Dazed Mix: Kamixlo

It’s been a minute since we last touched base with Brixton artist Kamixlo. Four years since his acclaimed debut album Cicatriz, the Bala Club co-founder has been on a whirlwind journey, teaming up with Drain Gang on their worldwide tour in 2022 to debuting his “43% Hurt” on YEAR0001’s Rift Two compilation and joining girlfriend and reggaeton-pop star Isabella Lovestory on her Laticonica tour.

With DEATHWORK, the producer returns with nine energetic and genre-agnostic tracks, featuring appearances from friends and collaborators Bladee, Mechatok, Puzzle and Lovestory. Staying true to form, the album artwork depicts a wrestling mask – a reference to Kamixlo’s longtime passion for the sport – Bala Club party and label, named after Japanese pro wrestling group Bullet Club – which came full circle back in 2021 when pro wrestler KENTA made the track “Cicatriz” his official theme song. But don’t let the album name fool you – unlike its predecessor, DEATHWORK is nowhere near as dark or menacing. From its transcendant opener “Ketamine Fields”, with its euphoric bass lines and distorted yet angelic vocals, to the slowmo debow rhythms of lead single “Pitch Black“ and “Death Forever’s” playground production, there’s a forward motion to the record that’s feels like the intensity of the scars that dwelled in his debut have somewhat faded, and the titular deathwork put into motion.

To celebrate his sophomore album, Kamixlo has prepared an exclusive Dazed mix, featuring new tracks off DEATHWORK, some anime remixes, and a particularly gruesome Rob Zombie classic. “I’d say it’s a lil journey, some cute parts, some distressing moments, and everything in between,” he tells us – listen below.

How’s your summer going? Any highlights?

Kamixlo: Summer has been cute so far. Just mostly excited to get this album out. I’d say maybe the highlight was playing at Primavera festival in Barcelona last month.

Congrats on your album, DEATHWORK! What are some of the main highlights and inspirations?

Kamixlo: Dankeschön! There’s been so much inspo throughout the last four years of making this thing. I guess travelling and just experiencing new things constantly. I don’t take too much inspo from other music directly really, I try to capture moods and moments I feel.

What would you say are some of your most formative musical experiences?

Kamixlo: I think being six or seven year old and seeing nu-metal on TV like Korn and Limp Bizkit. Also seeing At the Drive-in on TV as a kid was really life-changing for me and my bro. Experiencing heavier stuff as a kid shaped my taste and made me wanna make music.

What do you like most about the club? What sort of vibe are you after?

Kamixlo: Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of the club. I don’t really like being around too many people, I don't know. I kinda love going to concerts way more. The less socialising, the more cosy.

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given?

Kamixlo: I remember when I first start DJing and making really messy edits with YouTube rips for the club, this elder more established DJ at the time came up to me half way thru my set and told me, ‘You need to play better quality files.’ I understand his point but nah, that’s stupid, play whatever you want. And another time while I was playing, some other elder dude told me that I need to try stay in one bpm range while I DJ… Also awful advice. Everybody’s approach is different, invent your own rules and create your own lane.

The best advice?

Kamixlo: I don’t know what the best advice is, I’m still waiting for it.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Kamixlo: Listening to a lot of Creed, old school Christian rock is hitting good these days. And a lot of K-pop.

Tell us about your Dazed mix.

Kamixlo: I’d say it’s a lil journey, some cute parts, some distressing moments, and everything in between. There’s some sneak peaks of tracks from my upcoming album DEATHWORK too. I hope y’all fuck with it, this is my first recorded mix in forever.

Tracklist

1. Kamixlo – “One more night at the line”
2. Blissful Decay – “Unreleased”
3. Kamixlo – “43% Hurt”
4. Kamixlo – “Combe”
5. Rob Zombie – “Dragula (Beatbender Rework)”
6. Kamixlo and Hatechild – “Unreleased”
7. Slipknot – ”Wait and Bleed” remix
8. Felix Lee – “Skitz”
9. FKOFF1963 – “Poxa DJ”
10. Woesum – “???”
11. Estoc – “Tesselator in the Bronx” (DJH x Pierce the Veil)
12. Hatechild – “A Time 4 Forever” (Bury Mixx)
13. Beserk – “Guts Theme” (Astral Bandit Beheilt rework)
14. Kamixlo and Isabella Lovestory – “Pitch Black”
15. Nahshi – “Zero Time Ritual”
16. FKOFF1963 – “Replica”
17. Dani Flow, El Begueto, Uzielito mix – ”Martillazo”
18. Muevelo x Hardlopen (Hatechild mix)
19. Kamixlo and Ana Caprix – “Como si Fuera tu Ultimo”
20. Kamixlo – ”Ego Fragile / Spirit Weak”
21. Felix Lee – “Threshold”
22. Kamixlo and Mechatok – “Insect” (Extremely slow version)