Kiril Džajkovski (Djaikovski), (Macedonian: Кирил Џајковски [ˈkiril ˈdʒajkɔfski] (listen)) – often credited as simply Kiril – is an internationally acclaimed Macedonian electronic musician and music composer. He is one of the most respected electronic artists from the Eastern European region and one of the pioneer producers to introduce Balkan ethnic sounds to the modern electronic music production. Kiril is also an accomplished composer of film and theatre music.
He started his music career by forming Bastion, one of the first electronic bands in the Balkans. Subsequently, he went on to play with one of the most famous Macedonian bands Leb i sol, recording two albums and touring extensively around the Balkans and Europe.
While living in Australia he continued his music experiments by combining ethnic Macedonian music and electronica which led to his first solo release, Synthetic Theatre, an EP received extremely well by Australian independent radio stations.
Following was his first solo album ‘Homebound’ released by American label Tone Casualties, which continued the concept of blending Macedonian ethnic instrumentation and electronica. It received excellent reviews from critics around the world, including the United States, Canada, UK, Spain and Japan.
This was followed by a series of Singles and EPs released on Filter Label like: Jungle Shadow, Lion's Den, Reminder, Music Man, Red Safari, Spin Off and Hell of a Road.
Kiril's electronic music was introduced live at some of the biggest music festivals in Europe like Pohoda, Cruilla, Pol'and'Rock Festival, Exit Festival, Alrumbo, Fusion Festival, Rock for People, Sziget, Rototom Sunsplash, Les Vieilles Charrues, Au Foin De La Rue, Les Z'éclectiques, and many others. In his live performances he incorporates live instruments and various guest vocalists and collaborators, including: TK Wonder, MC Wasp, Ghetto Priest, Lion D, Rootsman I.
Film and theatre music
Kiril is one of the most acclaimed composers of film and theatre music in the region. He worked with Oscar nominated director Milcho Manchevski and composed the music score for his films: ‘Dust’ and ‘Willow’ as well as additional music for his movie ‘Shadows’. He also composed the music for Darko Mitrevski ‘Bal-can-can’ movie, the highest-grossing Macedonian film to date. Mitrevski and Džajkovski have also collaborated on the movie ‘The Third Half’.
Several of Džajkovski's compositions were featured on the critically acclaimed Australian miniseries, Underbelly.
Kiril Džajkovski has composed the music for Ivo Trajkov's movie ‘The Great Water’ (Best Music Award- Valencia Film Festival, Spain) and for their latest collaboration on the Slovak movie ‘Piargy’.
Additionally, he has a successful career as a composer of theatre music working mostly with acclaimed theatre and film director Aleksandar Popovski on over 20 theatre projects premiered at various prestigious theatre houses in the Balkans and Europe, as well as composing the soundtrack for his film ‘Balkan Is Not Dead’.
His work as a composer was featured in various modern ballet productions, including: ‘La Capinera’ (Special Music Award Purgatorije Mediterranean Festival, Montenegro) in Belgrade, ‘14 hours’ in Skopje,’5 to 12’ in Split, ‘Het Barre Land’ in Amsterdam.