EDX Talks New Single "Ecletric" and Livestreaming

With his latest tune “Ecletric” due out for release soon, EDX swung by to discuss the single, the future of No Xcuses, and plenty more.

Since first breaking onto the scene, EDX has become renowned for delivering some of the best releases to speakers around the world. Known for his unique style that marries the worlds of deep, progressive, and electro house, he continues to captivate listeners with surreal sets that whisk them away to a sunsoaked dreamworld of his creation.

Just because shows were put on pause last year doesn’t mean that EDX stopped churning out these serene soundscapes. Back in September, he dropped “Indian Summer,” an aptly titled track for anyone familiar with his remixes that bear the same name. He further added to the mix by taking the stage to play some live streams while everyone was stuck in the pandemic and even found a way to celebrate the milestone 500th Episode of No Xcuses in style as well.

Now, EDX has done it again with a fresh tune dubbed “Ecletric” that’s officially due out on April 23 via his label, PinkStar. Perfect for those days spent by the pool while basking in the sun and dancing away with your friends, the stunning synths, euphoric tones, and growing bassline will make you feel ready for the spring season.

Looking to gain some extra insight into this new track and more, we caught up with EDX ahead of the release date and secured an exclusive listen. Check it out below, pre-save “Ecletric” now, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Stream EDX – Ecletric on SoundCloud:

Let’s kick things off by exploring your brand new single “Ecletric”, which is out tomorrow on PinkStar Records. Can you tell us a bit about the single and the creative process behind making it?

It’s been a while since I’ve released some brand new EDX music, so I wanted to mix it up and do something a little bit different. The last record I put out was “Indian Summer,” which was the lead single for my EDX No Xcuses 500 stream back in September, and a couple of other vocal records earlier in 2020.

Slowly but surely, we are seeing the nightlife scene in some parts of the world start to open again, so I thought now would be a great time to release a new club record, made for the dancefloor. I wanted to explore some of the more progressive influences and signature sounds of my earlier career and bring them up to date and relevant to fans in 2021. I’m super happy with how “Ecletric” has turned out and I can’t wait for you guys to check it out.

In the midst of the pandemic, you released “Indian Summer.” What was the writing process like on that one, and did the pandemic have any relation to its production?

During the pandemic, most of us had a lot of spare time to work on new music and reflect on how we want to deliver music to fans when the world returns to some degree of normality. I slowed down on making club records, like I mentioned, and focused on making some radio-friendly singles which will be released some time in the future.

“Indian Summer” is a really chilled house music record that I made to fall in between the sexy, upbeat summer singles that I’ve become known for, and the darker records I make for the clubs. I don’t think the pandemic has changed my production style at all, but it has certainly made me think about the type of records I want to put out, and at what time. It didn’t seem right to release a big club banger while the world was in lockdown, so “Indian Summer” was tailor-made much more for home listening.

As an artist who has played at countless festivals and nightclubs around the world, what was your experience like making the transition to livestreaming last year? Was your approach to the sets different because of the lack of an in-person audience?

I was always slightly reluctant about the whole live-streaming thing, but when it became clear that clubs were going to be closed for the foreseeable future, I realised we needed a way to reach the EDX and Sirup fanbase in a more interactive way. We installed a DJ booth / livestream set up in the Sirup Music offices and started our Monday Sessions, where artists could just drop by and we would broadcast their sets, on the fly, to the world. We had loads of artists come through and it became an opportunity for Sirup fans to congregate online and share new music via this new online experience.

After this, my team and I decided to put some time and effort into doing a couple of streams from some very special locations in Europe — first was on top of the Wurenlos Rest Stop in Zurich in July, once inside a cave and then an extra special livestream for the 500th episode of No Xcuses from the stunning cliffs of Positano in Italy.

In terms of my approach to the sets, I’d have to say it didn’t really differ all that much. As soon as the headphones are on, you get in the zone and play the music you think the audience will love. Streaming will never beat performing live in front of an audience, but we’ve all had to adapt over the past year and make the most of the situation at hand.

You’ve also begun to take the stage at some pool parties and other events to make your return to live shows. Does the energy of these performances feel different compared to pre-pandemic ones?

To be totally honest it was initially quite weird. My first show after the long hiatus was a rooftop dining event in San Fransisco earlier this year. It felt a little awkward before I went behind the booth, but as soon as I started playing music, it just felt like coming home. People were smiling and dancing, and although people were wearing masks, the numbers were reduced and there were restrictions in place, it felt so good to be back playing for people, in person.

That night, I took the red-eye to Tampa, where I had my first indoor club show in what has felt like years. The capacity was at 50% and there were still strict health and safety restrictions in place, but it felt amazing to be back behind the decks, doing what I love the most.

Last time we spoke you had just surpassed 500 episodes of No Xcuses and discussed its growth into a nightlife brand. Now that the show is well beyond 500 episodes, what plans do you have for the show as you continue to push forward towards the next milestone?

I seriously can’t tell you how proud I am of everything we’ve achieved with the radio show over the years. I was having dinner in a small neighborhood restaurant in Miami last night and somebody came up to me, totally out of the blue, telling me how much they love the No Xcuses show and how they’ve been listening to it each week for over a decade. Wow!

It’s moments like this that really make the whole thing worthwhile. It really is a pleasure to be able to create a new show each week and connect with people all over the world on that level. On plans for the future, we will just continue to do whatever feels like the right fit, musically, and hopefully, organize some exciting international events when that’s possible. It’s been such a fulfilling journey so far and here’s to another ten years!

Finally, with the new year on the horizon, what goals do you hope to achieve on a personal level in 2021?

2020 really was a year for reflection and quality time spent with my family. I still had to travel with work around once every month – starting with my trip to Belgium for the Tomorrowland stream recording back in June – but it was really nice to have a break from the intense international touring that I’ve taken on over the past 20 years.

In 2021 I just want to continue to share my love for music with friends, family, and fans from all over the world, but in a more balanced way. The touring certainly won’t be as relentless as it was in the past, and I will be focusing heavily on my radio show, the label, and some really exciting new releases. I was really into graffiti and street art before I decided to dedicate my life to music, so the whole NFT and digital art space is also something I’m very curious to explore. Thanks so much for having me guys, and I wish you all the best for 2021 and beyond.