Hailing from Liverpool, AMOS & RIOT NIGHT, aka David McClelland, has cemented his place in the global trance scene with his signature uplifting and high-energy sound. Inspired by legends such as Paul van Dyk, Aly & Fila, and Sean Tyas, David's productions have seen him release on top-tier labels including Future Sound of Egypt, Vandit, Subculture, Regenerate, Nocturnal Knights, Pure Trance, Armada, Afterdark, Deep In Thought, VII, and High Voltage. His collaborations and remixes for industry icons such as Paul van Dyk, Sean Tyas, and Ciaran McAuley further highlight his status as a leading name in the genre. With an ever-growing catalogue of dancefloor anthems, AMOS & RIOT NIGHT has achieved five Beatport Trance Top 10 hits - two of which reached the Top 5 - solidifying his reputation as a powerhouse producer. His music has been championed by the biggest names in the scene, including Armin van Buuren, Aly & Fila, Paul van Dyk, Sean Tyas, John O'Callaghan, John Askew, and Giuseppe Ottaviani. In 2024, he collaborated with Paul van Dyk & Matt Noland on Shine Together Now, further demonstrating his ability to craft top-tier trance anthems.
As a DJ, David has taken his sound worldwide, making his Argentina debut in 2022 and playing at some of the most renowned events in the Trance circuit. In 2023, he performed at the Shine Ibiza closing party after Paul van Dyk— a career-defining moment that showcased his ability to captivate crowds on the biggest stages. 2024 marked another landmark year with his debut at Luminosity Beach Festival, adding to an impressive résumé that includes performances at Trance Sanctuary, Gatecrasher, LA's Intricacy, and Evolution Events in Liverpool.
With four new releases planned for 2026, demand for AMOS & RIOT NIGHT is rising— not only as an artist and writer but also for his production skills, which set him apart. What truly distinguishes David is his creative base: a dedicated studio space in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Set within a 140-year-old former blacksmith's workshop, the studio combines cutting-edge analog equipment with breathtaking views of the Aberdeenshire countryside. Currently undergoing a full refurbishment, the space is being transformed with world-class acoustic design by the same team who recently completed work at Abbey Road Studios. This fusion of heritage, innovation, and elite craftsmanship ensures that every production resonates with unparalleled depth and clarity, making the studio itself a defining part of David's artistry.
In 2025, David also joined Strategia Management, marking a new chapter in his professional journey. As part of his team growth, this partnership strengthens his global positioning and ensures his continued rise as both a producer and performer.
As his journey unfolds, one thing is certain —AMOS & RIOT NIGHT's impact on the global Trance scene is only getting stronger.
In the ever-evolving world of Trance music, few artists have carved as distinct a path as AMOS & RIOT NIGHT, the alias of Liverpool-born producer and DJ David McClelland. From his early fascination with the euphoric sounds of Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, and Ferry Corsten, to releasing tracks on industry-leading labels like Future Sound of Egypt and Pure Trance, David’s journey is a testament to his passion and perseverance. With chart-topping releases, collaborations with icons like Paul van Dyk and Sean Tyas, and performances at prestigious events including Luminosity Beach Festival and Shine Ibiza, AMOS & RIOT NIGHT has become a recognized force in the global Trance scene. In this exclusive interview, David reflects on his beginnings, creative process, industry perspectives, and the milestones that continue to define his career.
Let's start with your journey into the world of electronic dance music. Understanding your roots and early influences helps us connect with the artist behind the sound.
Dimitris: How did your journey into the electronic dance music (EDM) scene begin, and what were the key influences that shaped your style?
Amos & Riot Night: So yeah, I've been involved in Trance now for the best part of 15 years, but much more seriously within the last decade, I would say. Back when I started, Trance was very much a dominant force on the UK charts from classic tracks from the likes of Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, and Mauro Picotto. These were the sounds that I would say introduced me to what I later discovered to be Trance; however, it wasn't until around 2008/09 that I properly discovered that it was.
