Selections: Kito

Kito’s forthcoming ‘BIMYOU’ EP is a feature-packed affair. Arriving August 28th via Mad Decent, the four-track collection is brimming with collaborators whom the savvy producer considers her close friends — names like Kah-Lo, St. Panther, and Nigerian singer-songwriter Nonso Amadi leave their mark, and that’s only scratching the surface of powerhouse talent on the tracks. Over groovy and buoyant low-ends, each vocalist clocks memorable moments, shining a spotlight on Kito’s family-focused approach to music-making.

As creative director for the project, Maaike Kito Lebbing asserts her strengths in the curator’s seat, but fans who’ve been following the Denmark-born, Australia-bred artist for the past decade and change are already well acquainted with her discerning tastes, not to mention an impressive discography, which includes releases on scene-shaping imprints like Ed Banger, Astralwerks, and Capitol Records. Her appearance on Skrillex’s ‘Quest For Fire’ album alongside Aluna on ‘Inhale Exhale’ last year was another peak for the global star.

When she’s not in the studio making magic, she sits at the helm of her monthly, femme-forward Club Kito party series — a place for West Coast heads to peep lineups that tow the line between pop and avant-garde. (When folks like Ashnikko, Tove Lo, Blu DeTiger, and Kim Petras are coming through, you’re clearly doing something right.) And amid all of this excitement, Kito still found time to team up with Chrome Sparks on IS U IS U — a new collaborative endeavor that’s given them both a place to experiment with their unique brand of uplifting and leftfield house.

Given Kito’s expansive tastes and natural curation skills, DJ Mag knew she’d have an impressive crate at the ready, and she was happy to share her favourites with us ahead of her return to Diplo’s pioneering imprint later this month.