Flux BPM Online

SKYDA:I grew up in the 1990s, during what many would consider the golden era of trance and dance music. From a very young age, I would go to roller discos and spend most of my time standing by the DJ booth, fascinated by the music. Those big Ibiza classics from that era were definitely my earliest inspiration.

As I got older, I became heavily influenced by the big-room and progressive house sound of around 2010–2015, particularly artists such as Swedish House Mafia, Avicii and Kryder, while still maintaining my love for trance.

I started producing music around 2017, by which point I was especially drawn to the progressive trance and “Trance 2.0” sound being released by labels such as Enhanced and Anjunabeats. I’m still very passionate about that style today and try to keep elements of that sound alive in my own productions.

SKYDA: Perseverance is probably the value that reflects most strongly in both my life and my music. I’ve been producing for a long time, and there have naturally been plenty of setbacks, doubts and periods where progress felt slow, but I’ve always believed in continuing to improve and trusting the process.

I also try to stay true to the music I genuinely love rather than simply following whatever is popular at the time. For me, music should create a real emotional connection and take the listener on a journey. That sense of emotion, optimism and determination is something I always try to bring into my productions.

SKYDA: When I first became interested in electronic music, I mainly saw it from a fan’s perspective -the tracks, the DJs, the clubs and the excitement surrounding it all. Since becoming a producer, I’ve gained a much greater appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes.

I now understand how much patience, consistency and collaboration are involved, from the artists and labels to the DJs, promoters, radio hosts and listeners who support the music. I’ve also realised how important genuine relationships and community are within the scene. It can be a competitive industry, but there are also many people who genuinely want to support each other and help good music reach a wider audience.

More than anything, I’ve learned that progress rarely happens overnight. Building a career and developing your own sound takes time, so it is important to enjoy the journey and appreciate each milestone along the way.

SKYDA: This may be a bit of a boring answer but I would have to say by DAW - Ableton Live is the one piece of software I could not live without. It is what I use to create all of my music, and it is the only DAW I have ever worked with, so over the years it has become a completely natural part of my creative process.

SKYDA: One of the most unforgettable moments was at my first gig. Around ten minutes before I was due to play, I discovered that all of my cue points had disappeared. I had to quickly go through my tracks and recreate as many as possible on the fly before starting my set.

It was definitely not the calm introduction to DJing that I had imagined, but once I started playing, everything went smoothly. Looking back, it was a valuable lesson in staying composed, adapting quickly and always being prepared for something unexpected to happen.

SKYDA: The track stays very true to the music I genuinely love. It carries a lot of the progressive trance and “Trance 2.0” influence that first inspired me to produce, even though that sound is not necessarily at the forefront of current trends.

It was heavily inspired by some of my favourite tracks and artists from that era. At the same time, I wanted to take those influences and express them in a way that still felt personal rather than simply recreating the past.

Artistically, my aim is to continue developing a sound that feels authentic to me, and this track is probably the strongest reflection of that so far. Out of everything I have produced, it feels the most like “me.

SKYDA: I currently have four tracks in the pipeline at various stages of development. They are all influenced by the music I am listening to most at the moment, particularly releases from labels such as FSOE Argento, Euphonic, Enhanced and Anjunabeats.

I generally try to take inspiration from current tracks and production styles while still adding my own identity and ensuring the end result feels true to my sound.

SKYDA: My approach has evolved massively over the years. For the first few years, I was mainly experimenting, going around in circles and making a lot of tracks that were not particularly good. I then found a few well-structured production courses, which helped me move up a level.

Looking back, I probably followed advice and production “rules” a little too closely at times, which may have held me back creatively. It can also be difficult because you often hear trusted producers giving completely different advice on how to achieve the same result. I think the only real solution is to try different approaches and discover what works best for you.

I spent a long time figuring that out, and I am probably still doing so to some extent. However, I now feel that I have developed my own process. Some parts are techniques I have learned and continue to follow closely because they consistently work for me, while others are methods I have adapted and developed for myself.

More than anything, I now try to focus on enjoying the process and not placing as much pressure on myself as I used to. That can still be difficult because I am very invested in progressing and succeeding, but I have learned that the best results usually come when I am enjoying what I am creating..

SKYDA: One of the biggest challenges I face is maintaining an objective perspective. Whether I am producing or mixing, listening to the same section repeatedly can really affect my judgement. Even if you listen to a track by one of your favourite artists over and over again, you will eventually become tired of it, and that effect can be even stronger with your own music.

