DJ Kakah, aka Karina Batista, is a DJ & producer hailing from Fortaleza, Brazil. She has established herself as a leading artist in the Brazilian Zouk dance community. She’ll keep you glued to the dance floor as she can play all genres across the music spectrum and seamlessly transition in and out of different moods and styles. As 2019 comes to an end, DJ Kakah continues traveling around the globe providing the best possible music experience for Brazilian Zouk enthusiasts.
How long have you been producing and DJing for?
-I’ve been producing since 2011 and DJing around the same time, but I started producing first.
What was the first gig you were hired for?
-In my city, I use to DJ events for Danca de Salon which is Brazilian Ballroom. I used to play all styles of music. I don’t remember my first local gig.
What styles do you dance?
-I consider myself being a dancer of Bachata, Forro, I can do a bit of Samba, West Coast Swing (my first dance), and Brazilian Zouk.
What do you love about Brazilian Zouk?
-First, I fell in love with Zouk with the music that I heard from other producers like Mafie, Max Black Soul, Allan Z. My first dance was West Coast Swing. I didn’t like Zouk that much because I didn’t like the songs. It was mostly Ghetto Zouk from Portugal and the lyrics were a bit tacky and I didn’t feel the passion to dance. West Coast Swing was more pop music and R&B. Mafie used to take pop songs and remix them for people to dance, which I fell in love with. Music for me is the main reason. Now, the freedom the dance gives me to explore my body and express my feelings; zouk fits a lot like this.
What’s been a challenge for you growing as an artist in the Brazilian Zouk scene?
-As an artist in general, it was family. Parents always want you to have that good job and be a doctor or lawyer, my family was no different. Since I was 12, I fell in love with music. I told my parents I’d like to continue this. They said continue school and you can continue music. But then after High School, I started college, but you know when you have art inside your veins you don’t want to do anything else because you want to do it 24 hours a day. I couldn’t focus on other things. The biggest challenge was making a living with it. In Brazil, it’s difficult. Brazilian Zouk made my dream of living with art come true. Brazilian Zouk was the biggest opportunity I had in life to travel and do what I love. For me, after I started Brazilian Zouk, my life became better and better as an artist. So you just have to appreciate this dance. That’s why I’m an artist today, and why I continue. I don’t know if I’d continue if it wasn’t for the dance to be honest.
Can you remember your first international gig?
-My first international gig was Zouk Fest UK. I met Solange at Berg Zouk Congress and the two first organizers to talk to me to come to Europe were Maxim from Russia and Carlos da Silva from Prague.
Was that your first time leaving Brazil?
Yes, first time time leaving Brazil.
What was it like touching down in London?
-First, my English wasn’t that good (laughs). I was afraid, immigration stuff, Brazilians outside their country, etc. I still get a bit nervous every time I leave Brazil, but the first time I thought I would see things I saw in movies. I felt excited to know other cultures. London, specifically was one of the places I dreamed about going because I love the British accent and language. It was very cool. I could see a lot of things I saw in movies, it’s overwhelming you know. The girl from a small city in Brazil, gay, women, you know. When you can do these kinds of things, it’s huge, and I felt proud that I could do that.
How did you get your DJ name?
-In Brazil we shorten the names, like in Sao Paulo, they call me “ka” which is short for Karina. When I was a kid my nanny used to call me “Kakah.” So this was a name that all my friends in high school used to call me, so I just kept the name.
Who inspires you?
-I don’t think there is a who. I think feelings inspire me. Most of my inspiration comes from inside. Either seeing people’s connection with each other, my own feelings about something about someone. Everything that happens inside of me is what inspires me in life. Like when I’m very happy, and I can do something more exciting. When I’m sad I can do something a bit more melancholic. It depends on what’s inside of my head and heart.
Does this translate when you DJ too?
-I think artists are like this. Our mood influences directly in our work. Most of my friends that know me, they know when I’m upset, when I’m playing upset, playing very happy; it influences a lot. We have to travel every week and do our job, like we are robots. But we also have our difficulties and our struggles so sometimes it’s impossible to separate.
What are some plans you have for 2020?
-I’m excited right now because I have a new partnership (Nina Darbello). I’m excited to show that girls can lead and keep a job as being dancers. We have a show and a lot of booked events. This is very exciting because this is a couple dance that uses both genders, male and female. That excites me a lot because the LGBTQ community is coming more and more to ballroom and latin dance communities, and I want to be part of this project. I think this will bring more people to the dance, people that are sometimes afraid to come because they think it’s just for man and women as couples. I think it’s exciting.
Favorite song off the top of your head?
-Right now, I’m addicted to Brega Funk remix from Brazil. The beat is really fun..
Is that a new style of dance?
-It’s a new style of music. Dance as well, because Brazilians always add something...but right now it’s a style from the North (Brega), together with Funk which is a kind of Brazilian Zouk beat.
What’s a tip or two you can give new DJs in the Brazilian Zouk scene?
-Work more with feelings than equipment. I see people trying to have the best laptop, , the best controller, headphones, but they don’t pay attention to the people dancing. Whether it’s zouk, kizomba, or bachata it’s the most important thing. You’re playing for people to dance to, you’re playing for people to drink, you’re playing for people to dance together. I think you need to be sensitive to the floor and to what people are expecting, this is more important than equipment than the higher technique. It’s good to have technique with feelings, not only technique and not only feelings, sensitive, and balance. First you learn what to play to people, then you worry about other things. We don’t need much. If you have a laptop and good intentions, you can become a good DJ in the Brazilian Zouk scene.
The same goes for videographers. People are always asking me what kind of camera or lens I’m using.
-Sometimes I think, if you have talent you have talent. If you don’t have talent, you need to try and search what moves you inside of art.
What’s your favorite color?
-Red, even though I don’t wear it that much.
What’s your favorite country or city?
-New York. It’s a place that I can breathe art and passion. There are a lot of artists there, and I had the opportunity to meet some. I think for music, for dance, for everything, I think New York has it all. And also because I love Friends (laughs).
What would you like to say to your audience in the Brazilian Zouk scene?
-I want to tell everyone, respect each other. Our differences is what unites us. If everyone is the same, life would be boring. Even if we are here together for one dance, we can all be different and like different teachers and DJs, and be together. The only thing I wish, is respect. So please people, respect each other and stop fighting for small things. We are all trying to follow one passion, we don’t need to be the same.
Thank you Kakah!
-Thank you for the interview.
