Ahead of the release of his latest release “Nights Out” – Mindgazm answers a few questions to go along with the relase.
“Nights Out” has such a vibrant, urban feel, drawing inspiration from cities like Miami and New York. Could you elaborate on how these cities influenced the track, and what aspects of the nightlife in these places you wanted to capture in your music?
Miami and New York are iconic cities with nightlife that pulses with a unique blend of excitement, intensity, and a touch of unpredictability. In “Nights Out,” the influence of these cities manifests in several ways:
Energy and Rhythm: Miami and New York each have a dynamic pace — Miami with its warm, tropical undertones and Latin influences, and New York with its grittier, underground vibe. The track captures this energy through a mix of driving beats and rhythmic layers, embodying the thrill of an endless night where anything feels possible.
Atmosphere: Both cities are known for a blend of glamorous and gritty experiences. In “Nights Out,” I wanted to reflect this contrast, layering sounds that feel both vibrant and a little dark. The synths and bass lines mimic the allure of neon-lit streets mixed with the murmur of city sounds.
Journey Through Night: Nights in these cities can start with a celebratory feel and quickly shift to something more intense. The track’s progression mirrors this journey, with its uplifting start giving way to deeper, more immersive sections, capturing the feeling of diving into the heart of the night and surrendering to the unexpected.
This vibe pulls listeners into the night, creating an auditory experience that reflects the energy, allure, and edge that these cities bring to life.
The track has a clear duality, reflecting both the euphoria and the melancholy of urban nightlife. How did you approach balancing these contrasting emotions in the production process, and why was it important to you to include both sides of the experience?
Balancing the euphoria and melancholy of urban nightlife in “Nights Out” was essential to capture the full emotional spectrum of a night out. Urban nightlife is often portrayed as pure fun, but there’s also a layer of introspection and vulnerability beneath the surface that I wanted to explore. Here’s how I approached it:
Layering and Dynamics: I used contrasting layers in the production to reflect this duality. High-energy beats and bright synths capture the thrill and euphoria, while deeper, moody bass lines and ambient textures create a more introspective feel. This layering allowed the track to shift fluidly between uplifting and darker moments, mirroring the highs and lows of a night out.
Melodic Progression: The melody itself was crafted to have moments of brightness and moments of introspection. It rises and falls to reflect how the night can make you feel both invincible and, at times, lost. This duality makes the experience richer, as it feels closer to real life than a single, unbroken mood.
Sound Design Choices: Using reverb-heavy elements in certain sections helped create an almost haunting atmosphere, subtly alluding to the melancholy and solitude that sometimes creep in amid the energy. I kept some sections sparse, allowing space for listeners to feel that contrast between being surrounded yet alone, a familiar feeling in bustling urban settings.
Including both sides was crucial because it adds depth to the track, reflecting the true nature of nightlife: a blend of joy, release, and sometimes, reflection. The duality makes the listening experience immersive, capturing not only the celebration but also the introspective moments that come with a night in the city.
You’ve described nightlife as a kind of sanctuary, a modern church for people to find redemption through music and community. Can you expand on that idea? How do you see tracks like “Nights Out” providing that emotional space for listeners?
Nightlife, with its blend of music, people, and energy, can feel like a sanctuary — a place where people come to shed their daytime selves and find a form of release and even redemption. In a city, where life moves fast and social structures can feel isolating, the nightlife offers a unique space for unity, a collective experience where the barriers between people soften. Here’s how “Nights Out” aims to create that emotional space:
Collective Escape: Tracks like “Nights Out” provide an immersive experience that mirrors the feeling of entering a different world when stepping into a club or a night event. By creating layers that evolve and build, I wanted the track to feel like an emotional journey, inviting listeners to leave behind their everyday worries and immerse themselves fully.
Emotional Release: The beat and rhythm offer a steady, almost meditative pulse that people can connect with, while the melodies ebb and flow to evoke feelings that might otherwise be unexpressed. This creates a safe emotional space where listeners can release pent-up feelings, whether joy or melancholy, and let the music act as an emotional outlet.
Sense of Belonging: Nightlife is one of the few places where people, regardless of background, can feel a part of something larger. Through the duality in “Nights Out,” the track reflects that complex space where emotions intermingle, mirroring how nightlife allows people to be both individual and part of a community. By capturing that mix of euphoria and introspection, the track becomes a shared experience, offering listeners a moment of connection even if they’re listening alone.
In this way, “Nights Out” isn’t just a track; it’s an invitation to step into a space that feels sacred and transformative, where music guides people toward feeling more connected, both to others and to their own emotions.
Progressive house is at the core of “Nights Out,” but it also feels very introspective and layered. What kind of soundscapes did you use to create that depth, and how do you want listeners to feel as they explore these different layers of the track?
