INTRODUCING: KOBACK

KOBACK is part of a new wave of Irish artists pushing hip-hop beyond its traditional boundaries. Emerging from Derry, he brings a raw, independent energy shaped outside the industry’s usual centres, combining sharp authenticity with a clear artistic vision. Blending elements of hip-hop, metal, drum and bass, and alternative music, KOBACK has developed a sound that is dark, immersive, and deliberately unpredictable. His music resists easy categorisation, carving out a lane entirely his own. Lyrically, his work is unfiltered and introspective, exploring themes of mental health, addiction, and personal growth with striking honesty. Across projects such as Graphic and Signs, he builds more than music—he creates a narrative of growth, tracing a journey from chaos toward self-reflection. With a background in production, he maintains full creative control, crafting cohesive, uncompromising records. Still early in his career, KOBACK is an artist to watch, signalling a powerful new direction for Irish hip-hop.

Your sound pulls from hip-hop, metal, drum and bass, and alternative music — was that genre-blending always intentional, or did it evolve naturally as you developed your style?

Blending genres was never something I consciously set out to do. My process has always been very instinctive—I begin by creating the beat and seeing whether I connect with the sound. From there, whatever the track becomes evolves naturally from the emotions I’m feeling in that moment. Before any lyrics or themes come into play, the music itself has to speak to me. That approach ultimately shaped the unique sound you hear on my second album, SIGNS.

Your music tackles heavy themes like addiction and mental health with a lot of honesty — how do you balance that rawness with making music that still connects and resonates with listeners?

My music is deeply rooted in personal experience. I draw inspiration from my own life, as well as the stories of my partner, family, and friends. Those real emotions—sometimes raw and difficult to confront—are woven throughout my work. If someone out there feels alone or misunderstood and finds even a small sense of connection or comfort in my music, that means more to me than any commercial success ever could.

You’ve come up as a producer as well as an artist — how important is that level of creative control in shaping your identity and sound?

One of the things I value most is having full creative control over my work. Coming from a production background allows me to shape each track from start to finish, and that freedom means I never have to be anything other than myself. My engineer, Shay Whelan, who also co-produced some tracks, has played a huge role in elevating the sound. His contribution has been invaluable, and he’ll always have that credit.

Coming out of Derry, away from the typical industry hubs, how has that environment influenced both your mindset and your music?

Growing up in Derry wasn’t always easy, especially within the music scene. It’s an incredible city with a rich culture, but at times there can be a negative mindset that isn’t talked about enough, which makes it difficult for things to change. There’s so much talent coming out of the city, yet too often it’s held back by what some would describe as a jealous mentality—where people struggle to support others chasing their dreams. For me, that led to a shift in mindset: Let It Out. It doesn’t matter what people think, whether it’s imperfect or uncomfortable—because one day it will improve, and you’ll be glad you kept going.

Irish hip-hop is having a major moment right now — where do you see yourself fitting into that landscape, or are you deliberately trying to sit outside of it?

I’m really excited about where Irish hip-hop is right now. There’s an incredible wave of talent emerging, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with many of those artists. I believe I bring something quite unique to the table, while still staying rooted in hip-hop at my core.