Kamixlo's piledriving club music is making an Impact

Impact is a series that's dedicated to profiling new artists who are about to turn dance music on its head. Next up: Kamixlo

Kamixlo is one of the driving forces behind Bala Club, an artist collective that's ripping up the rules of underground club music. So far he's released two EPs of industrial-strength reggaeton – 'Demonico' in 2015 and 'Angélico' in 2016 – and his equally hefty track selection as a DJ has landed him gigs at OHM, Razzmatazz, Cakeshop, Unsound festival and, most brilliantly of all, Ministry Of Sound.

The Londoner's music has ruptured the scene in which he operates and in just two years Kamixlo has gone from upping tracks to SoundCloud to inspiring a new wave of club kids who are intent on bringing visceral new energy to dancefloors across Europe and North America. Hurtle through certain online rabbit holes and you'll find umpteen tracks that nod to the riotous production of the Bala Club stable.

Kamixlo's Impact mix reveals just why people are drawn to Bala Club: there are no boundaries, evidenced by rowdy nu metal remixes segueing into feisty rap tracks; nothing is sacred and everything is for the taking, which is why a thundering 'Bad And Boujee' edit and the best bit of 'Till I Come' are included; the booming lope of reggaeton is ever present, homage to his Chilean heritage and, of course, there are beats from other members of the collective, notably a new dub from his brother and Bala Club co-conspirator Uli-K. Fuck everything you've been taught, because new possibilities lie within.

Bala Club had an amazing year in 2016. How is the crew going to build on that?

2016 was a dream. The first party on NYD, lots of release, so many dream line-ups. We're gonna keep evolving what Bala Club is. We've got our record label up and running now and we have lots of events planned.

You put on a party in a wrestling gym recently – why is it important to throw parties in non club spaces?

As I mentioned we've got lots of events planned this year and hopefully most of them will be out of the club. Bala Club has always been about putting on live stuff, too. I feel like I've mentioned this somewhere before but I'll say it again: Me and Uli were never into clubbing and nightlife but it's the only place our stuff gets played and the only place where we get a chance to perform. Bala Club live 2k17 coming soon.

Can you expand on what Bala Club live will be like?

I don't wanna leak too much – it's gonna be only live performances with a Bala Club stage design and there'll be a few live debuts there too. That's all I should say for now, I guess. We've done quite a lot in the club but I feel like sometimes it's a bit restricting. In a proper concert venue we can build a huge stage set-up and put on any kind of performance.

You should take Bala Club on tour, right?

100 per cent – who out there wants to help us make this tour happen tho? Touring with fam would be a dream. It's already amazing getting booked around the world with my friends for one off shows, next step is a proper Bala Club tour for sure.

The Bala Club parties were started because there wasn't anything similar going on in London. 12 months on, has the scene improved?

I don't think anything has improved but I wasn't expecting it to. I don't expect anything from London or the "scene".

Bala Club has always had strong links with international producers. Will you be bringing any new members into the squad?

Yes definitely. Bala Club is gonna keep growing forever.

Where do you find your vocal samples?

I don't find them, they find me. I might start singing though, for legal reasons!

We've seen your angelic and demonic sides so far – which part of your personality will you present to the world next?

I really wish I could tell you now but then it'd be less exciting when I announce it. It's coming this year though. For now I'm cosy being an angel.

You've been DJing all over the place recently. How have you adjusted to what's essentially the international DJ life?

Eek! I relate "DJ life" to scumbags like Diplo and stuff. Traveling is super cute tho, it didn't take much adjusting. I'm still kinda surprised I get flown to all these places. It's really sweet.

Has your DJ style changed since you started playing more often?

I'm not sure if my style has changed much. I kinda care less about what people think now though and I feel really comfortable playing whatever I want.

Best place you've played outside of the UK?

Tokyo, 100 per cent. I felt like a pop star, everyone showed so much love and the show was too sweet. I can't wait to go back. the whole Asia tour was amazing.

Your brother, Uli, also makes music. What's the creative relationship between you two like?

If it wasn't for Uli, I probably wouldn't be so into making music. We've made music together since we were little kids. We've had hundreds of projects. Nowadays we both kind of do our thing musically but I know we still inspire each other.

Uli has a knack of making these killer pop tunes. What's he got coming up?

I can't expose him like that but maybe a lil remix by a lil someone. Shouts out Lil Uzi Vert by the way.

You and Uli both forged careers off uploading tracks to SoundCloud and doing things your own way. What's your advice to other young people who want to get into music?

I don't think anyone should come to me for advice about this kind of stuff, ever. Our goal wasn't to make a career off this, it just kinda happened and I'm super grateful. I find it lame when people's only goal with their art is to make a career from it, have hella followers and be in the spotlight – that's quite corny, but what do I know?

Maybe one bit of advice: surround yourself with angels, don't let demons drain you.

This wouldn't be a Kamixlo interview if we didn't talk about wrestling. What's been your wrestling highlight of, say, the last three months?

Well, obviously it has to be Kenny Omega versus Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11. I've actually made a song inspired by that match. Shout out Kenny Omega and the Bullet Club

What lessons have you learned from wrestling that you can apply to life?

This is kinda cheesy as fuck but in the words of John Cena, Never Give Up.

Seb Wheeler is Mixmag's Head Of Digital. Follow him on Twitter