JKriv is a Brooklyn-based producer, DJ, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and label owner with a career spanning over two decades.
Photo credit: JKriv – Official
As co-founder of Razor-N-Tape Records, he has played a central role in shaping Brooklyn’s underground dance scene while building a catalog that includes hundreds of original releases and remixes, as well as productions for a range of artists.
Alongside his work in the studio, JKriv has performed across global festival stages and club circuits, evolving from a trained jazz musician into a versatile electronic artist. His output reflects a balance between musicality and dancefloor function, informed by years of collaboration and live performance.
Now, with the release of ‘Real Ones’ alongside longtime collaborator Jason Lindner, JKriv continues to explore the intersection of live improvisation and club-oriented production. In this conversation, JKriv opens up about the project, his workflow, and what lies ahead.
EG: Hi, JKriv! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been doing?
JKriv: Doing great! Keeping very busy as always between production, DJing, label stuff, and, ya know… life.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your new collaborative EP, ‘Real Ones.’ You must be thrilled to be able to share this one. What has the initial reception been like so far?
JKriv: Thank you, the reception has been really great. One of the things I value the most in my music career is collaboration, so it’s always very exciting to realize a project like this.
EG: So, what can fans expect to find on this one? How would you describe these new tracks?
JKriv: The 3 original songs here are all kind of heavy club tracks with lots of layered synth work. They’re musical, engaging, and dance floor–ready.
EG: ‘Real Ones’ sees you linking up with long-time collaborator Jason Lindner. How did that relationship come about?
JKriv: Jason and I began playing together in the A Joyful Noise live project about 4 years ago, but I had been familiar with his work long before that from his time as leader of the Small’s Big Band in the early 2000s and more recently as part of the Donny McCaslin trio, who were the band for David Bowie’s final album ‘Blackstar’.
“I think it’s OK to hop off the social media hamster wheel sometimes and just focus on the aspects of music that build community and real-life connection”
EG: How do you usually go about things in the studio when collaborating with Jason? Do you have a similar approach to when you play live together? Are you always mindful of creating things that you can then replicate in a live setting?
JKriv: Our flow in the studio is super easy and organic. Basically, I sketch out production ideas — drums, basslines, and basic chord structures — over which Jason records layers of improvised synth work. Then I take all of this and build out the arrangements. Our approach to the live set is quite similar, with me feeding tracks to Jason on the spot for him to improvise over, and with blends, EQ, and FX, we kind of create new tracks right in the moment. Now that we have a bit more of a repertoire of our own music, we’re honing the live set even further, and I’m playing some bass as well as DJing.
EG: By the way, ‘Real Ones’ is available via your own Razor-N-Tape. What can we expect from the label for the rest of 2026? Is there anything that you can anticipate on that front?
JKriv: We’ve got a ton of great music coming from Dirty Channels, Megatronic, Dennis Liber, and more, plus a live album from my A Joyful Noise band in the fall.
EG: On to a broader subject… What would you like to accomplish as artists this year? Is there something “tangible” that you’d like to go for?
JKriv: I’m starting to pull together ideas for a full-length album, so any progress I make toward completing that will feel good.
EG: What are some of the challenges artists will face in the near future? What advice would you give to your colleagues? What would you like to see more and less of?
JKriv: I think everyone faces personal challenges, and we all have to wear a lot of hats these days. I don’t really have advice for anyone, but I think it’s OK to hop off the social media hamster wheel sometimes and just focus on the aspects of music that build community and real-life connection.
“One of the things I value the most in my music career is collaboration”
EG: What’s next for JKriv? Where can your fans catch you next?
JKriv: I’ve got Miami this weekend at MAD Radio, Montreal next weekend at Sans Soleil, Smartbar Chicago, and our Razor-N-Tape Detroit Movement events in May, West Coast in June, and UK/EU in August!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, JKriv! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
JKriv’s ‘Real Ones’ is out now on Razor-N-Tape Records. Stream and download here.
Follow JKriv: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
