Shilla’s “Rewind” Comes Full Circle After an ARC Festival Moment

For Shilla, the entire concept of the track came from hearing the word “Rewind” and immediately connecting it to a feeling. The idea of a backspin, returning to a previous moment, or revisiting a certain vibe felt natural from the beginning. What started as a heavier club-focused record slowly evolved into something more dynamic, allowing the same vocal to exist in two completely different worlds: one built for the dancefloor and another built around emotion and nostalgia. That contrast ultimately became the identity of the track.

At its core, “Rewind” is a club tune. The drums, groove, and overall structure are designed to move people. But one of the most important moments in the record isn't the drop, it's what happens before it. While building the track, Shilla felt it needed something more cinematic, leading to the creation of a second break designed to slow things down emotionally before launching back into the club energy. Because the vocal naturally fit both moods, the transition never felt forced. Instead, it became the moment that tied the entire record together.

The story behind “Rewind” goes much deeper than the production itself. ARC Music Festival was the first festival Shilla ever attended. More than just a weekend of music, it was the experience that pushed him toward DJing and music production in the first place. Even today, he describes ARC as his yearly dose of research, a place where he studies the culture, the music, and the direction dance music is heading. Three years later, he found himself hearing Fisher play “Rewind” on the festival's Mainstage, creating a full-circle moment that connected the event that inspired his journey with the music he was now creating himself.

His path into electronic music started unexpectedly. Out of boredom, he decided to visit Brooklyn Mirage and ended up seeing Hardwell, an artist he used to listen to during middle school. What surprised him wasn't just the music, but how much electronic music had evolved since he last paid attention to it. The production, the energy, and the scale of the experience completely changed his perspective. Soon after, experiences like seeing John Summit at a pop-up event and attending ARC Music Festival convinced him that house music was where he belonged.

Among today's artists, Max Styler stands as his biggest influence. Watching his rapid rise through releases on Experts Only and Realm didn't just inspire him, it completely changed how he thought about electronic music. According to Shilla, it "broke his mind" in terms of what dance music could sound like and expanded the possibilities he saw for his own productions. That influence can be heard throughout a sound he describes in three words: dark, rhythmic, and cinematic.

Live performance remains one of the most important parts of the project. Rather than relying solely on track selection, Shilla focuses on taking listeners through a journey. Energy, flow, movement, and crowd interaction all play a role. He believes that being just as excited as the audience matters, and that dancing behind the decks, throwing your hands up, and fully engaging with the moment helps create a stronger connection between artist and crowd.

While ARC shaped his development as an artist, Lightning in a Bottle remains his dream festival. For him, the event represents everything he loves about dance music culture: the spirit of PLUR, immersive experiences, and the freedom it gives people to express themselves however they choose.

Looking ahead, Shilla has a steady stream of self-releases and label releases planned throughout the year. He has been intentionally building momentum, preparing music for labels run by some of his absolute heroes while also working on fresh reinterpretations of iconic dance records. The goal is to bring a personal perspective to familiar tracks while continuing to drive energy on the dancefloor.

“Rewind” serves two purposes. On the surface, it's a club record designed to create movement, energy, and those instinctive bass-face reactions. But underneath that energy is something else: a moment of nostalgia, emotion, and release. More broadly, it reflects the mission behind the entire Shilla project. He wants his music to serve as an approachable introduction to tech house, but not the final destination. The goal is to bring people in through accessible grooves and then gradually guide them deeper into the underground sounds that continue to inspire him.

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