Around that time, I'd picked up a Trance Nation compilation from Ministry of Sound and then discovered many more artists. By around 2010/11, I was really getting into Armin van Buuren's tracks from around that era; his Mirage album was released, and then I found other artists through him who'd either released via Armada or whose tracks had been played on ASOT. Near enough everyone I'd found through him: Sean Tyas, Aly & Fila, John O'Callaghan, Simon Patterson, John Askew, Daniel Kandi, to name but a few. As I got more into the scene, I then slowly began connecting with many other producers/DJs around 2012/13. As I started going to events, I then got to know near enough everyone who I know now. Over a decade later, and I'm still here.
Dimitris: How has your understanding of the electronic music culture changed from when you started to where you are now?
Amos & Riot Night: There has definitely been a shift, but more so in the way it's being consumed now, which consequently has had a direct impact on the music being produced. My overall observations are that music is being made squarely to get reactions on social media, whereas to me, the music should absolutely come first and foremost.
Yes, social media is important in order to ensure your music reaches a much broader audience. But it shouldn't be at the detriment of the music quality. Nor should I feel the music be only made just to get online reactions.
Dimitris: Which piece of music equipment or software can you not live without, and why?
Amos & Riot Night: I have to say since it's been released this year, the Arturia JUP8000V has been a staple within my productions this year. Not many have been able to truly replicate that specific tone of the original JP8000, the synth that many consider as the 'holy grail' of Trance. After all, many iconic records were produced using this very synth, so now to have a very faithful replica of it in software form is nothing short of incredible.
Dimitris: Could you please elaborate on the inspiration behind Thoughts that is your collaboration with TheMina out now on FSOE? How does it align with your current artistic aspirations?
Amos & Riot Night: I'd been a huge fan previously of Fady & Mina's prior work when they were very prolific within the scene. I deeply admired their storytelling quality to Trance and I felt that this style of Trance had been missing for such a long time within recent years.
Me & Mina had toured together years ago and we performed on the same lineup for Have Faith In Trance back in 2017. We've remained in contact since, but I know that Mina had a lot of personal issues that he'd been dealing with for a good while. We then got back in contact again after he'd released a solo single in 2023 called 'Genesis' and we had talked about working on something together.
It wasn't until this year that we actually got to work on something. I'd written the initial melody back in March, but then my personal life got turned upside down, and I'll be honest, this year has been a real struggle. Through it all, music is the one thing that has kept me going, and I knew that melody could make a real impact and even more so, it was meant to be for this.
When Mina then started working on the production for it and then sent me the first demo, straightaway I knew it would be a biggie. We went back and forth on it for a few weeks before I'd then played it in LA in May. It got a big reaction then, but we made some slight tweaks before finalising it completely. A month later, Fadi was headlining at Luminosity Beach Festival, so we'd sent the track over to him the day before his set. He was all over it, and he's been hammering it nearly every set since June! Every single time it's been played out, the response to this has been incredible, and even when I've been there when Fadi's played it out, it's overwhelming.
Dimitris: How do you stay motivated and creatively inspired amidst the fast-paced nature of the EDM scene?
Amos & Riot Night: I think for me, it's important to at least have a steady flow of releases, so I do plan for around 6-8 a year, give or take. I may not always be working on anything at a given point in time, nor can I really force anything out. That said, there may be tracks that I may have started a long time before but never got around to finishing for whatever reason or another. I may find some gold in the rubble of unfinished projects, and it could turn out to be a biggie. This has definitely been the case for me over the years.
Dimitris: What are your future plans in terms of new releases, collaborations, or live performances?
Amos & Riot Night: There's a lot incoming as we speak, as I have 4 releases already locked in for 2026. I'll be kicking off the new year with a huge collab on Pure Trance Neon with 2 of Poland's most exciting trance artists. Then, I'm back on Nocturnal Knights in February with a rather twisted vocal tech number.
There are also 2 more coming from me on FSOE in 2026, including a track with 0Gravity, with whom I'll be going B2B at Trance Sanctuary in March in the main room at HERE @ Outernet in London. That venue is absolutely insane, and to be gracing the main room with my home label with my good mates is such an honour. We're actually planning some new exclusive material for that set, so watch this space!
I'm currently wrapping up a project with Adam Ellis right now that I'm pretty excited about, and I need to wrap up a project with Hugh Tolland that's been long overdue in the making - 9 years to be specific.