To achieve the depth and introspective quality in “Nights Out,” I worked with a range of layered soundscapes to give the track an almost cinematic feel, inviting listeners to sink deeper with each listen. Here’s how I approached it:
Evolving Pads and Synths: I used lush, evolving pads that slowly build and change throughout the track. These pads create an ambient backdrop that gives the track a sense of vastness, like stepping into a new world. By gradually altering these sounds, I wanted listeners to feel a sense of movement and immersion, as though they’re journeying through the night alongside the music.
Percussive Textures: Subtle, rhythmic elements — like crisp hi-hats, atmospheric claps, and soft shakers — were layered with the main beat to create a sense of depth and space. These sounds are deliberately understated, adding an organic, almost heartbeat-like pulse that makes the track feel alive. I wanted listeners to feel a kind of grounding within the more ethereal elements, like walking through a bustling city with its mix of ambient noises and steady rhythms.
Bass and Lower Frequencies: The bassline is deep and resonant, providing the foundation but also adding an element of gravity, reflecting the introspective side of the track. I crafted the bass to not only be a rhythmic anchor but also to carry an emotional weight, encouraging listeners to feel connected to the track on a visceral level.
Dynamic Builds and Breakdowns: To mirror the highs and lows of a night out, I used dynamic builds and atmospheric breakdowns that ebb and flow throughout the track. These transitions allow the listener to experience moments of intensity and calm, emphasizing the duality of nightlife. This creates a journey-like feel, keeping the experience evolving and layered.
By exploring these soundscapes, I wanted listeners to feel both transported and introspective, like they’re navigating a living, breathing world. Each layer is designed to evoke different emotions and sensations, inviting listeners to explore both the external vibrance and the internal reflections of a night out. The hope is that as they delve into these layers, they’ll find their own journey within the music, moving between excitement, contemplation, and perhaps even a sense of revelation.
The story behind “Nights Out” seems deeply personal yet universal. Could you share any particular experiences or moments from your own life that inspired the mood and narrative of the track?
The mood and narrative of “Nights Out” are very much shaped by my own experiences of nightlife — moments that linger because they’re both beautiful and bittersweet. There are a few memories that inspired the track, moments where I felt that unique duality of connection and solitude within a crowd.
One experience that stands out is a night in New York City. I remember walking into a club, immediately caught in the pulse of the music and the collective energy of everyone around. There was this palpable excitement, almost electric, as if everyone was there to escape, to be something more, just for the night. But at some point, I remember stepping back, watching people dance, laugh, and lose themselves in the beat, and I felt this odd sense of isolation too — like we were all together, yet each person was alone in their own world. That mix of euphoria and melancholy in the crowd inspired the duality in “Nights Out.”
Another influence comes from nights spent in Miami. There’s an intensity to Miami nightlife, where the warm air, vibrant colors, and Latin influences make it feel like the city itself is alive. But with that energy also comes a certain wildness that can feel overwhelming. I remember one particular night, the feeling of wanting to keep going but also sensing that point where excitement tips into excess. Capturing that fine line, the sense of fun turning into something more introspective, is at the heart of “Nights Out.”
These experiences made me want to create a track that’s both a celebration and a reflection. Nightlife has that power to be an escape, a place where you find connection, but it can also bring you back to yourself in unexpected ways. In “Nights Out,” I hoped to express that duality — the thrill of being part of something big, balanced with the subtle, introspective moments that come when you’re left alone with your thoughts amid the music and the crowd.
The concept of venturing into the night brings up themes of unpredictability and adventure. How did you try to capture that feeling musically, and what elements did you use to represent the thrill and the unknown aspects of nightlife?
To capture the thrill and unpredictability of venturing into the night in “Nights Out,” I worked with musical elements that embody the sense of excitement and the unknown. Here’s how I approached it:
Driving Bassline and Dynamic Rhythm: A deep, pulsating bassline underpins the track, providing a sense of momentum and anticipation. This bass is paired with a steady, progressive beat that intensifies as the track unfolds, mimicking the feeling of stepping into a night filled with endless possibilities. By building the rhythm gradually, I wanted listeners to feel like they’re moving deeper into an adventure, with each beat pulling them further into the unknown.
Unexpected Sound Layers: Throughout the track, I included ambient and percussive textures that appear and fade unpredictably. These subtle sounds — like echoing claps, filtered synth stabs, and distant vocal effects — create a feeling of disorientation and mystery, like catching snippets of conversations or fleeting moments in a crowded room. They’re designed to keep listeners engaged, wondering what might come next, just as a night out is filled with unexpected encounters.
Dark Melodic Progressions: The melodies shift between uplifting and darker, more introspective tones, reflecting the unpredictable nature of nightlife. Using minor chords and haunting synths in some sections adds a shadowy element, hinting at the unknown and the potentially overwhelming aspects of the night. It’s like the track invites listeners to dance and get lost in the music but also reminds them that there’s an edge to the experience.
Swells and Breakdowns: Swelling synths and dynamic breakdowns play a huge role in capturing the highs and lows of an adventurous night. Just when the energy peaks, there’s a breakdown, bringing a moment of calm or suspense, like a pause before the next thrill. This ebb and flow adds to the feeling of unpredictability, allowing the track to breathe and create space for reflection before diving back into the rhythm.
