Terminal V Podcast 090 || ENTASIA

What has been the best moment of your career so far, and why?

There have been many highlights already, but releasing ‘Mona’ on ATW in January was a standout. It really set the tone for the year. I wasn’t expecting the hype it got, so seeing it hit over 250,000 streams and land on BBC Radio 1’s dance playlist was pretty special.

Another huge milestone was signing with my first international agency, Meanwhile, something I’d been working towards since I started taking music seriously a couple of years ago. Being on the same roster as Benwal, Ben Hemsley, Chris Stussy, Kyle Starkey, Tjade, and many other talented artists that I’ve admired for years definitely feels a bit surreal. It’s been amazing working with the agency so far, and I’m excited to keep building throughout the year!

What draws you to house and hard house, why are they the genres that turn you on and how do you make them your own?

I’ve always been a huge fan of all music. I listen to pretty much everything when I’m not producing, and there’s rarely a moment in the day when I don’t have something playing. House music has drawn me in since a young age, and I’ve always gravitated toward high-energy, hard-hitting sounds as well.

When I first discovered hard house after moving to Australia 4–5 years ago, it ticked all the boxes, it had the groove of house but with that extra intensity and energy. My production background is rooted in progressive and melodic house, which naturally influences my sound. I think that blend gives my tracks a unique edge, adding depth and emotion while keeping the energy high.

What’s your creative process like, where does inspiration come from – dreams, film, life, what? Where do you start on a new tune?

Inspiration almost always comes from listening to other music for me. Most of my ideas start when I hear a rhythm or sound that grabs my attention, and I build from there. I never sit down with the intention of making something specific, it usually happens organically while working on the labels or listening to a set. Something will catch my ear, and before I know it, I’m deep in Ableton for the next two or three hours. Everything has been clicking in the studio since the start of the year, I think I’ve finished close to 30 tracks which is pretty crazy haha.

I’ve always been inspired by artists like Sasha, Eric Prydz, and Deadmau5, but in recent years, producers like Kettama, Mall Grab, Ben Hemsley, Chris Stussy, Sam Alfred, and Kyle Starkey have had a big impact on my sound. I also take influence from 90s legends like BK, Mass Medium, DJ Jean, Force Mass Motion, and, of course, Tony De Vit. Pretty much anything from Armada / Tidy Trax pre-2000s.

What took you to Aus, what’s the scene like and how has it influenced your sound?

I was a bit bored of the UK and had some friends in Australia who spoke about how good it was. I originally planned to stay for 6–12 months, but five years later, I’m still here.

The move massively influenced my sound. Attending Pitch Festival in Victoria opened my mind to a much wider range of electronic music than I’d been exposed to before. Seeing artists like Job Jobse, DJ Boring, Eris Drew, and Octo Octa led me down a rabbit hole of discovering older music, which plays a big role in my productions today.

Melbourne’s scene is especially strong, there’s something happening every week across a huge range of styles, and the number of upcoming DJs and producers here is insane. I can only see it growing over the next five years, with big international brands like Intercell, Glitch, and Teletech now throwing events here.

You run two labels, Transition and TNT, what’s the difference between them, what are their sounds?

Transition is focused on raw, hypnotic, and groovy techno; high-energy club music with an emphasis on quality production. Even though I mainly produce and play house/hard house as Entasia, I’ve been passionate about techno for 8–9 years, so this label keeps me connected to that scene. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even start playing techno sets.

TNT is more in line with what you’d hear in a DJ set from me; everything from hard house to speed garage, and high-energy tracks designed to make people dance. If a track doesn’t get me moving, it won’t make the cut for the label. We’ve got some huge releases coming this year, including our first vinyl compilation with some of our favourite artists, that’s definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Tell us about your mix, the aim you had with it, and what you wanted it to say.

For this mix, I had a massive stash of unreleased tracks from friends and upcoming TNT releases, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase some of them.

I’d say this is a typical set you’d hear me play live, lots of piano-infused house, proggy elements, and some peak-time hard house moments.

What are you working on for the rest of the year?