One of the stand-out acts on the Organic House scene has put out a stunning debut release on Brazilian Warung Recordings. We’re of course talking about Khen. The Israeli DJ and producer, stemming from the dance music hotbed Tel Aviv that’s birthed legendary names in the likes of Guy J, Guy Gerber, Roy Rosenfeld, Guy Mantzur and more.

The eponymously titled lead track ‘Maple’ is a slow-burning and warm house at its best that delivers the rhythm as melodic layers of pads that gradually emerge throughout the track. The tone is of an epic journey filled to the brim with emotion.

‘Some Little Secrets’ is a hard hitting tribal excursion that flirts with old school progressive with hints of tech house. Here, the imposing and elongated melodies give way to a synth riff, while a tropical beat builds its base.

This is the labels forty third release and the first by Khen, who’s developed a special relationship with Warung since 2019, when he first played four hours at one of their 17-year anniversary parties.

You can now read the full interview we had with him while listening to the full premiere of ‘Some Little Secrets’ exclusively on When We Dip. Enjoy!

WWD: Hi Khen! Thanks for speaking to us and congrats on the new release on Warung Recordings. What’s your life been like this last year with this pandemic going on?

Thank you for having me! This period has been pretty slow for me just like for the rest of the world’s artists and touring crews. Personally, I’ve had a long break and tried to deal with the ups and downs this tough period has brought on and feel like it has affected my mental health.

As an artist that’s used to traveling and having a dynamic lifestyle, it’s been a big challenge to be locked down at home most of the year. There were days that I felt anxious and unsure of what the future would bring and struggled a lot with inspiration. I had to push myself a lot to get into the studio and start working on future material and I’m happy that I was able to break through that barrier.

On the up side, with no shows and no travel I’ve really got to spend some valuable time with friends and family, which has been great, but I can’t wait to play for a crowd again.

WWD: Has the current situation given you a new perspective on the typical DJ-lifestyle with little sleep, late nights, and tedious travel, or do you miss it and want to go back to how it was?

Both, I guess. It’s been nice to get some rest and do all the regular stuff you usually don’t get time to do when you travel a lot and have to rest and recover during the weeks. It was so strange to just shut it all off over night after years of touring with flights back and forth. Your whole body and soul adapts to what it’s like to work well into the nights and to travel a lot. I was surprised how long it took to get used to the downtime and really unwind.

WWD: In the last few years since your debut album release on Lost & Found, your style has developed in an interesting direction. Would you say that’s an accurate assessment?

For sure! Music is a living, dynamic organism and whatever comes out is the sum of where you are in life, what you’re feeling, your relationships and everything else that inspires you. As a musician, it’s in your nature to play around, develop, and explore new ways to express ourselves. That’s where the fun and exciting part is for me. The more I explore, the more different sounds I get to dig into, and the easier it gets to control my own path. I’ve been working a lot on my musical direction since the album and it makes me happy that you’ve noticed.

WWD: You just released your first EP on the Brazilian Warung Recordings label, the in-house imprint of arguably one of the best clubs in the world. You’ve played a couple shows for them just before the pandemic hit that were very well received. Do you feel anxious about going back behind the decks after this long and sharing your new music?

Actually, one of my last shows before the pandemic was at Warung and it was one of the best I’ve ever played. I went back home after that one with a lot of anticipation to play for one of the best crowds in the world again. In the last few months I’ve played a few shows in Israel and it almost felt like a dream to be back behind the decks. I do still miss traveling and playing for music lovers all over the world and it feels like we’ll be able to get to that point really soon.

WWD: Tell us about the process of making the lead track ‘Maple’. What inspired you and what’s your current set-up in the studio?

To be honest, I started working on this track a few years ago. I don’t really remember the process in detail, but I think I was in the mood to make something that felt alive and organic. I worked a lot to get that vibe with my kind of percussion and warm sounds.
I’m mostly using hardware synths, both analog and digital, such as Juno 60, Prophet 12, Mfb Tanzbar, Nord Lead A1 as well as some pedal effects and a few software plugins.

WWD: Warung is a versatile label that puts out a wide variety of electronic music with melodic house and techno at its core. What’s your relationship with the label?

We first met in 2019 when I was honoured to play one of the shows in celebration of their 17th anniversary. We kept in contact after that and they said that they wanted me back soon. I didn’t think much of it at the time and figured that was just something they said because they liked my set.

Sure enough, shortly after my agent called me and I was back playing a second show just three months later. That one was even better than the first one, which says a lot because it was one of the best I’ve ever played. After they suggested I release on the labeland  I already knew which tracks would fit.

WWD: Last but not least, when do you think you’ll be able to perform for a dancing crowd again?

I don’t know. In Israel , the vaccination process has been very quick and clubs are open here. I will be playing some shows back home and then hopefully be back in Argentina, Australia, USA and Canada before the year’s end. Can’t wait!