Tension and Release: Using tension-building elements, like rising synth arpeggios and filtered effects, creates a sense of anticipation throughout the track. Each release after a build-up mirrors the release we feel when a beat drops or a moment of anticipation resolves, capturing that physical thrill of letting go on the dance floor.
These elements together are designed to give listeners the feeling of stepping into a vibrant, unpredictable night where anything could happen. It’s an invitation to experience the excitement, intensity, and mystery of nightlife — a journey through sounds that evoke both the freedom and uncertainty that make each night out an adventure in itself.
Urban nightlife is constantly evolving, especially with the rise of digital platforms and social changes. How do you see “Nights Out” fitting into the current nightlife culture, and what do you hope it adds to people’s experience of the night?
“Nights Out” is crafted to reflect both the timeless aspects of nightlife and the unique, modern shifts in how we experience it today. Urban nightlife is indeed evolving — with digital platforms, people now connect and explore music in more ways than ever, and nightlife culture is as much online as it is in physical spaces. Here’s how I see “Nights Out” fitting into this new landscape and what I hope it adds:
A Bridge Between Physical and Digital Experiences: “Nights Out” is designed to resonate with listeners whether they’re in a club, streaming from home, or experiencing nightlife in a digital setting. With the introspective layers, the track offers a versatile listening experience, capturing the energy of a crowded dance floor while still allowing for personal reflection, which aligns well with how people now blend online and in-person social experiences. It can serve as a soundtrack for those deep, connected moments on the dance floor or for quieter, solo experiences at home.
Adding Depth to the Nightlife Narrative: Current nightlife culture often revolves around quick thrills, fast beats, and sometimes, a superficial experience. With “Nights Out,” I wanted to bring a deeper, more reflective layer that encourages listeners to connect with their own emotions and thoughts as they experience the night. It adds a layer of narrative to nightlife, inviting listeners to look inward even while being part of a larger crowd.
A Journey Beyond Instant Gratification: In a time when instant gratification is everywhere, “Nights Out” takes a slower, progressive approach. It doesn’t hit hard and fast but builds gradually, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in the unfolding journey. This resonates with those who appreciate nightlife as a space for discovery and who want to experience a deeper, more gradual connection with the music and the night.
Universal Connection Across Borders: With nightlife becoming a global culture, especially via streaming and digital events, “Nights Out” speaks to an audience that spans across cities and continents. By drawing from the atmospheres of places like Miami and New York while focusing on universal emotions, the track connects with listeners around the world, tapping into that shared feeling of release, excitement, and introspection.
I hope “Nights Out” adds a sense of depth and timelessness to people’s experiences, reminding them that nightlife isn’t just about escape — it’s also about connection, reflection, and the journey within. Whether in a club or at home, I want listeners to feel that blend of euphoria and introspection, letting the track serve as a soundtrack for both the outer and inner experiences that nightlife brings.
What does releasing “Nights Out” on your own label mean to you, and how does it reflect your artistic vision for the future?
Releasing “Nights Out” on my own label is a deeply meaningful step, as it represents both creative freedom and a commitment to my artistic vision. Here’s why it matters to me and what it reflects about my path forward:
Creative Control: Having my own label gives me complete control over the music’s direction, from production to artwork and promotion. With “Nights Out,” I wanted to take listeners on a unique, introspective journey, and releasing it independently means I can ensure every detail aligns with that vision without external pressures to make it more commercial or fit a specific mold. It allows me to stay true to the story I want to tell.
A Platform for Artistic Integrity: Owning the label means I can prioritize quality and artistry over trends. In an industry that sometimes favors quick hits, I want my label to be a space for thoughtful, immersive music that resonates on a deeper level. “Nights Out” sets the tone for this by blending progressive house with introspective layers, showcasing a sound that’s not about instant gratification but about depth and storytelling.
Building a Unique Musical Community: I envision the label as a space for cultivating a community of listeners and artists who value the same approach to music. By releasing tracks that explore complex themes and emotions, I hope to connect with others who appreciate the transformative potential of music, especially within the context of nightlife. It’s about creating a shared experience, a sanctuary where people can connect over music that goes beyond just the surface.
Future Vision and Artistic Evolution: Releasing on my own label allows me to experiment and evolve freely, which is crucial for my growth as an artist. With “Nights Out” as a foundation, I plan to explore new soundscapes, themes, and stories that push boundaries, drawing from both personal experience and universal emotions. The label gives me a platform to shape a cohesive narrative for my music, paving the way for a journey that’s both personal and expansive.
In essence, this release is a declaration of independence and a commitment to a long-term vision that values authenticity, depth, and connection. It marks the beginning of a journey where I can explore, evolve, and invite listeners to join in an experience that’s as much about the music as it is about the emotions and stories behind it.
LISTEN
https://www.symphonicms.com/album/view/id/4a0a08271414da395d101fa8c673aa65
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