QEYS (2025)
QEYS channels 90s hip-hop sampling style through a textural, and groove-heavy techno lens. Vocal chops, layered breaks, and gritty loops collide with hypnotic drum patterns to create something raw, rhythmic, and forward-looking.
QEYS pulls from the golden era of techno and hip-hop — dusty acapellas, chopped breaks, and crate-dug textures, and reworks them into ultimate tools for any DJ set.
This EP is a bold artistic statement that bridges past and future, raw energy and refined vision. A deeply personal and forward-thinking record, it extends beyond sound, unfolding as a fully realised audiovisual and conceptual project rooted in the artist’s own narrative.
Drawing from his background in graffiti, hip-hop, and street culture, Ilya Gurin-Babayeu translates these influences into a sonic landscape that feels as visual as it is musically immersive. His production style is often described in painterly terms, and for good reason—his music thrives on strong visualisation, sculpting intricate textures and arrangements that are distinct, tactile, and unmistakably his own.
The title QEYS merges the English word “Keys” with the Arabic name Qays, which Ilya discovered doing a conceptual research. Qays embodies passion, intensity, and devotion—qualities that drive every track on the record. This release serves as a set of keys, unlocking a wild groove and an immersive sonic journey.
One of the EP’s defining features is its dynamic use of vocal chops, adding extra rhythmic layers between the main beats and deepening the groove. Each breakdown feels like its own sonic landscape—euphoric, chaotic, or intensely hypnotic. A major influence on the project is Jeff Mills’ legendary 1996 Liquid Room set in Tokyo, a performance that left a lasting imprint on Ilya during his formative years. QEYS channels that same relentless energy—percussion-heavy, intricately layered, and constantly shifting.
The EP thrives on duality: while it pays homage to the past through 90s hip-hop sampling, it simultaneously tries to push the boundaries of the genre forward, experimenting with unconventional structures and boundary-defying genre fusion.
With QEYS, Ilya Gurin-Babayeu solidifies his reputation as a very perspective forward-thinking unit in modern techno. This is more than just an EP — it’s a statement of intent.
Released on DERSCHEIN in June 2025, premiered via RAW, BCCO, The Brvtalist.