Nina Kraviz

Russian producer, vocalist, and DJ Nina Kraviz rose to fame through the strength of her adventurous, energetic mix sets as well as her thumping, provocative recordings. First appearing with a series of functional deep house records, she broke through with the Dance Mania-inspired 2011 single “Ghetto Kraviz,” which became a breakout club hit and appeared on her 2012 full-length debut, Nina Kraviz. Her eclectic mix CDs, such as 2016′s Fabric 91, excitedly veer between techno, acid, electro, and IDM. Through her own Trip label, she’s released some of her most experimental material, including EPs like 2019′s stranno stranno. neobjatno, while her 2021 single “Skyscrapers” demonstrates her pop side. Kraviz ventured into video game soundtracks with her score for Cyberpunk 2077, also issued in 2021.
Born and raised in Irkutsk, Siberia, Kraviz fell under the spell of house music during the mid-’90s through radio. A few years later, she moved to Moscow for the sake of studying dentistry, and was briefly part of a trio called MySpaceRocket. The group released one 12”, 2007’s “Amok,” a lean house track with a deep bassline and Kraviz’s breathy vocals; the B-side featured a version from U.K. DJ legend Greg Wilson. Kraviz subsequently went solo and made a splash in 2009, when she issued productions on Efdemin’s Naïf, Jus-Ed’s Underground Quality, and Matt Edwards’ Rekids. The following year, Kraviz issued another handful of singles, including a sound clash with Sascha Funke that appeared on BPitch Control. “Ghetto Kraviz” was her lone 2011 single and set up the release of her first album, a 2012 self-titled set for Rekids. The song would prove to be an enduring club track, and was remixed numerous times throughout the decade.
Following additional singles on Rekids and Rosa, as well as the Mr. Jones EP in 2013, Kraviz founded the Trip label in 2014. Her installment of !K7′s DJ-Kicks series was released in early 2015. Another mix CD, Fabric 91, followed in late 2016. Having released several boundary-pushing compilations and releases by artists like Bjarki and PTU, Trip issued some of Kraviz’s most abstract work through the EPs Pochuvstvui (2017) and stranno stranno. neobjatno (2019). Kraviz curated the St. Vincent remix album Masseduction Rewired, contributing several mixes herself. She also collaborated with Chicago house producer Parris Mitchell for the single “Feel My Butterfly.” Kraviz wrote music for the action role playing game Cyberpunk 2077, additionally appearing as herself in both the English and Russian versions. Her soundtrack was released as Cyberpunk 2077: Radio, Vol. 4 in early 2021. Kraviz self-released the pop-oriented single “Skyscrapers” the same year. ~ Andy Kellman & Paul Simpson