LA-based producer Dirty Audio has gone full circle with his latest release Used to Have it All – which saw the LA producer asked to remix a tune by the first DJ he ever saw live, Afrojack.
Ramping up the original's drops and drama, the new track follows previous releases include a remix of Yellow Claw's Ocho Cinco and his original production with Max Styler, Roller Coaster.
Describe your sound in the length of a Tweet?
My sound is always evolving because I feel like doing the same thing over and over again gets boring. I always try to make sure my songs are really heavy but still musical at the same time though.
Is EDM a dirty word?
EDM is a weird word – it stands for electronic dance music, which can technically be any style of music made electronically. But people today refer to big-room as EDM, so it’s kind of confusing.
You’ve remixed for a bunch of massive names – The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Nervo – what are you listening for in picking tunes, and how do these relationships typically start?
When artists ask me to remix their song, I usually listen for a catchy element in the song that I could use and take a new direction with. Usually that catchy element is the vocals or the melody. I try not to use too many of the original elements of the songs that I remix. It’s crazy because most of the big artists I’ve done remixes for have reached out personally which makes it really special.
But you failed music class in school. Huh?
Yeah... it wasn’t because I was bad at music or anything though. I just didn’t like school and I was always messing around in class instead of paying attention.
Tell us about your last few releases, the Ocho Cinco remix from DJ Snake & Yellow Claw, and Roller Coaster – it's a mad sound.
Thanks. A few months ago DJ Snake messaged me and asked if I was down to remix Ocho Cinco, and I was honoured because it was one of my favourite songs off his album. Roller Coaster was a collab with Max Styler. We met at Tomorrowland two years ago and kept a relationship ever since.
You’re a hip-hop fan. What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from a rhyme?
“Never let no one know how much dough you hold ‘cause you know the cheddar breed jealousy” (Notorious B.I.G). “Never let ‘em know your next move” (Biggie Smalls).
Used to Have it All is out now.