Interview: Antoniya Unleashes Addictive New Dance Track “kиса” feat. ruski sixx

Antoniya is one of Montreal’s most captivating new voices in the electro-dance scene, known for her ability to fuse electro, indie, and dance into tracks that feel fresh, alluring, and profoundly resonant. After releasing her debut EP in 2023, a collaboration with Polaris Prize-nominated Ouri, Antoniya returned with her new solo EP Rusalka, launched in summer 2024. Her sound, now more soulful and rich with emotional depth, has drawn comparisons to genre-bending artists like SOPHIE and Charli xcx.

Her latest release, “kиса” feat. ruski sixx, is an electrifying dance track that channels playful, sexy energy into an addictive beat. Written almost spontaneously, Antoniya created the song’s core while preparing for a music festival in Gaspesie. Having just gotten her laptop back from repairs days before her performance, she was in her hotel room finalizing an hour-long set when she realized that “kиса” was missing lyrics. Instead of dropping it from the list, she quickly wrote a few lines and repeated them with hypnotic simplicity, giving the song a raw, unpolished energy that the festival crowd loved.

Inspired to finish the song in Montreal, Antoniya later collaborated with Montreal artist ruski sixx and French producer Khamsin to elevate “kиса.” A final touch came from sound engineering legend Mike Marsh, who mastered the track. ruski sixx‘s voice is featured in a sampled whisper of “Идём сюда моя маленькая киса,” giving the track an added layer of allure. This spontaneous addition became Antoniya‘s obsession and the song’s signature element.

1. What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?
How disjointed the process was. It started with a demo Lukas Kline Martin sent me at a NYE party, then, a few months later, I wrote/recorded the singing parts in a hotel room at a music festival I was performing at, then I collaborated with Khamsin on a new sound direction, then I recorded ruski sixx speaking while we were turnt up on chartreuse, to finally sample his voice into the latest version and was able to confidently state that the song was hot to go. I didn’t feel rushed at all and allowed myself to accept that the first idea isn’t always the best one.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
Trust no one.

3. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
If I could answer that question, I think I would have some sort of god complex. I do have a strong sense of self but I don’t make music with the purpose of setting myself apart. I write the songs not what they’re about or what you’re supposed to feel when you listen to them. So you tell me.

4. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
A faint signal by Infinity Frequencies. It sounds dangerous like a secret…oh and киса by ruski sixx & me !!!