It's Saturday, shortly after 8 p.m., and a white, floppy-eared dog sits on a wooden stool in the middle of town square. He sports huge black eyebrows and strums a guitar. K.K. Slider is warming up for his weekly acoustic set, playing tracks from his eclectic catalog upon request. The musician, also known as Totakeke or DJ K.K., remembers "dreaming of finding a magical place where cool cats like you would come together to see a stray like me." 

It's just him and the audience as everything else fades to black and credits roll. The seasons change from cherry blossoms to red leaves and snowfall, while the world revolves around K.K. for a few minutes. He bestows a free copy of his music to listen to on repeat at home. He's got a song from every genre you can name, down to the perfect album artwork. 

On November 4, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 update dropped a day early. It came with 12 new tracks to K.K.'s setlist, many of which lean on various electronic subgenres and production techniques. 

When DJ K.K. emerged behind the decks on Animal Crossing: New Leaf, he already had a pawful of tracks with EDM influences. He hit the scene on Mainstreet with a residency at Club LOL, wearing headphones and hipster glasses, and molded his sounds to fit the part further. "K.K. House," "K.K. D&B," and "K.K. Synth" felt like futuristic blasts of serotonin through Nintendo 3DS speakers. His music was no longer just for every player to feel at home, but it appealed to more expansive crowds who learned about new genres through him and loved to dance to video game soundtracks, in-game, and IRL. 

Since his humble beginnings on a crate busking outside the train station, K.K.'s music greeted players and transported them to a new world. He was the very first face players saw under a spotlight when they booted up Doubutsu No Mori, the series' first release on Nintendo 64. Later editions, including Animal Crossing, were a hit on Gamecube. Once upon a time, "DJ K.K." was just a name for his Eurodance-infused track.

Kazumi Totaka is the sound designer and composer for Animal Crossing and namesake behind this beloved musical icon. The early 8-bit, simple chiptune bop "K.K. Song" indicates a core inspiration of the character and real composer's repertoire. Video game music influenced electronic music production and modern sampling techniques, and with the rise of EDM's popularity, it makes sense for K.K. to adapt these styles and show other DJs and producers how it's done. 

K.K.'s expansive, genre-hopping library of tunes made him into the famous musician worth watching every weekend. His name is attached to rave-worthy bangers like "K.K. Technopop" and "K.K. Fusion." Looking back on K.K. Slider's library, he has effortlessly hopped on new styles that emerged during his career. K.K.'s songs let players personalize their paradise in gameplay otherwise built around the outdoors and calming natural sounds. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold over 31 million units for the Nintendo Switch last year, and fans clamored for many reasons to revisit this hugely acclaimed game. Along with new music, DJ K.K. makes appearances at Brewster's café with the Switch 2.0 update. Plus, you can craft music boxes of favorite K.K. melodies and add gyroid accompaniment. 

DJ K.K. is back and making epic moves. He spins a set from a floating stage offshore at his latest concert after players hit Superstar Designer rank in the DLC, Animal Crossing New Horizons Happy Home Paradise. On this trajectory of superstardom, the musical legend is bound to lead more festivals and continue exploring every nook and cranny of EDM. Though he only exists in the gaming universe and hearts of players, K.K. has established himself as a genius across electronic subgenres.  

Here's an overview of five new electronic tracks that K.K. dropped with the ACNH 2.0 update:

"K.K. Robot Synth" is the most hyped of the new releases. For years people have compared K.K. to vocaloids and virtual idols like Kaito and Hatsune Miku. Before we even heard it, we saw that the cover art reads "K.K. Loid," which solidified that connection. Sleek vocal processing and saccharine melodies take center stage. When K.K. plays this shiny new banger live, villagers bop their giant heads and dance with light sticks. 

K.K. lends himself to EDM production and internet remixes with the versatility that only comes from being a fictional artist. Fan-made covers using a K.K. SoundFont / sampler have reached millions of views. In true idolic fashion, a hologram of K.K. opened the Nintendo Day 2019 concert. Though he began as the nomadic musical outlet for Totaka, fans claim K.K. as their own, establishing him as a transformative cultural figure. 

"K.K. Chillwave" rides the trends of vaporwave and traditional downtempo electronica. It features a bassy kick drum, synthy strings, and dreamy keys. Animal Crossing OSTs have found further popularity through remixes, lo-fi beats playlists, K.K. cover memes, and TikToks. "K.K. Bubblegum" was a viral hit. The game's high replay value is thanks in part to the addictive soundtrack. The internet loves to dissect the artists and influences that remind them of K.K.'s tracks, one of many reasons he belongs on any well-curated playlist. 

"K.K. Hop" is a downtempo trip-hop track that features K.K.'s iconic mellow whistle and ad-libs. Reddit hip hop heads compared it to Kid Koala's sample use and DJ Premier's scratching style. K.K. is ready to bust a move to this beat infused with early 90s hip hop elements. As user favpetgoat puts it: "My man's out here with number one records in every single genre. Untouchable, truly the GOAT."

"K.K. Break" brings the funk. It was only a matter of time before DJ K.K. delved into more club-friendly genres, and he's known to fuse existing sounds with new production. "Break" is based on jazz, disco, and early R&B samples, with percussive rhythmic breaks between smooth key solos and bass grooves. Just like K.K.'s best throwback records, this feels soulful and far-out. 

