In this interview, we dive into the creative world of Darby, the rapidly rising Australian producer whose freshly pressed EP, ‘Party’, blends innovative rhythms with emotional depth. Released on November 1st under the esteemed NIGHTMODE label, Darby brings a fresh mix of bass-infused house beats paired with powerful vocal arrangements.
The EP, featuring tracks like “TRUST (feat. Britt Lari),” “PARTY (w/ OOTORO),” “FLOW,” and “AUTOPILOT (feat. ÊMIA),” mirrors his growth as a DJ and artist, capturing the highs and reflective depths of the club scene. Known for his genre-bending sound that bridges UKG, Garage, Breaks, House, and more, Darby offers a unique lens into club dynamics, from spontaneous euphoria to introspective moments. With support from icons like Skrillex, Disclosure, and ODESZA, Darby is on an exciting path, bringing both energy and soul to the electronic scene.
“The EP a psychoanalysis of the club context, a lot of club music is fairly surface level but I wanted to go deeper and study the characters, the emotions and the energy that’s generated in that space. Imagine a night out that starts off as spontaneous distraction from the real world but ends in a blur that leaves you contemplating your life decisions:” – Darby
Do you see the ‘Party’ EP as part of your overall growth as an artist? What key moments in your life inspired its themes?
Definitely. The Party EP reflects how I’ve evolved not just as a DJ but as someone who understands the deeper emotional side of nightlife. Slowly discovering there’s more to these clubbing experiences than just a sweaty room full of people. There’s characters, there’s some deep repressed emotions, there’s a ton of chaotic energy, it’s all super interesting.
Out of the tracks “TRUST,” “PARTY,” “FLOW,” and “AUTOPILOT,” let’s talk a personal favorite with “FLOW.” What makes “FLOW” special to you?
“FLOW” has this euphoric, gritty energy that embodies the push and pull of a night out. I wrote it while in a creative “Flow State” : no distractions, no collaborators, just a super strong passion for the music I was hearing. It’s a very raw track for that reason, I think it’s a super clean production.
What types of production sounds or effects did you go for to make this EP stand out and feel different?
My best tracks always have these memorable hooks, so it was important to create strong bits of tension and release. Enduring risers and filters create such a moment in a live context for those big payoff moments to hit as hard as possible. My drum work has improved tremendously too, I became a lot more conscious of my drum selection.
What genres did you grow up on in terms of music?
Pop and Rock mainly, I discovered electronic music later in 2015 so my inspirations have definitely been built from all those unique foundations.
What story do you want listeners to go through, and how do the tracks move the listener through that journey?
I want listeners to use this music as a fun escape, but also a moment of introspection and self-reflection. The tracklist guides them from a high-energy, euphoric start of the night to a quieter, more contemplative end. It’s exactly how a lot of my nights go, especially in this world of nonstop clubs and shows and dancing and wild emotions.
Tell us about the moment when you received support from Skrillex or got the chance to remix Odesza, how did it feel receiving that news?
Both were pretty surreal. Like a lot of fans I’ve been listening to Skrillex and ODESZA since high school, so to wake up one day and see them acknowledging my production skills was wild. It felt like my journey from a casual hobby to a serious career was validated by those supports from people I’ve looked up to for years.
What’s coming up next for you? Any exciting new projects or plans on the horizon?
I’m keen to play more shows after wrapping up my Australia tour and I already have my first few festivals locked in for 2025. My next era of music is already being created and it’s a step above what I’ve done before. I’m always pushing myself creatively, I dislike getting comfortable. I want music to be a challenge and to keep testing my limits to see just how far I can go.
Keep the Darby party going all day long with his recently release Triple J Mixup and forward-thinking bitbird release, ‘Crush’.
