The Russian producer duo now based in Montenegro has been releasing one standout track after another. In this interview for DNBTV, they speak about the roots of their sound, their transition from the indie scene, and why remixing t.A.T.u. or Limp Bizkit was a pure punk move.
The project Karacha was founded by Ilya Romanenkov and Mikhail Proskurin in 2024, but their musical history goes back to the mid-2000s. Both artists started out in the Russian indie scene before transitioning into drum & bass — a genre where they now blend atmospheric melody with dancefloor energy.
Their tracks like “Bad Day,” “Escape,” and “Back to the Criminal” have been played on radio stations such as Pirate Station and Codesouth Radio UK, and released on respected labels like Liquid Brilliants, Accelerant Records, and Elephant Trunk.
They are exclusively represented worldwide by DNBTV, which is why we sat down with them for this first in-depth interview.
It’s hard to put it politely, but the main thing is — we’re just not typical for the genre.
Our roots aren’t in classic DJ culture or years in front of a DAW. We’ve been making music for 20+ years — playing in bands, writing songs, doing indie rock and hip-hop.
So when we make a track, it starts not from the beat — but from melody, mood, or a story. It has to mean something.
A lot of people say our tracks sound more like actual songs than dancefloor tools. And yeah, that kind of annoys some people — especially certain producers and musical aesthetes in fogged-up glasses with their full Calibre collection on display (which, to be fair, I also have at home). Sometimes it even pisses them off.
But here’s what matters more: real people around the world connect with the music. Tens of thousands already, and that means everything to us — just two guys from a small town.
And maybe, hopefully, we’re inspiring someone like us — kids from the blocks, from not-so-easy neighborhoods — to just go and do their thing.
We didn’t enter the scene through industry recommendations or some elite producer circles. We got here because people listened — and shared — and cared. That kind of “backdoor” path is rare in D’n’B, honestly. But we’re not a product. We’re not a template. Karacha is real. Raw. Emotional.
And damn, it feels good to stay true to yourself — even at 174 BPM.
To be honest, it’s not a slogan — it’s more like a way of life. Like a samurai code.
We barely use pre-made loops or sample packs. We know how to write our own stuff — melodies, vocals, textures. Almost everything is created or recorded from scratch.
For example, on the track “Karacha – 40,” we recorded the electric guitar ourselves. Try to find)
Not as a gimmick — it just perfectly matched the mood we wanted to capture. Sure, the occasional FX from a sample pack might sneak in. But it’s rare. The core and soul of the music — that’s us. Maybe it’s not always “mainstream enough,” maybe it’s not what the market expects — but we love it.
That’s Karacha.
It’s pure nostalgia. We grew up on that stuff.
Turning them into D’n’B was our little punk move. Not to go viral or jump on a trend — just because we loved the originals.
Back in the ‘90s, there was so much great music — and hey, that was nearly 30 years ago now. It’s kind of like what kids in the ’90s did with tracks from the ’60s and ’70s. We’re just continuing that cycle.
And the funny part? We didn’t even push those remixes. We just dropped them online — and people found them. Some listeners were so hyped they helped us promote them themselves.
If we’re not wrong, between those two and the Rollin’ remix (yeah, Limp Bizkit), we’ve hit nearly half a million plays. That’s the best kind of feedback — especially for guys from a tiny town with like 20,000 people.
Honestly, our best work has always come from home setups.
Small garage studios, apartments — that’s where we feel most in tune. We’ve had some proper studio sessions over the years, but somehow home always sounds warmer.
Equipment-wise, nothing crazy — just good monitors, a mic, a laptop, and two obsessed musicians. Maybe that raw vibe is what makes it work. Or maybe it ruins it. Whatever. We’re cool with it.
Tough one. First names that come to mind: Calibre, Sub Focus, Chase & Status, 1991, Luude. We’ve got mad love for our guys like Teddy Killerz too.
“Personally, I’m really inspired by your crew — Hallucinator.” — Michael
But outside of D’n’B? ATB, Burial, Avicii, even Radiohead, Nirvana, Sonic Youth. We could go down a long list. We’re melody junkies. If a track gives us goosebumps — then it’s a good one. That’s the goal every time.
Think we’re getting close?
Karacha aren’t just a new name on the scene — they’re seasoned musicians with a clear vision of what drum & bass in 2025 should be. Not just for DJs, but for real listeners too.
