The mix is a thrilling ride through the artist’s sonic world, packaging 26 tracks in 30 minutes, and it is chock-full of unreleased IDs. As for the interview, we discuss his drive to create, highlights of his live sets, how to make music that feels clean and minimal yet hits hard, the threat of AI music, and much more. Dive in below.

What can we expect from the mix when we press play? What was your goal when putting it together?

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a faster, more high-energy mixing style, and I wanted this mix to be more in that lane. I’ve played a few sets in the last month that were either under an hour or b2b, and that’s forced me to figure out how exactly to play all the things I want to play without it feeling crammed.

The byproduct of that is that I’ve really enjoyed mixing a bit quicker and am starting to throw that vibe into the full 60 or 75 minute sets. This mix is a little chunk of that vibe featuring a lot of new music I’ve been working on.

What drives you to create music?

It’s really something I’ve been doing my whole life, I don’t really know what my life looks like without creating. Frankly, if I don’t make something new within a 2-week period, I start to become an asshole, so it’s really a service to those around me.

Less tongue-in-cheek answer though: I just really enjoy exploring the possibilities of music and making the things that I want to hear, whether that be on headphones at home or blasting on a massive club or festival system.

Whenever I find myself in that overthinking mindset, I try to remind myself that the entire reason this project found success in the first place was that I was trusting my gut.

You said, “The whole ethos of this project was to just make what felt right to me and not question it too much.” How do you combat overthinking and consistently keep that ethos alive? Especially as the project continues to see great success?

Overthinking definitely still comes in waves, and I have noticed it coming back up, especially as I’m trying to do bigger and better things, but that’s the whole reason I set that as the ethos. Whenever I find myself in that overthinking mindset, I try to remind myself that the entire reason this project found success in the first place was that I was trusting my gut. It may not get me back there straight away, but it certainly helps.

You’ve been touring and playing some massive festivals. Are there any specific moments during your live sets that really stand out to you?

Absolutely. There’s this chunk where I slow things down to 130/135 and play a couple of my slower hip-hop flips (Tia Tamera, Shabba, etc.), and I really love how it always resets the vibe and gets people grooving in a different way.

On top of that I have this new transition I’ve been doing from Moldae’s ‘Just Dance’ remix into an ID of mine that has just been exploding. Another lesser-known tune that crushes is BASSTRIP – ‘EVERY TIME WE TOUCH THE SUBWOOFER.’ It’s just such a fun blend of songs, and the drop gets that “OHHHHH” reaction every time.

Also, I keep saying that I gotta remove it just because it’s becoming a little dated, but the Baddadan flip hasn’t stopped hitting yet…

Oh yeah, lastly, closing with Acyan and I’s Innerbloom flip just always feels right. Had everyone put their lights up for it at Decadence last NYE, and that was an all-timer for me.

It’s more important to have a few really, really good, effective sounds than 200 sounds that are just okay.

What’s the secret to making music that feels so clean and minimal yet hits so hard?

It’s more important to have a few really, really good, effective sounds than 200 sounds that are just okay.

Start with simple sounds, and then build on them. Don’t try to make the most insane sounds off the bat, just make something that feels good and then mess with the layer or post-processing until it feels right.

Be very particular about your drum samples (and samples in general).

You’ve mentioned that you’re a big fan of pop music and songwriting. Are there any lessons you’ve taken from pop music and been able to apply to bass music?

It really comes back to just keeping things simple and effective. Not overstuffing a track with a bunch of mid elements and hoping it works out, but making sure every piece of the song is intentional and adding to the overall picture.

It’s a bit idealistic of me, but I’d like to think that as the space gets more and more flooded with ‘ai slop’ people are going to crave something from their fellow humans.

Do you see AI music as a threat to real artists? Is there anything that fans and creators can do to help push back against it?

It’s undeniably a threat, especially to the sync music world (TV music, commercials, etc.), but I also don’t really worry about it all that much. At the end of the day, I’m still going to make music no matter what, and I know there are plenty of people like me who have absolutely zero interest in listening to AI-generated work.

It’s a bit idealistic of me, but I’d like to think that as the space gets more and more flooded with ‘ai slop’ people are going to crave something from their fellow humans. We already see this in social media trends now – the artists who are doing the best are generally the ones who are personable, and someone fans want to connect with. You don’t really get that with AI Music (see Timbaland’s failed AI Artist project).

What goals are you striving to achieve in the next year?

I’m really trying to sort out what the next large body of work is for myself, whether that be an EP or something larger. As you’ll hear in this mix, I have a ton of unreleased music, but it’s important to me that a project is intentional and has music that truly fits together. No plans to stop releasing music though, just really aiming to make that next great project.

What makes you happy outside of music?

Friends and family, working out, going to shows that have nothing to do with dance music (no disrespect, just to switch the vibe up), good movies & good food.

Always make what you want to make. Don’t get caught up in the noise of everything else going on online or what you think you ‘should’ be making.

Any final words of wisdom?

Always make what you want to make. Don’t get caught up in the noise of everything else going on online or what you think you ‘should’ be making.

PHRVA FUXWITHIT Guest Mix Tracklist

1. Sub Focus – Siren (Phrva Flip) w/ A$AP Ferg – Work
2. Phrva & Flozone – ID
3. Crankdat – Movement (Phrva Flip)
4. Showtek, We Are Loud, Sonny Wilson – Booyah (Phrva Flip)
5. Phrva – ID
6. Phrva – Mind x Moody Good – Humid
7. Phrva & Snowy – ID
8. Phrva & Saka – ID
9. Phrva & STVSH – ID
10. Phrva & Dennett – ID
11. Phrva – ID w/ Flo Milli – Beef
12. Tiga – Bugatti (Phrva & Noctiil Flip)
13. Phrva x Flozone – ID
14. Joey Valence & Brae, Ayesha Erotica – The Baddest (Badder) (Phrva Flip)
15. Addison Rae – Fame Is A Gun (Phrva & Borne Flip)
16. Phrva & OkayJake – ID
17. G Jones – Helix (Phrva Flip)
18. Billie Eilish – Lunch (Phrva Flip)
19. Phrva – ID
20. Phrva & Ero808 – I Need The x Annix & Trolley Snatcha – Kill Switch
21. Phrva & Jiqui – Do It
22. Phrva & Rakjay – ID
23. Phrva – ID w/ Fred Again – Victory Lap
24. Skrillex – Bangarang (Phrva Flip)
25. NERO – Innocence (Phrva Flip) x ID – ID
26. Afrojack, Eva Simons – Take Over Control (Phrva Flip)

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