In a world where conflict often divides, Amas and Konstantin Kost have forged a distinct musical collaboration that transcends borders and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. Their latest techno EP, ‘Odessa,’ is not just a collection of bass-heavy tracks, but a powerful testament to life under extraordinary circumstances.
Photo credit: Konstantin Kost – Official
Despite being separated by closed borders, with Konstantin unable to leave war-torn Ukraine, the duo has crafted an EP that bridges the gap between Odessa and Europe. Their collaboration, marked by conversations that jump from disappearances and corruption to vinyl production, showcases the power of art to connect people even in the bleakest of times.
‘Odessa’ is a journey through immobility, an experience of the unexperienced, and a reflection of life in a city under siege. Konstantin Kost’s accompanying photographs and videos offer glimpses of a resilient Odessa, with the EP’s cover featuring the city’s port as a symbol of hope for renewed global connections.
As we delve into this interview with Amas and Konstantin Kost, we explore the creative process behind ‘Odessa,’ the challenges of long-distance collaboration during conflict, and the power of music to inspire hope and human connection in the face of adversity.
EG: Hi, guys! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Amas: Salut, thank you very much for the invitation. We’re very happy to be here. We’re usually in our hometown Stuttgart, in the south of Germany. We spend a lot of time in the studio, working on our next projects. We recently had some experimental sessions in Sardinia and Leipzig, preparing for our next album. Currently, we’re focused on organizing our upcoming release with Konstantin, which is challenging due to the long distance and closed borders.
Konstantin Kost: Hi, my situation is quite complex. I’m currently in Odessa, Ukraine, and the state of the country is heartbreaking. It feels more like survival than living. However, I try to stay strong because music is my panacea, my utopia where I can escape from this difficult reality.
EG: How is your summer going so far? Any particular highlights?
Amas: Our highlight this late summer is the 5th release on our own label, AMAS Studio. We put a lot of work and love into the EP ‘Odessa’, from conception to audiovisual realization. It was a long and sometimes rocky road. As producers, summer means beautiful, long studio nights, always searching for the next gripping loop and groove. We love this process and will never stop.
Konstantin Kost: This summer, I’ve been fully immersed in filming and editing the music video for our AMAS release, ‘Odessa.’ I’ve also performed occasionally in Odessa clubs and presented our album. I’ve recorded numerous sets for various radio shows and podcast labels, and created my own series of guest podcasts, OVERSPEED. Unfortunately, the summer has been tough and filled with constant stress due to the ongoing war.
EG: Congratulations on the release of your latest EP, ‘Odessa’! You must be excited to finally share this one. What has the initial reception been like so far?
Amas: It’s a great feeling to finish a record like this and hand it over to the audience. The feedback within the scene has been very positive so far! We tend to work more in the studio than play live, so we were happy to get feedback from Konstantin, who has tested the tracks in various stages in Ukraine. All in all, ‘Odessa’ was a very emotional and complicated musical journey, and we’re happy to finally share it with everyone.
Konstantin Kost: I believe it’s an excellent EP that has garnered great feedback from many musicians, especially Ukrainian ones, as well as listeners. People have been pleasantly surprised by the unique sound.
EG: What can your fans expect to find on ‘Odessa’? Is there a concept or emotional trigger connecting these four cuts?
Amas: The EP fits well with our catalogue, as we always try to tell a story with our releases, not just string together four tracks. We challenge the listener and invite them to look deeper. The EP covers a wide spectrum of emotions, from disturbingly trippy to hopeful and enlightening. It’s a bit like Dante’s Divine Comedy – we travel together through hell and paradise, and in the end, it’s all techno!
Konstantin Kost: The EP ‘Odessa’ conveys both positive and negative emotions, embodying themes of love, anxiety, art, poetry, and dance. We put our hearts into infusing this album with authentic emotions, so listeners can experience the intense vibe and energy of the Odessa spirit. The EP allows the listener to feel a connection to Odessa’s rich history and leave with a lasting impression.
“Music is my panacea, my utopia where I can escape from this difficult reality”
EG: What was the creative process for this EP like, given the current context of Odessa and Ukraine?
