Alt Wave Mag got connected with DE shortly after seeing him on 4/20 at the PHX Raceway to catch up on his latest performances and music. Check it out ↓

AWM: You are just coming off two pretty insane performances! The Ave Live with Truth & Wraz plus playing the PHX Raceway on 4/20. The experience of playing East to West Coast on a highly celebrated holiday seems like it could be pretty crazy. How are you feeling after such a big weekend and did you notice any differences in how both of these crowds received your sets?DE: It definitely was quite the weekend! Both shows had their special moments, but I feel as though the crowds in PHL and PHX received the music quite the same. Everyone was super receptive, and showed love to the songs they knew, as well as the ones they did not. The club I played in Philadelphia was one that I used to attend when first getting introduced to electronic music. I definitely felt a level of comfort, and less stressed in that environment. Phoenix however was a much different event on a much larger scale. I was the first artist to perform, which alone can cause some feelings of angst. However, I was so thrilled to see how quickly the place filled up for my set. About 30 minutes in, I could barely see where the crowd ended. Indoor club vs Outdoor events definitely have their differences, but getting to enjoy both back to back nights was the best way I could have spent that weekend!AWM: Based on the set we got to see in PHX, it seems like you are riding a wave like never before. From spinning some of your classics all the way to unreleased heaters, your set was gritty but groovy bass-heavy and sported that signature dark swag you rep. Personally and within music, do you feel that you are in a different type of flow more recently?DE: I think I can definitely feel a difference in my production and overall workflow within the last year. I’ve written so much music in this timeframe, all of which has varied immensely from my previous works. As far as on a personal level, I’ve focused on developing better work habits that have helped with creative process and time management.AWM: When it comes to being an opener on a bill, what are some things you run over in your head to make sure you give the best performance possible while setting up the proceeding artists for success?DE: No extra thought really goes into it for me! If anything I focus more on myself in these situations. Typically if I am an opener, then it is most likely going to be a larger show where new potential fans are present.AWM: You have been in the game for nearly a decade now. Time really flies! Since you are a vet on this scene and have played for all sorts of crowds across the world, we would love to hear your Ethos on technicalities when constructing a set. Some artists structure a set purely on creating a BPM flow that is very by the books while others don’t care about any of that and just do what they think sounds cool, even if it’s technically all over the place. Where do you fall on this spectrum?DE: I think there is a happy medium, which is where I like to try and be at. My sets never have (and probably never will) consist of just one bpm. My music tends to span across the spectrum in terms of tempo and style, and because of this, my sets are designed that way. As far as mixing in key and other technical things like that, It’s good to follow that rule, but you can’t really argue with what sounds good or what you think is cool… So just have fun with it!AWM: In the past online, you briefly dove into how some of your most inspirational sessions have been unorganized hardware jams. How often are you doing these jams nowadays and could you tell us more about why these types of sessions hit so different? No doubt that times like those allow for one’s inner modular geek to run loose (and possibly wreak havoc lol)DE: It’s been a little while now, but I’m eager to get back into that workflow! I sold a lot of what I used during that time to buy new gear and things I needed more in that moment. That being said, I’ve had my eyes peeled on some new things that I want… Sometime this year I’ll be back in the hardware life.AWM: For those bass heads still trying to learn and get comfortable with Ableton (or whatever production plat they are rocking) what piece of advice do you recommend they keep forefront in their minds while their music journey is starting and for the long run?DE: Great tip that I could give, and something to this day that I always remind myself of; Don’t go into detail mixing your song while you're still trying to write it. The creative process shouldn’t be interrupted for these types of things. It’s so important to get your ideas down while they are fresh and exciting. I’m not saying don’t EQ anything until the end, but make sure you aren’t getting hyper focused on details before the idea is even complete. Being mindful of this will help your creative process, time management, and prevent exhaustion from over-listening to the idea you’re trying to write.AWM: Lastly, we are excited to hear about what you have cooking right now! How much unreleased do you have stacked up and ready to roll? What should we as DE fans be keeping an eye out for?DE: The unreleased folder is definitely the most packed it’s ever been. I’ve been working on a mix to showcase it all, which will be the next thing that I release. Definitely something everyone should be looking out for!

The craziest event of the year this 4/20

The Queen of the Dark Techno Scene herself, REZZ, is on tour now!REZZ is a world-renowned DJ, producer, and artist born in Ukraine but raised in Canada who has been making insane mid-tempo EDM tracks since 2013. She is a massive believer in the concept of “all killers no filler” which she practices in every single project she works on. Which includes her newest album, “CAN YOU SEE ME?” Alt Wave sees this album as one of the greatest EDM Records of all time. Every single track is stellar and rattles you down to your bones. When it first dropped on March 14th, Alt Wave was blown away. Everything from the composition, the gritty yet pretty sounds, to the overall dark dysphoric vibe screams REZZ. She absolutely crushed this album and it’s one you MUST listen to if you haven’t yet! All links to stream are below. This album has a ton of features from some high-soaring legends including deadmau5, Subtronics, EDDIE, Digital Ethos, KAVARI, Blanke, INZO, Holly, and Cyclops. This 10-track project isn’t like anything we have ever seen before. From the mind-bending twists of ‘Everywhere, Nowhere’ to the delirious progressions in ‘Black Ice’ and even REZZ’s vocal debut on the intro track ‘CAN YOU SEE ME?’ this album has it all. Speaking of the title track, this song is one that could get REZZ locked in a mental asylum, it’s that crazy!Don’t miss your chance to catch REZZ live! Links to all of her upcoming performances can be found on her official website.

• Official Website - Rezz