to breathe and expand. Like the original, it also offers a meditative state for the listener, connoting both tranquility and emotional resonance through both its soft percussive elements and its gently evolving synth melodies that really make the listener feel as though they are on a spiritual journey. “The title Kivi comes from the Finnish word for ‘stone’, reveals Rushkeys. “While the meaning is left open to interpretation, the original track carries a sense of emotional movement—something [I] leaned into when approaching the remix”.
All in all, the Korora – Kivi (Rushkeys Remix) both complements and builds upon the atmosphere established by the original version of the track, taking its fundamental musical elements in a different direction without ever losing the feel that Korora was aiming for. As a result, in our opinion the remix stands up alongside some of Rushkeys best work in the past, including tracks like Inner Flow, Aurora and Maya.