Amos & Riot Night: Watch this space as there may be some of these happening!!! Can't say too much, but I'm making some plans for big projects! Don't want to jinx anything.
Dimitris: What role do you think AI technology plays in the future of electronic music production, and have you experimented with it?
Amos & Riot Night: Personally, it's not something I've really explored within my own projects, and if I'm honest, it's not something I'm overly keen on. Music to me is one art form that should remain as human as possible, especially if something so personal has inspired what I've written. Plus, I've got a lot of skills as a musician anyway, with years of performing and practicing that I don't really feel I need to engage with it creatively. It could help for some starter points, but that's as far as it goes.
Dimitris: What inspired you to transition from producing to DJing, or did both passions develop simultaneously?
Amos & Riot Night: Yeah, both really came around at the same time, though production slightly earlier. I always wanted to make my own music as I was purely fascinated by synths in particular. I heard many brilliant tracks over the years and always thought, 'if these guys can make music like that, so can I'. DJing was purely a means of being able to perform these records live without going all out for a full live setup. It also gave me the chance to play out other records that I deeply admire as well. Over a decade later, and I'm still at it!
Dimitris: How do you handle unexpected challenges during a live set, such as equipment malfunctions or shifts in crowd energy?
Amos & Riot Night: Argh, this actually happened to me earlier this year in May while I was performing in LA. Tara Louise was performing live alongside me; she'd just finished her second song, and I was about to mix into the final song of her live set. The power completely cut out on the main sound system - no idea what happened, but the decks were still playing.
Luckily, Tara hadn't started singing her final song of her set, so that would have been really awkward if the sound cut out while she was performing! So I'd said to Tara in the moment, ‘ just wait until the sound's back on,’ which thankfully didn't take long; then we just started at the same point where we'd left off. Thankfully, everything went all fine from there.
Dimitris: Which mixing style do you prefer—long transitions, quick cuts, harmonic mixing, or another technique? How do you decide which style suits a particular set?
Amos & Riot Night: Honestly, it depends on not only the set and the audience but also the types of tracks I'm playing out in that moment. For harder, tech-based tracks, I tend to opt for more quick mixing just to keep things as interesting as possible. It can be quick mixing when I'm playing out some melodic stuff, but it depends on the energy levels of each record for me to decide.
Dimitris: Reflecting on your career, what has been your most memorable DJ set and what made it stand out for you personally?
Amos & Riot Night: Of this year, I would probably have to say my return to LA back in May. It had been 6 years since I was last out there, and a lot happened for me personally that at this point, it felt like the right time. V
Dimitris: Have you ever been inspired or influenced by another DJ’s set that left a lasting impact on your approach to performances? If so, could you share that experience?
Amos & Riot Night: I wouldn't say whether or not that particular set influenced how I perform per se, but it was a pivotal set in my journey within Trance. That set being Activa & Jon O'Bir's open to close in Glasgow back in 2017. That to me is an absolute masterclass. Track selection was absolutely perfect, mixing was flawless, and it was a real journey from start to end going through many different cycles.
Amos & Riot Night: Near enough every one of my sets always features my own productions. But it's always a case of which ones to play when I'm out. Often, I may save some exclusives for bigger shows, and I would often dig out some of my past tracks that I've not played for years. It just depends on my audience and how they respond.
Dimitris: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey, insights, and experiences with us. Your thoughtful responses will surely inspire and resonate with fans and fellow artists alike. We truly appreciate your contribution to the electronic music community and look forward to witnessing your continued success!
From his early days of collecting Trance compilations to achieving international recognition, AMOS & RIOT NIGHT’s journey captures the heart of electronic music culture. In our conversation, he shared how his style was shaped by the legends of Trance, the importance of keeping music authentic in the era of social media, and how collaborations like Thoughts with TheMina are both personal and impactful. He also offered insight into navigating live performance challenges, staying motivated creatively, and his plans for an exciting 2026 with multiple releases and high-profile performances. As David continues to evolve his sound and expand his global presence, his commitment to meaningful, human-driven music ensures that his influence on the Trance scene will only grow stronger.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to David for taking the time to answer this interview.
I also want to thank Stuart at FSOE for organizing this interview.
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