KiNK

{{Short description|Bulgarian producer, DJ and live performer}}

Strahil Velchev, better known by his artist name KiNK, is a Bulgarian producer, DJ and live performer.{{Cite web |last=McGlynn |first=Declan |date=10 March 2020 |title=KiNK: How I Play Live |url=https://djmag.com/longreads/kink-how-i-play-live |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=DJ Mag |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://djmag.com/longreads/kink-how-i-play-live |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=KiNK |url=https://ra.co/dj/kink |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://ra.co/dj/kink |url-status=live }}

Velchev became interested in electronic music in the 1990s{{Cite web |last=Geary |first=Rob |title=KiNK: With an old PC, a Bulgarian producer puts his own bent on experimental tech-house |url=https://xlr8r.com/features/kink-with-an-old-pc-a-bulgarian-producer-puts-his-own-bent-on-experimental-tech-house/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=XLR8R |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://xlr8r.com/features/kink-with-an-old-pc-a-bulgarian-producer-puts-his-own-bent-on-experimental-tech-house/ |url-status=live }} and started making his own music a few years later.{{Cite web |date=28 June 2018 |title=A conversation with one of dance music's best-loved live acts, recorded live at AVA Festival |url=https://ra.co/exchange/412 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://ra.co/exchange/412 |url-status=live }} In 2005, he released his track, "Same Old Thing", on vinyl.{{Cite web |title=DJ KiNK |url=https://www.djguide.nl/djinfo.p?djid=7239 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=DJ Guide |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204137/https://www.djguide.nl/djinfo.p?djid=7239 |url-status=live }} He has worked with multiple record labels, including Ovum and Rush Hour. In May 2014, his debut album Under Destruction was released with Macro.{{Cite web |last=Ryce |first=Andrew |date=24 February 2014 |title=KiNK's debut album is Under Destruction |url=https://ra.co/news/23804 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204143/https://ra.co/news/23804 |url-status=live }} His second album, Playground, was released with Running Back in November 2017.{{Cite web |last=Coultate |first=Aaron |date=6 September 2017 |title=KiNK reveals full details of new album, Playground, for Running Back |url=https://ra.co/news/39905 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204137/https://ra.co/news/39905 |url-status=live }} In 2018, he launched his own label, named after his hometown Sofia.{{Cite web |last=Ryce |first=Andrew |date=24 October 2019 |title=KiNK pays tribute to his hometown with new label, Sofia |url=https://ra.co/news/44667 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204135/https://ra.co/news/44667 |url-status=live }}

In his live performances, KiNK is known for improvisation and interaction with the audience. According to a poll, Resident Advisor readers named him the Best Live Electronic Act of 2015{{Cite web |title=RA Poll: Top 40 live acts of 2015 |url=https://ra.co/features/2572 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204140/https://ra.co/features/2572 |url-status=live }} and 2016.{{Cite web |title=RA Poll: Top 40 live acts of 2016 |url=https://ra.co/features/2858 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Resident Advisor |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204145/https://ra.co/features/2858 |url-status=live }} In 2018, MusicRadar named him the best live electronic act in the world.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2018 |title=The 15 best live electronic acts in the world right now |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-15-best-live-electronic-acts-in-the-world-right-now |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=MusicRadar |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-15-best-live-electronic-acts-in-the-world-right-now |url-status=live }}

KiNK also releases music under the alias Kirilik{{Cite web |title=Strahil Velchev |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/602056-Strahil-Velchev |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Discogs |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://www.discogs.com/artist/602056-Strahil-Velchev |url-status=live }} and with his partner Rachel Row.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Claire |date=12 April 2017 |title=Live At The Top: KiNK interview |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/clubs/interviews/live-at-the-top-kink-interview |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=The Skinny |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707204134/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/clubs/interviews/live-at-the-top-kink-interview |url-status=live }}