DJ/producer MR.BLACK is known for his unique future psytrance signature sound, a modern blend of psy, techno, and rave music infused with oriental elements. The distinct bridge crafted with his signature style has led to collaborations and support from industry giants such as David Guetta, Vini Vici, Tiësto, Infected Mushroom, KSHMR, Ben Nicky, Hardwell, and many others. MR.BLACK gained notoriety through performances and tours at some of the world’s biggest venues and festivals, including Tomorrowland, Ultra, World Club Dome, Don’t Let Daddy Know, World DJ Festival, and Nibirii, as well as solo headlining club shows around the globe.
We spoke to MR.BLACK to find out more about his career, musical direction and recent releases.
- Your sound sits between psytrance and big room energy – how do you balance underground roots with festival-scale impact?
MR.BLACK: My sound today is psy-techno. I come from psytrance roots, that’s where I started as a kid, touring the world under a different name. Today I take that DNA, even psytrance classics, and fuse them with techno, modern sound design, and today’s technology. It creates a fusion that stays true to my roots while being very current. I don’t try to balance, I connect the worlds and bring rave energy to big stages.
- You’ve been pushing psytrance into mainstream EDM – what challenges and opportunities come with that crossover?
MR.BLACK: I don’t see it as mainstream, I see it as main stage. For me it’s an opportunity to give psytrance a bigger platform. I love the idea of fusion, like in food, taking something with deep roots and presenting it in a new way. Because it comes from my past, it keeps its identity while opening to new audiences.
- After “Free Your Mind” and “Crazy People”, what creative direction are you most excited about right now?
MR.BLACK: I really love the direction of “Free Your Mind”, it was the starting point of psy-techno for me. The connection with Hardwell and Vini Vici on “Crazy People” confirmed that direction. I have a lot more to say in this genre, with big collaborations coming, pushing it into a more futuristic and precise sound.
4. You’ve played some of the world’s biggest stages. How do you approach preparing for a live set?
MR.BLACK: Even now, I always feel like I’m at the beginning and need to prove myself every time. I build a story, not just a set. I imagine the event based on the country and culture, and translate that into music. Harmony, keys, original edits, everything is planned to control the crowd’s energy.
- Q: Collaboration seems to be a key part of your journey. What drew you into working with Gproject on “Free Your Mind”?
MR.BLACK: Collaboration is one of the most inspiring parts of music. With G-Project, they’re like family. We have a real connection and amazing vibes, it feels natural to create together.
- Q: The psytrance scene has evolved rapidly in recent years. What trends are you embracing, and which ones are you consciously avoiding?
MR.BLACK: I don’t call it trends, I call it innovation. I focus on clean sound and strong identity, and avoid anything that feels empty. For me it’s not just psytrance or techno, it’s psy-techno, and that’s my signature.
- Q: When you’re producing, where do you find yourself starting?
MR.BLACK: It can start from a phrase, a feeling, or a real-life moment. Sometimes I even imagine collaborations before they happen, like with “Crazy People”. But in production, it always comes down to two key elements: the drop for energy and the break for emotion.
- Q: With such a global fanbase, how do you stay connected to your core identity as an artist?
MR.BLACK: I just stay myself. I don’t adapt to the crowd. I bring my world, and luckily it connects globally. That’s what creates the unique energy in my shows.
- Q: If you could define the next chapter of your career in one sentence, what would it look and sound like?
MR.BLACK: I want to take psy-techno to the next level and make it a global language. Collaborate with artists from different worlds and bring them into my sound. At the same time, I’m developing my Symphonic Rave show, combining psy-techno with a live orchestra and unique electronic elements.
- Q: And finally, what’s your go-to track to finish a set with?
MR.BLACK: I usually finish with one of my own tracks. In the past it was my remix of “Voodoo People”, and recently it’s “Outside World”, melodic and emotional, leaving a strong signature.
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