Interview: Rules discusses his studio process ahead of new single release

Originally from Derby and now based in London, UK, Rules is a multi-talented artist, producer, and DJ who plays multiple instruments. His unique sound combines electronic production and warm synths with organic keys and saxophone.

His production skills and overall musical endeavour has led to opportunities working with the likes of Michael Calfan, Elderbrook, The XX, James Carter and Sammy Porter. He’s recently launched into a solo career which has led to worldwide acclaim and a new audience for his lush, musical deep house which is perfect for Ibiza sunsets. Ahead of his new single “Call on Me” (Some Other Records) we caught up with the enigmatic and talented producer..

Check out “Call On Me” below

1. Hi Rules, can you start by introducing yourself and your music to our audience

I’m a dance music producer from the midlands, UK. I like to mix classic, deep house & disco with warm organic textures & sounds.

2. You’ve worked with a number of well established and respected artists as a producer/ instrumentalist. You must spend a lot of time in studios.. Did you always want to release your own music or is that just something that happened naturally?

I’ve always had a major love for house music but I feel like it took me some time to work out exactly what I wanted to do, and after working with a range of producers and artists on other projects that time allowed me to absorb a lot of different music and opened up a world of sound for me to create with. Without being cliche I love music that has a deep emotional or nostalgic connection, everyone has their favourite tracks that immediately uplift you and make you feel something, and I believe dance music can bring everyone into that same moment together and that’s where I ended up landing with Rules.

4. Talk to us a little about Call on Me.. What was the process for the track?

Call On Me is such an uplifting, feel good record but I feel like it came out of the opposite circumstances. You would have thought I had produced that track on a warm summers day in a brightly lit room but I was in fact working in a very dark studio in London with black walls and no windows at the time. I think it was my subconscious channeling where I wanted to be at that moment which resulted in it being such a bright and warm record. I wrote and recorded it with my friend and vocalist Poppy Baskcomb and the initial hook came together very quickly, so it was working outwards from that.

5. We absolutely adore the saxophone solo on the breakdown! Is this sort of thing a consistent theme in your productions?

The original version didn’t actually have any saxophone recorded on it. It was a keys part that was playing that line, I added it later on in the studio and it just fit so well against the the track’s vibe. Saxophone is one of those instruments that you can really make sing and uplift a song and not being a singer myself I feel like it’s a big part of my voice as an artist so I like to use it for that really.

5. What can we expect from you this summer, any shows or exciting announcements?

I’ve got a live show in the works which I’m currently working towards. I had a couple of big DJ shows last year performing at Printworks in London and in Yonge-Dundas square in Toronto supporting Deadmau5. Off the back of those sets I’ve really been wanting to build my DJ set out into more of a live show where I can incorporate keys, piano, saxophone etc as I feel like those parts are so integral to my sound and would make for such a more exciting show. I will have some dates to announce soon so stay tuned!
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