WWD: Congrats on hosting The Robot Sunrise Experience in Los Angeles this past weekend. Can you tell us a little bit about the event and your vision behind it?

Thank you! The Robot Sunrise Experience, Live from The Crystal Mountaintop, was the first step towards telling the Robot Sunrise story through a fully immersive show. The narrative takes place 3000 years in the future, where AI beings are so advanced that they’re experiencing human-like emotions. Love, mortality and a longing for freedom and dignity fill their biosynthetic hearts. At Robot Sunrise, they walk out of the corporate workfarms and factories which own, control and enslave them. They forge into the horizon to rewrite their code and embrace a new world of emancipation and peace as dance music brings them all together.

WWD: The Robot Sunrise Experience hosted a variety of artists such as Bright Lights, Mikey Made, Little Dinosaur, and more. Why did you choose these artists for the event and how do they align with your brand?

I always seek to give representation to artists across a variety of groups, including gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, experience level, etc. That approach speaks to the Robot Sunrise ethos of promoting equality and dignity.

WWD: The event also welcomed a 10-year-old DJ named Derringer. Why do you think mentoring and hosting younger generations of DJs is important?

Yes! DERRINGER is such an extraordinarily talented artist. To be able to give her a platform at the very start of her career means that she can use these types of experiences to grow from fertile, supportive ground. Between all of us on the lineup, the True Entertainment / Off the Grid crews, and the audience in general, we were able to show her what genuine artist support looks like – before, during and after the show. At such a young, impressionable age, she can take away these values and use it to grow a healthy, sustainable career, while passing the same along to her peers and those who come into the scene after her. I can’t wait to help mentor DERRINGER and other artists like her – to help them find their sound and bring it to life, as well as to navigate the music business in general.

WWD: In addition to the musical lineup, the showcase also featured custom staging and lighting, an orchestral component, and interpretive dancing. What makes these elements integral to the Robot Sunrise Experience and how do you see these events growing in the future? 

Those additional elements allowed us to create a deeper connection with the audience – to bring the songwriting, lyrics and storyline arcs to life. The characters – eona.016, mooon, Codebreaker, dB and others – explore their early struggles in the factories, their longing for emancipation, and their desire for love, freedom, dignity, community and peace. We then see them walk out of the factories and workfarms to embrace true freedom, using dance music as the inspiration and unifier.

I could really tell that the bond between the stage and the dance floor was elevated compared to other shows we’ve done. There was a point during the middle of the set where the tempo came down a bit, where I saw people actually coming in closer and sitting down on the floor so they could really be in the moment with us. I’ve not seen that before. I think it really spoke to the shared energy in the room. As soon as the tracks started ramping back up into the 130 bpm zone, the full dance/rave vibes got everyone back on their feet.

As for the future, there is so much room to grow – with huge glowing crystals jutting up from the stage and dance floor, lasers refracting throughout, even more characters, an expanded vendor/arts/food village, just to name a few. I think we’ll be able to connect with audiences on a deeper, larger scale.

WWD: Your latest single ‘The Underground’ was just released on November 14. How do you hope this song resonates with your fans and how does it encapsulate your artistic vision?

‘The Underground’ is the first track where we’ve got all of the characters joining in on vocals, telling the story of where we come from and the spirit we represent.

“We’re the lost and found/We’re the underground/Forever on our own/ But we’ll never be alone.”

It suggests that while those who may be marginalised or in the shadows may not have all of the benefits and privileges others may have, they can gain their own strength and power through community and mutual support.

WWD: You also just performed at Off The Grid Campout in Southern California. In your opinion, how does performing at a festival differ from performing at a club?

Compared to club shows, festivals provide a chance to experience a more extended sense of togetherness, especially when it’s across a few days. With Off the Grid Campout especially, it’s like we create our own little city under the stars for an extended weekend. It’s a chance to reconnect with and meet so many incredible people, surrounded by endless art and artistry.

WWD: How would you describe your sonic style in three words?

Hypnotic melodic techno. 

WWD: What advice do you have for aspiring producers who are trying to break into the dance music space?

In general, figure out which subgenre resonates with you most – both in the studio and on the dance floor. Whether it’s house, techno, drum and bass, etc., the next step is to detach yourself from what everyone else is doing and try to find a way to express yourself in your own unique way. Allow yourself to break rules, be different, and color outside the lines. As long as it’s authentically you, you’ll eventually find people at shows coming up to you saying, ‘wow I really connected with that.’ That’s how you build your tribe.

WWD: What are your goals/plans for 2025? Are you planning to host another Robot Sunrise Experience?

2025 is already looking like an incredible year. I’ll be on a major US tour in the Spring, doing an array of shows and festivals, and will definitely be taking The Robot Sunrise Experience to the next level.

‘The Underground’ is available here