Hailing from Denver, the current epicentre of the US electronic music scene, Agent Of Kaos, or AOK, is carving out a unique space for himself. This artist, producer, and DJ, who debuted in December 2023, isn't just creating waves with his bass-focused electronic tracks that span every subgenre imaginable; he's also a staunch advocate for independent artists. With his latest release, 'It All Starts Now', featuring the incredible Sprawler Fu, serving as a pre-release teaser for his upcoming album 'Kaos Theory', AOK is poised to make a significant impact.

The album, a deeply personal project reflecting five years of his life, from the pandemic to his move to Denver, promises a diverse sonic landscape. We sat down with AOK to explore the creation of 'Kaos Theory', his unique approach to genre blending, and his vision for the future of electronic music.

It's great to have this chance to speak with you about the new track, and of course, the upcoming album. 'Kaos Theory' spans five years of your life, culminating in your move to Denver.How did those years shape the genres present in the album, and can you pinpoint a track that embodies a specific period or emotion?

"I can truly think of a couple; the intro song on the album, 'Kaos Theory', has a darker tone than the rest of the album, as we were just coming out of Covid and things were still pretty dark for both my personal life and for most people in the world. 'A DnB Shanty' is in reference to the first Gaspirilla I attended while in Tampa, which is why it's light-hearted and fun! Finally 'Happier Than Hardcore' refers to coming to Denver/Boulder and actually finding people who truly appreciated me for who I am, along with dropping the heavy wall I had put up to the world."

You've described yourself as a "genre bender." How do you approach the challenge of blending such a wide range of electronic and non-electronic influences into a cohesive album like 'Kaos Theory', and what's your process for ensuring each track retains its unique identity?

"An amazing question. I would like to say that throughout the years one of the things that myself and another DJ in the DC area did to test ourselves was a game where we would try to make the record that the next DJ was mixing out of such a random genre that they wouldn’t be able to do it. This made everybody really good at DJing and at the same time allowed us to hear certain genres, which maybe nobody heard mixed together before. Which then also gave us ideas for playing out live. A lot of my music is produced in a fashion where you can tell a long-term DJ is making it. Little pieces are borrowed from each genre in the track to form something new. A great deal of it is trial and error. However, I also have synesthesia so I see certain sounds as colours which has helped me kind of feel out what should be mixed together."

'It All Starts Now' with Sprawler Fu is described as having an "abstract bass technique" different from typical future DnB. Could you elaborate on this technique and what inspired you to deviate from conventional DnB structures?

"I’ve made songs with conventional drum and bass structure and so has every other drum and bass producer. Most of the time when I’m working in my DAW, I am experimenting and pushing things. What if I do this? what if I change this from the normal process to something else? A lot of the time it doesn’t work but every now and again you get something really special. I see so many other producers, pushing the limits of traditional production and experimenting as well which also inspires me. I believe Serum 2 is going to be revolutionary for all those that make bass focused, electronic music over the next couple years."

You've been DJing for 14 years before focusing on production. How has your experience as a DJ influenced your production style, particularly in terms of track arrangement and audience engagement?

"First off, and you people can hate me for this and I don’t care. I make tracks with an intro and an outro of some sort because I’m a DJ making music and I want to DJ. I don’t make 2 and a 1/2 minute songs because my upbringing in music was as a DJ. I also use a lot of FX techniques that I would use when I was DJing already built into the song. Not to mention by DJing many different electronic genres over the year I like to pick and choose different arrangements and sounds that are very specific to certain subgenres and bring them into others."

With Church Of Us Records, you're dedicated to supporting independent artists. What are the biggest challenges you see facing up-and-coming electronic musicians today, and what specific strategies do you employ to help them overcome these hurdles?

"150,000 tracks get released every single day. The hardest thing that independent musicians are facing is just getting their music heard. Along with Spotify now developing AI music for themselves while flagging artists that it says use AI and/or end up on playlists that use bots, we’re coming to a precipice in the more that the listener understands that supporting certain streaming services that do just this is in fact, killing the modern artist and replacing it with AI the better for all of us. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS, GO TO SHOWS, SHOW UP AND SEE OPENERS, THEYARE THE NEXT BIG NAME!"

