We caught up with rising electronic music prodigy Klean, who released his single ‘MINA’ with Almanac on 15 November via the imprint Jupiter’s Moons.
At just 21-years-old, Klean has made his way from Brazil’s underground SoundCloud scene to an international sensation. His trademark blend of Baile Funk with Latin and Caribbean influences has seen him rapidly rise through the ranks and garnering support from the likes of Skrillex and Diplo.
Almanac are renowned for their boundary breaking style and ability to merge urban soundscapes with electronic textures, which has gained the attention of Tïesto and Martin Garrix. In the interview, we chat to Klean about what inspires him outside of music, how he separates himself from other artists and what he’s got in the pipeline. He’s also created an exclusive 1 hour mix filled with high-octane gems, which you can stream below.
Congratulations on the release of ‘Mina’! Can you tell us what sparked this collaboration?
Thank you very much! I had been following Almanac’s work for a while and even played some of their tracks in my sets. Through a mutual friend, we ended up meeting in 2023 on my birthday. They observed my creative process during a studio session, and from that moment, we stayed in touch. One day, I came up with the idea for a collab, and pretty quickly, it evolved into ‘MINA’.
When you compose and produce tracks, do you make music for yourself or do you make it with others in mind?
That’s a tough question to answer. I’d say it’s a bit of both. I enjoy producing music that I genuinely love listening to and playing. I’ve never followed trends just to please an audience unless I truly liked them. At the same time, it’s natural to think about how to refine your wildest ideas to make them more “accessible” to a wider audience.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Mina’ ?
At first, I planned to create a more “pure” Bass House track. As the project developed, I felt that Almanac would be the perfect fit to elevate the song. When I sent them the track, they liked it right away, and within a few days, they sent me a version that was already well-constructed. It maintained the essence—especially the drop, which I had already shaped—but they brought in many new elements that added depth. Most importantly, they introduced the idea of incorporating Brazilian Funk, one of Almanac’s signature styles at the time. I have to admit, that’s exactly what I was hoping for when I sent the track their way. After just a couple of revisions, the song was completely finished.
Stream Klean, Almanac – ‘MINA’ below:
What is your favorite part of the creative/production process?
I think my favorite part is when I see the project heading in the direction I imagined. Most of the time, my ideas come out of nowhere, and it feels challenging to bring them to life. So, when I start hearing it come together and sounding just right, it’s incredibly satisfying. At that point, I’m usually just about to finish the track.
Which piece of hardware or software would you consider the most essential in your setup, and that you would be a little lost without?
A good pair of headphones. These days, I enjoy producing in studios with audio monitors, but I only trust the sound when I hear it on the headphones I’m most used to. That’s when I know if everything is truly dialed in.
What inspires you outside of music?
Seeing that all the time I’ve devoted to what I love most isn’t going to waste. Knowing there are people out there who enjoy my work has completely changed my life.
What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?
I’m planning to release some new tracks that are already finished, and through them, usher in a new phase for my project. My sound is evolving, with more focus on house, techno, Miami bass/electro, and various other styles of bass music. With this direction, I hope to achieve all my goals as an artist.
Stream Klean’s exclusive YourEDM mix below:
Mix Tracklist:
Intro
Klean, Apu. – ID
Habstrakt, Karra – Ice Cold
Nostalgix – Look At Me (Rihanna – We Found Love Vocals)
Klean, Mc Dricka – ID
Missy Elliott – Lose Control (K3ONI Remix)
RL Grime – Zone (RL Grime x PZZS Baile Funk Edit)
Odd Mob vs. Dom Dolla – Tokyo Drift vs. Left To Right vs. New Gold (WeDamnz Mashup)
Klean, Almanac – MINA
Klean, Tropkillaz, Mc Carol – SEM PARAR
Morello – Go PaPi
ero808, NXSTY – MARAVILLOSA
Sage The Gemini – Gas Pedal (Kyle Watson Remix) [ft Iamsu!]
PARISI, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso – U Ok?
ZUEZEU – Underground Bass
Victor Lou & Mc Theuzyn – SOCA SOCA DO SUBMUNDO (SHARK VERSION)
Flying Buff – Bailão
Klean – ID
Chase & Status vs. Skrillex – Baddadan x Badders (BISCITS Bootleg)
Chase & Status – Baddadan (Knock2 Remix)
PZZS – No Piquezin Do Abstrato
Klean – ID
Follow Klean:
Spotify – Instagram – X – SoundCloud – TikTok – YouTube
Follow Almanac: