If you’re looking for some fresh house music, you need to get familiar with spüke. First landing on my radar with ’emanate’ off Bonsai’s debut compilation, the track went from a standout to a staple in my summer rotation. It’s breezy and smooth while maintaining a futuristic and wonky feel. Its powerful vocals and keys provide an emotional appeal that commands repeat listens. It seems I haven’t been the only one bumping it on repeat, as the track recently hit a million plays on Spotify. But don’t mistake the Californian for a one-hit wonder. His catalog is lush with bops and bangers including ‘I Can’t Stop’ and ‘Les Filles.’ Always delivering, we thought it was due time to have spüke drop in for a guest mix + interview. The mix is an energetic house affair that’ll transport you to the club and get you moving! As for the interview, we delve into what drives him as an artist, hitting a million plays on a single, first shows back, and more. Dive in below and blast the mix.
Paint us a picture: where are we going with this mix?
It’s actually about where I went with this mix; This is a part of a headline mix I created to play at my shows in Dallas, OKC, and 2 cities in California… so you’re basically getting a peek of the energy I bring when I’m on stage with this one!
How’s California treating you?
Amazing… other than this insane heat. I’m getting more shows around my hometown and growing my name bigger around here with the help of my management and some good friends @SVRFCE! I truly have the most amazing and supportive friends out here. Although I don’t care for my location, I make the most out of it!
I started creating and I continued creating because of one simple reason… it’s fucking fun!
What made you want to start making music? What drives you to continue?
Discovering that there were different kinds of electronic music and being fascinated with the new sounds I was hearing back in 2014-15. My dad was a CD DJ and would always play progressive house… which I didn’t care for and I equated that to being the entirety of “EDM”… little did I know there was a whole world of it. Discovering artists like Flume, Disclosure, Tchami, 20syl, C2C, BRO SAFARI, San Holo, Fabich, Louis The Child… you get the point; so many amazing artists making amazing sounds. I WANTED IN ON IT! So I started creating and I continued creating because of one simple reason… it’s fucking fun!
Can you talk a little about your recent struggle between making music for an audience vs. yourself? What impact has this had on your music recently?
There hasn’t been a struggle, I’ve always made music for myself! If you’re talking about me coming out with harder music… It’s what I always wanted to do. spüke was supposed to be a bass house project… like early Jauz type stuff… Thank god that didn’t happen. I loved the weird spin on house music and the original sound I started pumping out but I’ve always loved mixing bass/tech house. What you’re hearing now is my project splitting in 2… my melodic music being my “Ethereal” side and my heavier music being my “Supernatural” side. The response to me creating different music has been beautiful, I’m glad people are on board with what I’m putting out. It’s truly the greatest feeling!
I truly couldn’t be happier. I’m forever grateful to everyone who supports me and what I do.
You just hit a million plays on ‘Emanate.’ Congratulations! Where were you when you found out? How did you react?
Thank you so much! Being in the age of technology… not much of an exciting story because I saw it coming. I knew the exact day I would hit a million based on how many streams it was getting a day. I was in bed after waking up but my heart still sank, I let out a big sigh, and I just soaked it all in. All my hard work from the very beginning til this exact moment is paying off. I truly couldn’t be happier. I’m forever grateful to everyone who supports me and what I do.
People have been waiting for shows to come back, they had all this built-up energy that they’d just been storing up and now they can release it all! Love the energy I’m seeing, it’s so beautiful.
How have shows been so far post-pandemic? Is the energy different?
THE ENERGY IS A THOUSAND TIMES MORE INSANE. People have been waiting for shows to come back, they had all this built-up energy that they’d just been storing up and now they can release it all! Love the energy I’m seeing, it’s so beautiful.
What’s the last track that truly amazed you? What made it resonate with you so strongly?
In terms of MY music it’s ‘Les Filles’ because it took a year for me to get it how I wanted it to and when it was finished I sat back and was like, “I did it… I fucking did it! I made a heavy house banger like I’d always wanted to,” almost cried.
In terms of other artists it’d have to be Odd Mob’s remix to ‘Virus’ by Kloud. Wow. Odd Mob is a mastermind, all of his music is insane. ‘Virus’ hits different, it’s melodic but hard at the same time. Hits you right in the feels with that beautiful piano and the drop gives you an outlet to release all the feels. You have to give it a listen to understand what I’m talking about!
When you’re not making music and DJing how are you spending your time?
I work as a beertender at a Taproom! I love craft beer and visiting breweries from all around, it’s my second hobby! Bike Dog from Sacramento and Humble Sea from Santa Cruz are 2 of my favorites. Hanging out with my girl and going fun places with her, chilling, traveling, and mixing with the homies, and playing Apex Legends or Rocket League add me @spukeyboi on XBOX ;)
What do you have in store for fans for the remainder of the year?
MORE MUSIC, MORE SHOWS, MORE GIVEAWAYS, MORE… MERCH? What more could the fans want. I could post more selfies? I bet they’d like that.
Without all of you, I wouldn’t be doing the wild things I’m doing now. I love you all so much.
Any final words for fans?
Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! Your support means the world to me and my project. I wake up everyday happy to have such an engaging and exciting fan base. Without all of you, I wouldn’t be doing the wild things I’m doing now. I love you all so much. Thank you again!
Tracklist:
NuBass – Broken Promises (FT. Charolette Meldrum)
MPH – Spend The Night
Sammy Virji – Quarantine Done
Papps – Drunk
Shahay – Bounce
Deeperlove – Back Once Again
Black V Neck – Dancing $hoes (Remix)
Sophiegroohy – Cringe
Roska – Pree Me FT Nakamura Minami (Chris Lorenzo Remix)
Better Off Alone (spüke mashup)
Chris Lorenzo – Stereotypes (Tenshu Edit)
Bellecour – Right About
Gold Dust – Slashed Zerø
Dot N Life & RushLow – Man Down
SLAYER – Raining Blood (DOGGO Edit)
Michael Sparks – Fight Club
MARTEN HØRGER & DONKONG – Believe In Me
Bisicits – Real Low
Chris Lake – Who Are You
Just Jack – Give It
spüke – Les Filles
VINNE – On My Body
VINNE – Better Than Sex
Alterbot & Heynegaard – Where 2 Go
Tony Romera – MS69
