07/07/2026
West Coast-based imprint Modern Delivery Xpress welcomes New York-based producer BABA to the label with ‘River’s All Wet’, a record shaped by loose rhythms, sweeping melodies, and a slick sense of forward motion. It’s a track that sits comfortably within the MDX catalogue, direct in intent, but with enough space and irregularity to give it character. Arriving with a background that stretches beyond electronic music, having spent years playing in an indie surf rock band, and developing as a multi-instrumentalist across piano and guitar from an early age, his grounding in live instrumentation and original vocals feeds into his production style, where ideas are performed rather than programmed.
On ‘River’s All Wet’, that approach shows through. The synths offer glimpses of lighter melodies that surface briefly before dissolving back into the mix, and the low end carries a snaking groove that keeps the track shifting without breaking its flow. Early support for BABA’s productions has come from names including Michael Bibi, Dennis Cruz, Adam Ten, &ME, Silva Bumpa, and Yamagucci, and with further attention building, this single marks the first statement in a set of drops to come across the year.
Q: Please introduce yourself
My name is Kiril. I’m a 24 year old Bulgarian producer, born and based in NYC. I make dance music and go by the name of BABA. The project is dedicated to my grandmother who I called “Baba” per Bulgarian tradition.
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
Lee Foss. I would love to sit down and hear story after story about the early Hot Creations era, Ibiza, and everything in between. Like any life experience, this time period presents itself as a little gem embedded into history that can never be truly replicated. As someone who hasn’t experienced it, I can only peer through the surreal looking glass that is music, personal anecdotes, and bits and pieces of found media.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Definitely to fly. It would be like IRL Minecraft creative mode.
Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?
I would choose Midsommar. Mixing my sound with the film’s Scandinavian mountain cult vibe would create something hypnotic and meaningful. A wooden Russian Doll is my project’s main visual motif as well as something I think about often when producing. I think this would cleanly transfer to the Midsommar minimalistic (and also wooden) set design.
Q: Who influenced you the most in your music career and why?
Early Hot Creations, early Plastic City, Cecille Records, 8Bit Records and Maccabi House all directly influenced the BABA sound. Each one of these musical pillars shines its own unique light on core sonic aspects I often reference in my own work. I love melodic movement in tech house, especially with leads and basslines. Retro synths, breathy repetitive vocals, and percolating drums are just some elements that appear in the vast community of music I listen to.
Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?
I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember. When I was six years old, I began with basic piano lessons, which transitioned into Classical, which then transitioned to Jazz. While I didn’t enjoy it too much as a kid, I'm extremely grateful for these formative experiences. Classical taught me a lot about music theory and relationships between notes. Jazz then taught me a lot about improvisation.
As I grew up, I found a newfound love for the electric guitar. I began songwriting and formed a band in high school that went on to gig and release music for eight years. My time as a lead guitarist and singer in The Rocky Coasts taught me invaluable skills that later transferred into my electronic productions.
It wasn’t until junior year of college that I discovered the true appeal of house music, specifically at my first rave which happened to be the iconic Dom Dolla Red Rocks snowstorm set. From that moment on I have been possessed with a burning desire to not only be a producer and DJ but to also simply immerse myself in the world of house music. This feeling has only grown as I have meticulously studied the genre over the past four years.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?
My first and biggest piece of advice would be to purchase Ableton and make 100 full songs over the course of a year. I guarantee you will be significantly closer to where you want to be after doing so. At that point, you still may not be signing to your dream label, but you will be able to create what is in your mind as well as have some confidence within your work.
My second piece of advice would be to obsessively listen to the genre you want to produce. Whether this involves listening to new material or going deep on a familiar tune, you will often learn more from listening than producing in itself. I am a firm believer in the fact that musical success comes from continuous output and devotion to the craft. Everything else has and will continue to unfold organically as you continue to dive deeper into this world.
Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?
The Hot Since 82 - Live From a Pirate Ship in Ibiza set holds a special place in my heart. I watched this set on my computer after my Baba passed away about a year ago. Her loss took so much out of me and my only outlet was to fill the void with music. It was around that time when I was also doing a deep dive on Lee Foss and early Hot Creations. The Pirate Ship set was so impactful for me because it provided relief and comfort, offering a glimpse into a happy, beautiful moment when I needed it the most. This set gives me nostalgia to a place I've never been. The visual scenery combined with the music has a certain afterglow to it where I can almost feel that “peak of the Ibiza season” vibe. There are no worries in that video, just human connection, and that encompasses everything I love about the scene.
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
Through constantly discovering new niches and playing catch up with an immensely layered genre, the BABA sound has morphed and grown throughout the years. I started with a more American commercial approach then transitioned through rotating periods of UK minimal deep tech, indie dance, and percussive rollers.
Lately, I have been putting a lot less pressure on specifics. At the end of the day, we are all just a culmination of our past experiences. Allowing things to move freely has generated the most unique, fulfilling results.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
I actively make lots of music in other genres, or music that is “genreless” as I like to call it. My right hand collaborator is an artist named Carlítos. He does a lot of vocals on my house tracks and I do a lot of guitar and backup vocals for his alternative R&B project. Often, we hang out and mindlessly make music. These creative sessions often produce extremely unique stories full of instrumentation, electronic programming, and experimental vocal interpretations, all tied together with a more structured lead vocal. I’ve been thinking of starting up another project to distribute these creative endeavors as the results tend to be fascinating.
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
The first track that got me into electronic music was Steve Aoki’s “Pursuit of Happiness" remix. I remember hearing this in the movie Project X when I was a little kid. It was the first time I had ever been hit in the face with a saw wave lead, a true precursor to what I would then go on to discover.
The second track that got me into electronic music was Chris Lake’s iconic “Turn off the Lights.” I remember hearing this one in high school and being hooked on the catchy vocals and sound design.
The third and final gateway track that marked my official ascent into music production was Dom Dolla’s “Take It.” This was the first song that really opened my eyes as to why people dance to electronic music in the first place, especially after hearing it in a live setting.
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
The Roman theatre of Philippopolis in Plovdiv (my Baba’s home city) would be the perfect host for a transcendental musical experience. It is one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman theaters located in one of the oldest cities in Europe. The architecture and its legacy simply speaks for itself. I can only imagine how cool it would be to either attend or perform a concert there.
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
“River’s All Wet” is my debut release on Modern Delivery Xpress and I am extremely excited to have it officially kick off the BABA project. This summer, I plan on releasing monthly tracks while building up a new repertoire of unreleased music. I’m excited to continue diving into my newer influences while applying everything I've learned along the journey. I also plan on dropping the fan-favorites as soon as possible. “This Joy,” “Vibraphone Party,” and “Le Ho Sparato” will one day be yours ;)
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
I love building igloos. Whenever it snows I'll build one. One big life goal of mine is to go somewhere snowy for a week with some friends and build a massive igloo, maybe even rent out some ATVs (to move the snow) and maximize the igloo’s scale. For those of you who are wondering how I build these igloos, I'm a big fan of the pile up and hollow out method. Pile up as much snow as you can, pack it down, then hollow out the pile.
BABA - River's All Wet [Modern Delivery]