From stunt driving to DJing in Ibiza, rising artist RBBN has seemingly done it all. We sat down to talk with him about his musical journey thus far.
Swedish-born, Ibiza-based artist RBBN is someone to keep your eye on if you’re on the hunt for fresh, new melodic progressive house talent. Having grown up with a passion for music, he has recently found his footing in the music scene more than ever, making major strides as he embarks on his come-up. RBBN’s previous career racing cars and living life in the fast lane has embedded in him a madcap spirit that translates into his energetic live sets. It’s clear that he’s meant to be behind the decks.
It’s that bold essence about RBBN that captured the attention of legendary deep house duo Tube & Berger. His recent single with the duo has allowed him to cut his teeth on official releases. Out now on Tube & Berger’s Kittball Records, home to artists like The Deepshakerz and Havoc & Lawn, “Fade Away” boasts a driving, cavernous bassline that sits atop chugging percussion. Prepare to be swept away and hypnotized by the track’s airy, reverberant vocals, only to be brought back down to earth by its utterly mesmerizing, subterranean instrumentation.
RBBN’s debut single is an impressive one to say the least, and it will be a treat to see what other goodies he cooks up in the future as he continues to further his career. To get to know the up-and-coming DJ and producer a bit better and probe his creative brain, we had a chat with RBBN. We talked about his warmest memories as a stunt driver, favorite experiences during his time in Ibiza thus far, thoughts on working with Tube & Berger, and more. He also crafted a stunning mix for us, so make sure to hit play and stream or download “Fade Away” on Spotify or your preferred platform while you continue reading on for our full chat!
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 388 || RBBN on SoundCloud:
Hi RBBN, thanks for talking to us today! First things first, let’s hear more about where you’re from and where you’re currently located. You were born and raised in Sweden — did growing up there play a role in establishing your love for electronic music or your decision to start DJing and producing?
Hello there, I am originally from a small place close to the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden. When I was growing up, I listened to a lot of old rock and blues music since a lot of people in my family were playing guitars, so originally I was a guitar player with a big love for groovy bass lines! I have always loved music since childhood. I was always the kid choosing what tape to listen to in the tape player at home. So I would definitely say so! There were no clubs or nightlife there to talk about. You literally sat at home trying to find music with your 56k dial-up modem to download and play loud on your homemade sound system!
Now that you’re based in Ibiza and surrounded by that bustling electronic scene, what have been some of your favorite experiences so far in terms of playing live sets or otherwise?
Well, I have been here for six years now and I’ve seen a lot of wild things, but still today I think my favorite moments have been seeing old legends like Roger Sanchez perform. He has been a huge inspiration for me as an artist. You don’t see the energy and happiness that legends like him were spreading much in artists nowadays.
People might be surprised to find out that before you were a DJ and producer, you were a stunt driver. What inspired you to get into stunt driving, and do you have any particularly crazy or memorable stories that you can share from that time?
Growing up in the north it was basically cars, music, and nature. I drove my first car when I was 14 and actually had an extreme talent for driving cars fast and really on the edge, sometimes risking my life! But I must say my favorite memory was what led up to my first big job as a professional driver. Sometimes when I party I get extremely spontaneous ideas. I had a few too many drinks one night and I got the idea – why had no one ever taken a supercar up a ski slope!? In 2013 when I got this idea, there was literally no one that had done it like I planned. I wanted to try it badly, so I called my friend who owns a ski resort that night when I was partying and asked him if I could do this video… He just laughed and said, “If you are that stupid that you wanna bring your new, super-expensive sports car on the ski slope… be my guest.”
Three weeks later, I was standing in front of this huge mountain and I was honestly scared to do it because no one had done it before. So I took my 800 horsepower car with special handmade spike tires and I just pressed the pedal to metal and went straight up! The car literally flew up the hill! The first month we reached over 1 million views on YouTube, and both car manufacturers and production companies reached out wanting to hire me to work for them. That was really a highlight and that’s how I got into the stunt driving industry!
Your debut single, “Fade Away” with Tube & Berger, is out now. Congratulations on releasing your first track! What elements do you think encapsulate your sound as an artist the most?
I would say the “deeper” sound. I like to play music that gets you into euphoria and you just want to fly away into the night!!
Now that you’re signed with Tube & Berger, what have you learned from working with them so far? How do you anticipate that your relationship with them will help you continue to grow as an artist?
I was very close to signing with another big artist before Tube & Berger, but I didn’t do it because I didn’t feel that the personal level was there like with Tube & Berger. I am very happy that I met them and I think that together we will do a lot of cool and big things in the electronic music scene!
What is some of the best advice you have received along your artistic journey so far?
Be yourself, and try to follow your own sound! Don’t try to sound like others.
Do you have any dream locations, venues, or festivals where you would like to perform in the future?
Of course Tomorrowland or some other festivals, and for venues I would say Ushuaïa! But my highest dream would be to play in Solomun +1 with Solomun here in Pacha Ibiza. His groove is just on another planet!
Finally, can you give us any idea of what you might have in store for the rest of 2023 and beyond?
We are planning a lot of things at the moment in Asia, and also a residency in Mykonos every two weeks for the next season is in the works!
