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Can U Put Me On Guestlist?Author: Katie Knight
As the dance music industry grows and grows, Katie digs deep into the lives of DJs, producers, managers, tour managers, publicists, club owners, label managers, promoters... (basically all of the people who get asked for guestlist) to find out how they started out, challenges theyve come across, achievements, opinions, goals and, of course, all of the exciting stories that theyve made along the way... And there's definitely some good ones out there. This podcast is powered by Trackstack. Language: en-gb Genres: Music, Music Interviews Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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AZYR: The rise of hard techno
Episode 1
Monday, 15 December, 2025
In this episode, I sit down with fast-rising hard techno DJ and producer AZYR to unpack one of the most unexpected breakout stories in electronic music - from training as an engineer at Rolls-Royce to selling out all-night-long shows and playing a Boiler Room set watched by millions.We go from underground Teletech parties and getting a call on the day to play, to quitting a “safe” career and touring Australia and South America as hard techno explodes worldwide.In this episode, we get into:Training as an engineer at Rolls-Royce and why he never planned to be a DJLearning to DJ and produce from scratch during COVID, with zero musical backgroundDiscovering hard techno through Teletech and early underground partiesGetting a call on the day to play Teletech after another artist dropped outBeing signed to an agency the same day he played one of his first major showsWhy being thrown in the deep end helped him avoid overthinking big momentsPlaying Boiler Room - the nerves, the pressure, and watching it back weeks laterThe rise of hard techno and why the crowds feel different right nowTikTok’s role in making hard techno explode, even though he barely uses the appNo-phone shows vs viral culture and why presence still mattersSelling out a 6,500-capacity all-night-long show in ManchesterQuitting his full-time job and choosing a world tour over a safe careerTouring Australia and South America, and why global crowds connect so deeplyHow he’s built a loyal community by staying accessible and authenticDealing with online criticism without letting it affect his confidenceWhy producing music is harder now than ever, and his plans for an albumThe strangest fan gift he’s ever receivedHis guestlist rules, and why energy matters more than numbersSponsors - a huge thank you for supporting the showTrackstackTrackstack is the all-in-one platform built for music creators. Send and receive promos, manage demos, discover open label inboxes, and create social-ready promo videos with Trackstack Showcase.Use code CUPMOG for 10% off for lifemy.trackstack.appLabelWorxDistribution, royalty management, promo tools, and insights built by people who live and breathe dance music. If you are growing a label or releasing music, LabelWorx gives you the system to scale.labelworx.comSounds AustraliaHuge thanks to Sounds Australia for hosting us in Amsterdam. They support Australian artists at the world’s biggest showcases, festivals, and conferences, helping them reach new audiences worldwide.soundsaustralia.com.auWow CacaoMade from rescued cacao pulp, Wow Cacao is a refreshing, vitamin-rich drink packed with natural electrolytes and antioxidants. Ideal for wellness lovers, post-party recovery, or swapping alcohol for something that actually feels good.