Amas: We met Konstantin shortly before the war began in Ukraine. He liked our second release and asked about a collaboration. For us, Ukraine was very far away, and we had no real idea of the techno scene there. It started with a few audio tracks, a destroyed studio in Odessa, and the Internet, which was and is our only way to communicate. Over two years, we developed the musical identity of the EP, with all its ups and downs.
Konstantin Kost: The creative process was deeply influenced by the current context of Odessa and Ukraine. Despite the challenges and heavy atmosphere, we channeled our emotions and experiences into the music. The city’s resilience, its rich cultural tapestry, and the strength of its people became our inspiration. We wanted to create something that reflects the beauty and spirit of Odessa while offering hope and positivity in these trying times.
EG: ‘Odessa’ is not meant to be a political record, right? How did you navigate this fine line between politics and humanity?
Amas: We work with this contradiction because people are always political, even if they decide not to be. The EP doesn’t refer exclusively to the events in Ukraine but was created in this reality. It’s not an activist EP taking a clear position on the war. Instead, it focuses on the people living under these difficult circumstances. We also work a lot with poetry, which can intensely describe life circumstances, especially in times of crisis.
Konstantin Kost: You’re right, ‘Odessa’ was never intended to be a political statement. Our goal was to focus on the human experience—capturing the emotions, love, art, and vibrant spirit of our city. We wanted to create something that resonates on a deeper level, transcending immediate circumstances. It’s about connecting with people through shared feelings and experiences, allowing the music to speak to the resilience and beauty that persist even in challenging times.
EG: What would you like for the listeners to take away from this experience?
Amas: We’re always happy when our listeners engage with our music and a spark is ignited. Our goal is to sometimes challenge and not always be pleasing. We see ourselves and our music as an emotional mirror. We stand for the ‘underground’, love of vinyl and analogue experimentation, while also embracing new digital possibilities.
Konstantin Kost: I hope listeners come away with a deep sense of connection to the emotions and energy we’ve poured into ‘Odessa.’ I want them to feel the vibrancy of our city, the passion behind every note, and the resilience that defines our people. More than anything, I want the music to inspire hope and positivity, offering a moment of escape and reflection.
EG: What’s your stance on AI? Do you see it driving the scene forward? Has any form of AI been applied in your recent productions or ‘Odessa’?
Amas: We haven’t used AI in our music yet, but we work a lot with the principle of “happy accidents”, which often arise from various “intelligent” software. For us, the focus is always on people as creators. AI can be a tool, but it can’t be “dumb” or create “happy accidents”. It’s still too mundane to be truly called intelligent.
Konstantin Kost: My stance is firm. I believe music should be created without AI because true artistry comes from pouring your blood, sweat, and soul into your work. A musician’s tracks hold more value when they result from the artist’s own emotions, experiences, and inner self. This is how music becomes alive, filled with soul, allowing listeners to connect with the artist on a much more personal level.
“Our goal is to sometimes challenge and not always be pleasing”
EG: Finally, what can we expect from Amas & Konstantin Kost in the coming months? Where can your fans catch you playing live?
Amas: We’re currently working on various projects. AMAS will be releasing a complex album in 2025, dedicated to musical experimentation and a synthetic reinterpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music. We’re also releasing an EP with Konstantin and AMAS_DHE (David Heine) in the context of Erich Fromm’s text ‘Fear of Freedom’ this year.
Konstantin Kost: You’ll likely see the AMAS project more often in Europe than me. As for me, I feel like a bird trapped in a cage. The borders of my country are closed, which deeply saddens me because I want nothing more than to travel abroad, perform on stage, and share beautiful music and positive energy with people. I hold onto hope that one day the borders will reopen, and I’ll finally be able to spread my wings and fly.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, guys! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Amas & Konstantin Kost: Thanks for having us and long live the music!
Amas and Konstantin Kost ‘Odessa’ is now available via Amas Studio. Stream and download here.
Follow Amas: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Website
Follow Konstantin Kost: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
