Scorch Felix – Introducing interview
Written by ADMIN on 11/09/2024
Scorch Felix is a name that has been synonymous with the evolving world of Electronic Music for nearly two decades. From humble beginnings as an accidental DJ to becoming a prolific producer and performer, his journey is one of passion, dedication, and relentless innovation. With a sound that seamlessly blends driving Techno drums, Tech House grooves, and euphoric Trance breakdowns, Scorch Felix has carved out a niche for himself in the global Electronic Music landscape. His tracks have been supported by nearly 300 radio stations worldwide, and his performances have graced some of the most iconic venues.
We sat down with Scorch Felix to delve deeper into his musical journey, his take on the current state of the scene, and what exciting projects he has lined up for the future.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Z7Gaf8lQ23ZGnUp8kLJHA?si=n9a6DZhoS36hJUYUY6kBfg&nd=1&dlsi=76a1a195dd7342ed
Hi Scorch Felix, how are you?
I’m very well thank you, and thank you for this opportunity.
Tell us about the origins of Scorch Felix—how did your journey into the Electronic Music scene begin?
Well, it was many moons ago, I was an original raver and accidentally fell into DJing through a friend, he knew some techniques and he told me to have a go, I was instantly hooked, of course I had no idea what I was doing, as I proved when I went with him on one of his gigs at a 2000 pax capacity venue, he asked me to cover for him while he went to the bathroom and I cleared the floor for him, happy days. Fast forward a couple of years and I opened a weekly after party in Melbourne, Australia called “Tranzition” that ran for a year, at the same time I was studying sound engineering at night, where I learnt to record and mix on big consoles like the SSL, Neve and Harrison, which was OK, but then off I went into midi audio and “in the box” producing, but I’ve been lucky to work some amazing names and work in some amazing studios.
You’ve been in the industry for nearly 20 years—what would you say was the moment when you knew this was the path for you?
That’s a tough one as it sort of just evolved over time, but I guess the answer to that was when I was convinced to give up my (very stable) 9 to 5 job by a bar owner and become a full-time resident DJ and it sort of took off from there really.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s a mixture of hard-hitting driving Techno drums with sprinkling of Tech House grooves and uplifting Trance breakdowns, and sounds similar to Outburst Records or some of Armada Captivating, I do love the tougher energy in my sound be it production or DJing.
You’ve explored multiple genres through your music. How do you stay innovative and maintain versatility across so many sounds and styles?
That’s an easy answer I just love music and innovation it’s so exciting. When new genres emerge, that’s why I have so much passion for the scene, it’s constantly evolving, there’s something magical about music creation and the Electronic scene, we seem to all pull from the same creative space whatever that is, but it’s definitely magical, a never-ending pool of inspiration.
What do you find most rewarding about producing and performing Electronic Music?
Well on the producing side it’s when a new track turns the corner and you can feel it in your gut “oh yes” there it is. With performing its finding & playing those gems of tunes that just resonate with you every time you play them, and seeing the reactions, be it live or live-streaming via comments etc.
Could you share some of your favourite highlights from your career so far?
I’ve had many over the years but to break it down to a few, being asked to work in a studio in London with a very well-known act just before they blew up (not mentioning them as they were upset I left), another stand out time was Running a 2000 capacity venue in Central London (Sin) starting in a little back room and building my night, where another top London Promoter asked me to partner with him in the whole venue and we took it from an R&B night to a full-blown House and Tech House night venue, that was awesome. Another was meeting my inspiration Eric Morillo (I was huge fan) and handing him my promo track for him to play in a bar in London, so he invited me to the Ministry of Sound (London) and I hung out with him in the main booth as he was playing, that was amazing, it’s very sad how everything played out in the end, he’s still a great inspiration and amazing artist and my heart still goes out to the parties involved in that sad and tragic situation. A few more amazing key moments are playing iconic London clubs like the “The Egg”, “The Cross” (sadly now apartments), “Club 333” Shoreditch, Sin London (residency) playing warm-up sets and getting the floor from zero degrees to boiling hot, I think doing warm-ups as a DJ is very important to honing your skills, and I think is probably overlooked these days.
Your music has seen support from nearly 300 radio stations globally. How do you stay connected with such a broad audience, and how do you hope to expand your reach further? Do you have any specific goals in mind?
There are great apps I use (not an advert) like Songstats, and VIBERATE so I can keep on top of my fanbase, also through social media for a more personal approach like YouTube and Instagram etc. I’ve recently signed with Matt Caldwell PR, PR and artist progression program to solidify my reach on a global scale by joining the dots of everything I’ve done. My goals have changed over the years but the consistent one is keeping my passion alive for the scene and keep improving my music production skills, and enjoy bigger live shows.
What’s your take on the current state of Electronic Music? Are there any trends or innovations that excite you?
The scene’s amazing at the moment, as cross genre pollination for instance, in my favourite genres, how parts of Trance have adopted Techno and Hardstyle elements and conversely Techno and Mainstage have adopted a lot of Trance elements, by way of breakdowns and sounds, it’s awesome as you can be more creative in productions and shows giving the listeners a more diverse sounds to discover and enjoy.
Which artists or producers are currently inspiring you, and why?
For DJing it’s Carl Cox, DJ Rush, Ben Nicky, Mark Sherry, Hardwell, Afrojack, Amelia Lens, and Armin van Buuren (when he plays his harder sets) to name a few, my reasons for picking these artists is that they have a real passion that comes out went they’re playing, you can just see and feel their love for the music. On the production side, I’m a big fan of David Forbes (Who’s afraid of 138), Mark Sherry (Outburst), Maarten De Jong (Armada Captivating) Gentech (Techburst) and Maddix, now he’s moved into Techno, just a few names, but these guys I’m constantly supporting them weekly in my sets and shows, the music is just exceptional pushing the boundaries and consistently dropping tunes that just work, when you find your people especially producers and there’s love for the same sound it makes everything all the more exciting, every week waiting for your promos in your inbox.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Scorch Felix? Are there any upcoming projects or releases that we should be excited about?
Well, my radio show Scorch Felix Live is hitting its 400th episode soon, so expect something big for that, and my next release is lined up, “Undefeated” coming out on my new label FVST Records, a heavy Techno loaded Trance tune out around October.
We wrap up this interview thanking Scorch Felix for his time sharing his story with us, as he continues to be a driving force within the Electronic Music community, constantly pushing boundaries with his innovative sound and infectious energy, and as he looks forward to his upcoming 400th radio show episode and the release of his track “Undefeated” on FVST Records, it’s clear that he has no plans of slowing down. Whether it’s through his live sets or his genre-defying productions, Scorch Felix remains a figure to watch as the Electronic Music scene continues to evolve.
Scorch Felix Online