Danish DJ/producer Faustix is the name on everyone’s lips this Summer – from collaborating with Diplo to taking his trailblazing ‘I don’t like people, I like techno’ tour on a dot-to-dot of dates to excite crowds the continent over – we caught up with the diverse Warner Music signee to talk new music, the impact of social media and what is next in the pipeline…
Congratulations on your recent release “Lead Me To Love You” with Mougleta! Can you share some insights into the creative process behind this collaboration and how you both brought your styles together?
Thank you! Well, I had for a few years now seen Mougleta doing one solid track after another and I really loved the way she sang. So, I approached her on Instagram and asked her if we should do something together and luckily, she said yes. After a few online sessions the song came to life and yeah; I’m very pleased with the result.
Your latest track “No Stress” is a fiery remix of a classic track that inspired you early in your career. What was it about the original song that resonated with you, and how did you approach putting your own spin on it?
I actually did this song for my social media as “noise”. I love posting my work for people to hear what I’m doing in the studio. I tagged Laurent Wolf and had no idea the legend himself would react. I’m really into melodic breakdowns and the whole song itself is more melodic than what I’m used to doing my songs, these days.
You’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with and remix tracks for some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Diplo, David Guetta, and Major Lazer. What have you learned from these experiences, and how have they influenced your artistic growth?
I think I need to appreciate it more today, if it happens again, I’m very humbled to have been working with some of the best in business. I’m really sad that 10 years ago when I did “Revolution” with Diplo, that I didn’t enjoy it more. I was just a kid who had a homerum. But I didn’t let it sink in truly. But today I’m happy to have grown as an artist due to that/those experiences.
With your upcoming transition to Big Techno in 2024, how do you anticipate your creative process and sound will evolve? What excites you most about exploring this new genre?
The energy from the crowd is crazy with techno. Also, it feels like people can actually hold an entire 75 min set with this genre, if you play the right tunes of course. I’ve been all around genre-wise and finally I feel like I’ve found something that I enjoy making, truly.
As a successful artist signed with some of the biggest labels, what advice would you give to aspiring producers and DJs who are just starting out and trying to make their mark in the industry?
Just be you and work hard, if you go fame hunting and look too much at what other artists are doing, you’ll eventually burn out or start hating the business. It all comes down to the music, so be creative.
What is your approach to staying inspired and pushing creative boundaries in an ever-evolving music landscape?
For me, it’s important to take breaks. Prevoíously in my career, I tended to stress too much and did 1-2 songs a day just to stay ahead, but the songs came out shit and I was sad all the time because it started to feel like a “job”. Once that hit me, I started to take breaks every 1-2 weeks maybe and when i then sat down in the studio, I suddenly made music out of love, not forcing it out.
Can you share a memorable or standout performance experience that has stayed with you throughout your career?
I think you have to get back to where it all started. When I played at a youth club for kids (I was a kid myself) maybe 14-15 years old and I borrowed some dj equipment with a friend. That really helped me get to know music and doing my research – and of course overspending on CD’s haha!
What are your thoughts on the current state of the electronic dance music scene, and where do you see it heading in the future?
To be honest I think the current state is horrible. An 8 second tiktok can make a whole career if you get lucky as a bedroom producer. Of course that is also the beauty of music – that you don’t need a major label deal and 100K’s worth of equipment. I just believe that the whole industry is stressing nowadays for virality and that just makes it so much harder for music to grow. I’m positively sure that “hits” today will not be remembered in 20 years, but big songs like “Levels” (2010-2014) will forever be remembered.
Thanks Faustix for taking the time to speak to us!