"To combat this Church Of Us Records and myself spent all of last year and quite a bit of money trying to line up marketing and promotional partners. This way we have an avenue to get artists that submit to the label and we release on it to have their music heard. To submit to A&R email label@churchofusrecords.com We are always looking for artists that make bass-focused, electronic music and love what they do."

You're planning to focus half of your time on live gigs and DJing in 2025. How do you envision translating the intricate, genre-bending sounds of 'Kaos Theory' into a live performance, and what kind of experience do you hope to create for your audience?

"I’ve already started the process as most of my sets at this point are multi-subgenre. I try to treat sets just like a mix, I want to take you on a journey. As I’m able to grow my following as an artist, I have some big ideas for multimedia sets, blending visuals, FX’s and music with other things. However, right now it’s about getting my sound out so more people can hear it."

In the run-up to the album, you've shared "Be the spark, to ignite the fire, be the light, when things seem dire." It suggests a strong sense of optimism. How does this philosophy permeate your music, and how do you hope it resonates with listeners, especially in today's world?

"I make multi-sub, genre and multi-genre high energy/vibrational music. In the words of Ye, 'It’s provocative, it gets the people going.'"

You mentioned working with rock, rap, and metal musicians. How do these collaborations differ from your electronic music production, and what unique perspectives do these artists bring to your sound?

"My release following this one, before the album, I worked with a close friend making more of an electronic trap song with commentary on those SA others using their position in the industry, which I truly believe could not have been done with a traditional electronic song. Another track on the album has a fantastic screamo artist Fredrik Keith Croona on it which is more of a commentary on the elites, which I feel could’ve been done with a more rock/metal feel."

"By combining the best parts of all genres I am able to borrow certain nuances from them to create songs in the vain that feel right for those certain emotions. I did drum and bass songs with artists Maneframe and Hail Cassandra previously (both fantastic guitarists, one rhythm, one lead) and it added a dynamic to drum bass that I absolutely love to this day and would do it again in a heartbeat. People get so hung up on context they forget there’s only two types of music it either slaps or it’s crap."

'Kaos Theory' is your "starting line album." What are your long-term aspirations for AOK, and how do you see your sound evolving beyond this release?

"This is actually the reason I started making music and also focused on taking on so many different genres and combining them. I could spend the rest of my life doing this and never master it, and simply hope to make some music that resonates with people, is able to share my emotions or thoughts on things to validate others that may have the same and provide a soundtrack to a few people and core memories that they have at very important parts of their life. If I could do a few of these things, it would be time incredibly well spent."

The quote you provided, "I think we are heading into some crazy times this year and next, but crazy in a good way..." implies some big, bright things to come. Where do you find your inspiration for staying so positive and how do you hope to spread that positive message through your music? 

"Positivity and negativity are simply polarity that we give to things every object around you within this world has no polarity, you assign it based on your belief system, and experiences along with an active choice daily. I choose to see humanity, the word, and what it represents as the amazing thing that it will become. Others may not choose to do so, and they are perfectly valid in their choice, however, by choosing the positive route, I am interacting with my world on a daily basis and moving it towards that future for humanity."

'Kaos Theory', set for release on April 1st, 2025, is more than just an album for AOK; it's a culmination of personal growth and artistic exploration. AOK's journey from DJ to producer is evident in the album's intricate arrangements and genre-bending soundscapes. He's not afraid to push boundaries, blending electronic subgenres with elements of rock, rap, and metal, creating a sound that's both familiar and refreshingly new. His dedication to supporting independent artists through his label, Church Of Us Records, further underscores his commitment to the electronic music community. With a positive outlook and a desire to create music that resonates on a deeper level, AOK is ready to ignite a fire in the hearts of listeners worldwide.

With 'Kaos Theory', he's laying the foundation for a career that promises to be as diverse and dynamic as the genres he blends. For more from AOK, be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.