"K.K. Bashment" is a party fueled by smooth electric keys, percussive movement, and soft shakers. It's simply meant for dancing. The dancehall and house vibes are evident, and fans have stated that it's reminiscent of "Passionfruit" by Drake (or maybe the actual fruit, too, considering this IS Animal Crossing). The game's island themes call out for tropical house instrumentals. Let this be your go-to for aerobics, collecting seashells, and keeping the energy up during those late-night play sessions. 

Check out all of K.K. Slider's new tracks Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 here. 

Hailing from sunny Los Angeles, California, Good Society embodies the feelings of warm weather, endless days, and good vibes. The record label and event promoter is renowned for their incredible line-ups, careful curation, and stacked compilations. Their latest project Good Society Volume 3 pushes the future beats sound with standout artists like oshi, capshun, Laxcity, whereisalex, DECAP, Chromonicci, and more. They're a mainstay in LA and have been expanding their shows out of state to Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Austin, for SXSW. 

With Good Society's constant growth we felt it would be the perfect time to connect with Josh Yamini, the brand's founder to get an inside look at what makes them so good. We discuss their origins, the fusion of hip-hop and electronic music, fostering relationships, creating a unique live experience, and much more. 

Starting at the beginning, Josh explains what sparked the birth of his platform saying, "I started Good Society as an expression of my love for the underground and bringing people together. My taste in music was largely influenced by SoundCloud at the time of launch and all of my experiences at Insomniac festivals made me want to put that love of music and people into action." 

One of the core facets of what makes Good Society so special is their ability to bring together the worlds of hip-hop and electronic music. Whether it's future beats, chilled-out lo-fi, or experimental hip-hop and trap, this fusion is central to Good Society's platform.

"My love for these genres initially stemmed from ripping gems off of YouTube and Adult Swim bumps. I listened to lots of Nujabes, Flying Lotus, and Erykah Badu at the time which then evolved into listing to artists like Mr. Carmack, Sam Gellaitry, and Smino. Oftentimes I’ll bring my knowledge of the beat scene together with vocalists that I’m newly discovering to create a blend of genres that’s totally unique. Other times I might just be working with the artists who’ve coined a sound in between the two and are perfectly representing the medium with us," Josh elaborates about bringing together the two sonic worlds. 

In addition to uniting unique sounds, Good Society strives to bring people together. This applies to fans, through the music and events, as well artists. Josh expands on this outlook, "Our goal is to create a space where people can express themselves and find common ground through music. Ultimately we’d like to bring that to scale and create immersive experiences that go beyond traditional club settings while incorporating the songs and artists we’re releasing on our label. We want to create an ecosystem."

The genuine love for connection is what makes the brand so good. While some platforms focus more on numbers, social media following, or ticket sales, Good Society is all about creating an intangible vibe through human connection. Whether it's friendships, business relationships, or something even deeper.

"The good in Good Society stems from all of the constructive relationships this brand has built with artists, fans, and listeners alike. Many of our work relationships extend into personal ones. We’ve seen countless people having become close friends or start dating after having met at Good Society events. One couple is even getting married!"

Relationships are the cornerstone of any great business, but authenticity is what seems to separate Good Society from your typical promoter and label. Their connections are longstanding with many artists and come out of genuine respect and appreciation for their work. The brand is an extension of its founder's life. The friendships and connections along the way aren't just to the benefit of the label but are also about enriching his personal life.

"Much of our early outreach was done through Instagram and led to us doing things like flying out chromonicci for our second show ever, when we were really just learning the ropes and how to refine our events process. I’ve done everything very personally with this brand to the point of hosting artists at my apartment for the week of our shows, such as chromonicci, capshun, zotti, J Kuch, Malik Eliah, and more. Running Good Society is just as much a means to expand on my own life as it is for that of the audience that I curate for. So these relationships I’ve formed with everyone involved are directly tied to my own happiness," Josh tells us.

While Josh is the driving force behind Good Society, he's not doing it alone. Roto and MadBliss serve as the brand's resident DJs. In addition, they have their own videographer, Gavin Banksy, and Arielle Lana LeJarde serves as their publicist and advisor (editors note: Arielle is a writer for Festival Inside but did not take part in writing this feature). Josh handles the majority of the bookings, label releases, promotion, content, and social media while collaborating with different partners on a per-project basis. 

Matching the quality of their label releases, the Good Society events series looks to raise the bar. Josh explains what makes the series special saying, "The vision behind our concerts was initially to throw them in nature. Being that we’re in a big city, it felt natural to build up the foundation of our brand with solidly curated lineups, and uniquely unforgettable nights. More recently we’ve pivoted into renegade shows, different experiences such as the boat party, and are slowly gearing up to diversify the setting of our parties to better fit our initial dream of Good Society. What makes our events special is the fluidity of it all. You might get a live band 420 show with seemingly infinite free cannabis, a massive warehouse party with Alexander Lewis, or cruise on a boat across the ocean with Josh Pan & Luca Lush. We’ve even done insane live shows at a mansion and in a tunnel on the beach. Our diversity of curation and experiences is one of our strongest points."

Good Society has a lot of exciting prospects on the horizon. They will be expanding their events series, working towards an outdoor indie festival, and releasing more thematic compilations pushing the sounds they love. Josh closes our interview fittingly with an invitation to all, "I hope you get to attend one of our shows in the future or are positively charged by the music we release! Moreover, I hope we get to meet someday. Don’t be a stranger!"

Good Society Volume 3

"I curated this project to affirm the belonging of hip-hop & electronic music in a single space. Otherwise known as future beats, this project brings together soulful and jazzy boom bap production riddled with soulful rap vocals and electronic sound design."- Josh Yamini