Artist Of The Month: Kate Simko

Kate Simko’s path through electronic music has been anything but conventional. From the underground rave scene of Chicago to the refined halls of London’s Royal College of Music, her journey has been one of constant reinvention, driven by a deep-rooted connection to sound.

Photo Credit: Rui Pignatelli / Ryan Hing / SXM Festival

 A classically trained pianist turned electronic music producer, Simko has forged a career that exists at the intersection of club culture and orchestral composition. Her ability to seamlessly blend these seemingly disparate worlds has set her apart as a distinctive voice in modern electronic music.

Raised in Chicago, Simko’s first brush with underground music came through the city’s vibrant rave scene in the late ‘90s. “I was in high school, and a friend was dating a Midwest rave promoter,” she recalls. “In retrospect, it was pretty weird—we were 15, and he was in his mid-20s. But at least I can thank him for introducing me to this music and scene, which really changed my life.” Alienated by the traditional high school social scene, she found solace in the after-hours world of house and techno, immersing herself in the music of Chicago, Detroit, and beyond.

Simko’s transition from raver to DJ was swift. At Northwestern University, she began interning at the college radio station on her very first day, eager to get involved. “That’s where I started DJing,” she explains. “At first, I told bars in Chicago that I only DJ’d on the radio, but eventually, I was convinced to play 6-hour vinyl-only sets at a local spot called Danny’s.” These formative experiences laid the groundwork for a career that would soon take off internationally.

Her breakthrough came with the 2005 ‘She Said’ EP on Spectral Sound, the sister label of Ghostly International. At the time, Spectral was home to artists like Matthew Dear, Seth Troxler, and Benoit & Sergio, making it a crucial breeding ground for forward-thinking electronic music. “I was sort of pinching myself that I was in that crew,” she says. “The vinyl was on the wall at Gramaphone Records in Chicago, and my tracks were getting played out for the first time.” It was a defining moment, one that solidified her place in the underground electronic music scene.

While her early output leaned heavily on house and techno, Simko’s sound has always been characterized by an organic, human touch. A key moment in her career came with her 2016 self-titled album ‘London Electronic Orchestra’—a project that merged electronic production with live orchestration. The genesis of the idea came during her time studying composition at the Royal College of Music in London. “When I moved to London, I thought I’d put electronic music aside for a bit and focus on composing for orchestra,” she explains. “Instead, my professor encouraged me to incorporate orchestral elements into my electronic music. That led to a concert at the Britten Theatre with a 22-piece orchestra. It was meant to be a one-off, but a music manager in the audience helped turn it into something real.”

The result was a project that brought together the precision of electronic production with the warmth of acoustic instrumentation, earning her critical acclaim and opening new doors. Over the years, Simko has continued to refine this hybrid approach, collaborating with orchestras and electronic artists alike. “I’d describe my sound as Chicago’s jackin’ raw style meets minimal/Detroit techno beats,” she says. “I’ve never fully fit into the house or techno box. My music is purist organic Chicago sound meets modern international.”

As a DJ, she approaches her sets with the same attention to detail. “I consider where the performance will be—city, club, festival, set time. A great set transports people to another place,” she says. “It’s about sharing your own tastes and expression through music while making sure it fits the moment.”

Looking ahead, Simko remains as busy as ever. Her latest remix, a rework of Blunted Dummies’ ‘House For All’, was released on February 14. The remix, which she describes as heavily inspired by Jamie xx, showcases her ability to reinterpret classics through a contemporary lens. Beyond that, she has an orchestral-electronic album with Jamie Jones in the works, as well as a new London Electronic Orchestra album. “I’m also putting my energy towards film and TV scoring,” she adds. “Hopefully, more updates on that soon.”

For Simko, the journey through music has never been about fitting into a mold. Whether it’s DJing six-hour vinyl sets in Chicago, releasing tracks on some of electronic music’s most respected labels, or conducting an orchestra, her career is proof that electronic music can exist beyond the club—without ever losing sight of its roots.

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