Terminal V Podcast 098 || STÜM

Not always, to be honest. While I do love curating high-energy sets, I also really enjoy creating more atmospheric sounds that don’t necessarily fit into that kind of space – tracks like “Breathe” or “Escape” from my discography are good examples of that. They come from a more introspective place rather than being designed for the dancefloor.

That said, when I’m piecing together a set, I definitely get inspired. Sometimes an idea will spark mid-set prep, and something like “Bueno” will come out of that. So while I’m not always creating with my sets in mind, they do end up feeding each other in a more fluid, indirect way.

Is there a different technique to playing hard and fast, do you think? If you’re always at a high tempo, where does the dynamism and tension come from that keeps people locked? How do you keep it from getting too monochromatic?

I wouldn’t necessarily say I play “hard and fast”—it’s more that I aim for a hard-hitting energy with standout moments. Those big moments are what create the tension and dynamism in my sets. It’s not always about high tempo either; I think the way I build and release through track selection and structure allows that energy to breathe and evolve. So, rather than relying purely on speed, I try to create contrast through the journey of the set itself.

A lot of this hard techno and trance that’s popular now is a revival of what came 20+ years ago. How aware are you of that first wave, does the history matter, does it inspire you, or are you more focused on the here and now and the future?

I’ve been into these styles since I was about 16, so definitely before this recent wave of revival. I think having an understanding of the history is really important—it gives you context for what’s happening now and helps you navigate your own direction within it. There’s a lot to be inspired by in that earlier era, but for me it’s about taking that foundation and building something that feels fresh and forward-thinking.

Have you got a go-to, never fails, use in an emergency record that always grabs the dance floor’s attention and never fails to make a mark?

My edit of a timeless classic called “Sun Chaser”. It’s one of those tracks that just cuts through and grabs the room – no matter the setting, it always seems to captivate the crowd and bring the energy back.

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

This mix is a boiling pot of everything I’m into – a blend of the sounds, moods, and energy that define me as an artist. I wanted it to give people a taste of the world of STÜM, to showcase the different shades of what I love and what I’m trying to say through my music.

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