Kornél Kovács rang 'The Bells' and gave us joyous house music in 2016

“On a political level, it’s been a really shitty year,” sighs Kornél Kovács when asked to sum up his 2016, before pointing out that dance music is particularly vulnerable when society shifts to the right.

Speaking to Mixmag from New York, he’s elated at having finished a North American tour with a “very special” back-to-back set with Mister Saturday Night’s Justin Carter, but also concerned by the implications of the US election. “Escapism is important, but people’s energy on the dancefloor can be a force for good,” he says. “It might sound naive, but on things like homophobia and
club closures in 2016, we’ve been outspoken, rather than just taking more drugs and ignoring the situation.”

On a personal level, though, this has been the best year of his career. After catching the electronic music bug from Kraftwerk-loving parents, Kornél decided to become a drum ’n’ bass DJ aged 10, and by 13 was playing locally to anyone that would have him.

Fast-forward to 2008 and acceptance to the Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona validated his chosen career path. Spurred on, a year later he set up Studio Barnhus with Petter Nordkvist and Axel Boman.

“I was looking up to and learning from them – just being in that environment with those two friends was what eventually led up to me releasing an album,” says the Swede.

Last year, a single on Smallville and an EP on Numbers brought Kornél out of the shadow of his fellow Barnhus bosses, but it’s in 2016, with the release of debut album ‘The Bells’, that his star has really risen.

Work began on an LP in January of 2016, invigorating old ideas with the help of Gothenburg-based DJ and producer Matt Karmil. The album was road-tested over the summer at clubs and festivals from China to Brazil and all across Europe, but while you may have heard his work seduce a crowd, Kornél reckons the fact there’s been no single hit is a great compliment. Because it’s that rarest of things: a house album best listened to from start to finish. “There’s not really a clear hit, the positive feedback has been evenly spread out over the 10 tracks, which is the best thing that could happen,” he says.

While he won’t rule out making more music next year – with a promise of another EP for Numbers – it’s back to label business and remixes for the time being; with a Space Dimension Controller rework next on the agenda.