GudGroove’s Euphoric Exploration of Roots in “Take Me Back toKentucky”

By Kelsey Knott • Photos By Antonio Pantoja • Sponsored 

In the electronic music scene, perhaps Kentucky doesn’t come to mind right away. But GudGroove is on the rise and changing that. 

In September 2024, close friends recognized his passion and offered old DJ equipment. After his successful TikTok mashups, GudGroove’s now mentor, Vice, recommended tools to produce his own music. “It felt like looking in an airplane cockpit. I shut off the software right away. A couple of days later I reopened it, watched some YouTube videos, and became obsessed. I fell in love with the craft.” His first remix was to “New Drop” by Don Toliver. Perseverance through the unfamiliar tech and disciplined, dedicated time to make music for hours daily allowed him to create freely without fear of his work’s reception. Furthermore, his solid friendships fueled him, a loyal, brotherly group they call “the Avengers.” 

Connections in the industry began flowing naturally. Finding both friendship and mentorship with Shankz, their remix to “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA surged on SoundCloud and was featured on radio stations like Diplo’s Revolution. GudGroove dropped two singles next: “Losing My Mind” with EVD and “You Don’t Know My Name” featuring Russ Guapo. The Sports Illustrated show with Diplo was GudGroove’s turning point, growing his fanbase at local shows with his song “Slide City” with EVD and Smokes. At almost 300,000 streams, its social media and local traction caught the attention of labels and managers. “It felt surreal–I hadn’t even been making music for a full year yet.” Dreams were fulfilled at GudGroove’s Pier 17 show with Illenium, a long-time inspiration of his. 

In October 2025, GudGroove’s single “Too Far Away” elevated his career another notch: “I wrote it in my dorm, and it’s almost at 700,000 streams, which still feels unreal.” In December, well-known manager Milo Mitchum asked him to remix legendary Marc (MK) Kinchen’s newest single, “Come Find Me,” a full-circle moment: “I shed a tear. I saw his show over the summer, and I have a song with him now.” GudGroove and MK played the biggest show of his career to a sold out crowd in Nashville last January at The Night We Met. 

GudGroove’s plans for the future expand beyond music, branching into all things creative. “When people listen to my music, I want them to feel good. I want them to really take in the art, production, and lyrics and have a full experience. I see music as more than just sounds. Every time I’m in the studio, I’m creating art. I want to take my art to another level throughout my career. I want to act in and direct movies. I’ve built a huge love for the fashion industry and photography. I want to drop a fashion line and walk some runways.” 

“Take Me Back to Kentucky” is a project GudGroove is thrilled to finally share. “When I wrote it, I thought about what makes Kentucky, Kentucky. I’ve been on the road thinking about places that make me feel alive. All I could think about was home. There’s nowhere else I’d go to find myself.” His love for Louisville is resonant. “It’s a special place for creators. It’s not easy to come out of Louisville and make a big noise in any scene, so it’s cool to watch people here do what they love and keep pushing forward.” 

Stay tuned for the release of GudGroove’s latest single in the third week of April, just in time for Derby season celebrations!