It's one thing to have a hit in your home country, but for the tune to go worldwide is a whole other story. And for 19-year-old Valentin Brunel, better known to his fans as Kungs, this is exactly what happened when his single, "This Girl," dropped. Currently on tour, Kungs also recently released his debut album, Layers, earlier this month. From sharing the stage with David Guetta to having a chart-topper on his hands, it's clear that this young DJ and producer is one to look out for. We had the chance to get to know him a little better and compiled a series of facts you should about this artist.
Find out the 10 Things You Should Know About Kungs below.
He Can Thank the Djembe for His Musical Start
While some people get into music by playing the guitar, piano or drums, Kungs started his path with the djembe — a percussion instrument from North Africa.
"It's kind of a funny story," he says. "I was on holiday with my family, and my parents found a djembe. So they offered [it] to me, and I started playing it naturally. And it was amazing because I was playing with my mother. That's how it all started."
Learning Djembe Influenced His Production Approach
And by playing the djembe as a kid, he thinks it may have influenced his approach as a producer. "When you produce music, you just let yourself go into your own world," Kungs explains. "You just make stuff happen. And when I was a kid, it was the same thing. I play my djembe and guitar for fun."
And His Parents' Support Helped Him Achieve His Dreams
"I had some software [that] my parents gave me at Christmas when I was 13 years old," he says. "It wasn't really producing but more like mixing some stuff. [My parents] always knew I was really into music, and I was in a musical environment."
Google Translate Gave Kungs His Stage Name
"I started making music three years ago, and my name is Valentin Brunel," Kungs explains. "So it's a bit long and not beautiful. I was making remixes, and one of them was called 'Valentin Remix.' It was too long. So I had to find something else. I went on Google translate with my brother. We typed "gentleman" in every language. And in Latvian, it's 'Kungs.'"
He Never Thought "This Girl" Would Be a Hit
"It's been amazing," he conveys. "I never expected so much success for this track, because I just made it a year alone in my apartment. I just discovered the track [sample], the soul track, from an Australian band. I just made it for fun. But when we gave it to some labels, Universal [Music Group] was into the project. So I signed with Universal, and then I wasn't expecting it to be worldwide like this. It began blowing up in France then in Europe, and now in the U.S. It's crazy!"
He Wants to Collaborate with Aloe Blacc
"I would love to collaborate with Aloe Blacc because I love his voice," he reveals. "And Diplo because, for me, he's the best producer at the moment because he's got three projects – Jack Ü, Diplo, Major Lazer – and also, Calvin Harris. It would be sick."
He Doesn't Go Into The Studio with a Set Goal
He explains, "One time in London, in Shoreditch, one artist came, and we created something new every day. The goal wasn't to make a specific track. The goal was to have fun and to create something and enjoy the moment."
Playing Around in the Studio Resulted in a Collab with Jamie N Commons
Always up for playing around in the studio, a session with Jamie N Commons turned into his single, "Don't You Know." "I've been in the studio with him in London before the release of "This Girl," he states. "It was in January. We made the track really quickly. We were just having a jam in the studio with djembe and the guitar, and we were playing around. Then I said that this riff was really cool and tried to do something with it. So we made this track, and it was a great follow-up to "This Girl" because it had the same groove and soul vibes."
His Favorite Gigs Were in Ibiza and Switzerland
"This year, I played Ushuia and Pacha in Ibiza. It was just amazing because Ibiza, for me, has a fresh vibe. Everybody is happy. Everybody is partying Nobody's taking care of anything. They're just having fun. And I also had a gig in Switzerland [Energy Air 2016]. It was in a stadium for 40,000 people. It was amazing. It was the best gig ever. And also Corsica, and I played on the beach, and people were just crazy and partying on boats. It's amazing."
The Best Advice He Ever Got Was From David Guetta
"I talked to [David Guetta] and his managers," he says, "and they told me that environment is the most important thing when you're an artist. So that's what I try to keep — the best environment — like my friends, family, my managers. I keep those people around me. That's the best advice I've ever gotten."
Learn more fun facts about your favorite up-and-coming artists by visiting our 10 Things page.
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