For me, the key is to try to finish tracks within a reasonable timeframe before I become overly critical or start to dislike them. I also take regular breaks and switch between multiple projects, which gives my ears and mind a rest from a particular track. When I return to it with a fresh perspective, it is usually much easier to identify what is working and what still needs improving.

SKYDA: For me, staying motivated comes down to having a routine and sticking to it. I get up in the early hours and do my music production before work because I know that is when I am at my most focused and productive. Making that time part of my daily routine helps me remain consistent.

Staying creatively inspired comes quite naturally to me. I simply listen to the music I love, whether that is current stuff or older stuff. That usually gives me the excitement and motivation to get back into the studio and create something of my own.

SKYDA: The main aim is to keep building momentum and releasing more music that feels genuinely true to me. I have several tracks in progress at the moment, so I would love to see those find the right homes and continue developing my sound with each release. I would also like to play more gigs and gradually build that side of things alongside producing. I am ambitious and would love to reach bigger labels and stages in the future, but I am also trying to focus on taking things one step at a time, improving with every track and enjoying the progress as it comes.

SKYDA: For me right now, the focus is all about production. I feel it is important to consistently get music signed by respected labels so I can become more established within the scene. Hopefully, if that side of things continues to go well, opportunities for collaborations and live performances will come naturally from it.

SKYDA: I mean, you would always love to collaborate with your heroes, wouldn’t you? But honestly, it is not something I have given a great deal of thought to yet. I am quite tunnel-visioned at the moment and mainly focused on improving my own production skills and getting to where I want to be as an artist.

SKYDA: Reluctantly, if I’m honest! I do think it is important to stay modern, but not at the expense of losing your own identity. Stylistically, I probably lean more towards the older progressive trance sound, especially with the scene moving away from Trance 2.0 and towards more melodic and techno-influenced styles.

For me, it is really about finding a balance between staying true to the music I love and bringing in enough modern production ideas to make sure it still feels current

SKYDA: Honestly, I feel like the journey has only just begun. I am grateful for everyone who has supported the music so far, and I am excited to keep improving, releasing more tracks and seeing where it all leads.

SKYDA: I think the electronic music industry is in a really interesting place. There is so much music being released and technology has made it easier than ever for artists to create and share their work.

At the same time, I do think there can be too much focus on following whatever sound is currently popular. Trends will always be part of music, but I would like to see more artists feel confident enough to develop their own identity rather than feeling pressured to fit into a particular style.

For me, the most exciting music usually comes from artists who take inspiration from what is happening now but still put something personal into it. I think the scene will always keep evolving, and hopefully there will continue to be space for a wider range of sounds within it.

SKYDA: I think AI will eventually become capable of producing genuinely incredible tracks, which is slightly worrying! It is developing so quickly that it may well affect my day job in the future, never mind music production.

That said, I would like to think fans will always value music made by real people, particularly in more niche scenes like ours where listeners tend to care about the artist, the story and the emotion behind a track.

I have used tools that incorporate AI, such as Ozone for mixing and mastering, and I have definitely used ChatGPT for troubleshooting and general production advice. That is about as far as I have gone with it so far. I did once ask it to create a chord progression, but it was terrible.

SKYDA: I think streaming is brilliant for listeners because it gives people instant access to almost any music they want, and it can definitely help artists reach a much wider audience.

From an artist’s point of view, though, the payment side is obviously a problem. The amount artists earn per stream is incredibly low, especially once everyone involved has taken their share. So while streaming is great for discovery and exposure, I am not sure it is especially beneficial financially unless you are generating huge numbers.

SKYDA: They were really important for me in the early stages, although I think it depends a lot on the person, how naturally musical they are and how they prefer to learn.

I have done quite a few courses over the years, starting with Toolroom Academy, as well as full track walkthroughs from producers such as Rodg and Jaytech, which I found really useful. I also did a Bass Kleph course early on that helped me a lot at the time.

More recently, I have moved towards direct mentoring with more experienced producers. I find that really valuable now because the feedback is specific to my own music and helps me identify the areas I need to improve to bridge that final gap.

SKYDA: Honestly, it mainly means getting a little less sleep! I get up early and do around two hours of production before work every weekday, then usually around four hours each morning at the weekend. I stick to that routine pretty religiously whenever possible.

Doing it early in the morning means I can stay consistent with music without it taking over the rest of my work or personal life.

SKYDA: Have a plan, create some structure and build a routine that you can realistically stick to. Progress can feel very slow at times, so consistency is probably the most important thing. Keep learning, keep making music and never give up.