This is a short interview with Yan Cook, an artist from Kyiv, Ukraine. Known for his powerful Techno productions and captivating Electronica, Yan shares his journey, current projects, and creative inspirations. Watch the video of Yan showcasing his setup and read the article below to learn more about his music and artistic vision.
Hi Yan, can you introduce yourself?
Sure, my name is Yan, I'm an artist from Kyiv, Ukraine, I produce electronic music, Techno under Yan Cook alias and Electronica under Rhomb alias, and when I don't feel like creating music, I create abstract artworks, using macro photography and various graphics software.
What is your current project(s)?
At the moment, my main focus is studio work, I'm working on a few very exciting projects, two of which are albums.
Can you tell me a bit about the music environment you grev up in in Kyiv and what formed you as an artist in younger age and up until today?
As a 15-year-old, I was already captivated by electronic music,
there were 2 very nice radio stations in Kyiv at the time, which were playing various DJ mixes at night, and I was really enjoying those, about 2 years later I started clubbing and raving quite often and on one of those nights I saw Dubfire playing a Minimal Techno set and I was blown away, this set left a huge impression on me and led me to discover and fall in love with the whole Techno realm.
How do you prepare yourself to go into a state of creativity?
Usually late at night, I go into my studio, start playing an instrument, and see where it takes me. Often I already have an idea in my head that I wanna try out.
Over the years, have you learned any good tips or tricks for staying in that state for as long as needed?
My creative energy comes and goes and I have almost no control over it, so I just ride it like a wave, letting it guide my creative process. Over the years, I've learned that trying to force creativity when I'm not feeling it is a recipe for disappointment.
And how does that affect your music-making setup, if it does?
It does, with the overwhelming number of tools and instruments available today, it's easy to get lost in the possibilities. To stay focused and productive, I find it helpful to limit myself to a few key pieces of gear per project. While it's tempting to use everything in my studio, I've learned that less is often more. This approach helps me maintain a clear workflow and achieve better results.
From which art forms or which activities do you find inspiration for your music?
My music is a reflection of the world around me, every experience, good or bad, shapes my artistic vision.
Bio
Yan was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, 1991. At the age of sixteen he was introduced to electronic music, more specifically Techno and his love for it was instantaneous!
The rest is history and meanwhile the Ukrainian has performed alongside many of the most respected techno talents from around the globe and collaborated with a number of people in the past, as well as working under different aliases, he is now focusing on his own fully distinguished style which is immediately recognizable from the first seconds of a track:
“Powerful, sub shaking and room filling Techno madness.” ― Delsin
"Aggressive vibes with sinister tones, growling basslines and yet more jarring and propulsive rhythms."― Soma
With a string of releases under his belt on some highly respected labels such as Delsin, Planet Rhythm, ARTS and his own label Cooked, he is a force to be reckoned with and his signature tracks are definitely leaving a long lasting impression with his audience.
Learn more about Yan Cook:
Bandcamp - yancook.bandcamp.com
YouTube - youtube.com/c/YanCook
Artworks - yancook.gumroad.com
Instagram - instagram.com/yan_cook
