Martin Ikin Talks New Single, Tour Life, and Music Production

We caught up with UK house DJ and producer Martin Ikin to chat about his creative inspirations and recent track with Hayley May.

For over two decades, Liverpool-born and London-raised DJ and producer Martin Ikin has been quietly shaping the UK house music scene. With the trained ear of a pianist and the expertise of a studio engineer, his meticulous productions have taken him from bedroom parties to underground warehouse raves.

Inspired by Detroit icons like Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, Ikin is passionate about analog gear and crafting raw, gritty sounds from scratch. His work radiates a deep sense of depth and precision, earning him releases on respected labels like Toolroom Records and Blackroom Records.

Last year, Ikin launched his KNOW WHERE RECORDS imprint to take full creative control of his releases and push artists beyond their boundaries. With the mission of giving a home to authentic, high-quality records, his label aims to champion emerging talent in the house music scene.

That same ethos can be felt in the frequencies of Martin’s latest release on Toolroom, “Rush,” a tech house banger that merges his engineering expertise with infectious beats. Built on precise percussion, tight basslines, and crunchy synth work, the track leverages Hayley May‘s vocals to create a sense of urgency that perfectly fits its title. From the very first beat to the final fade, a relentless momentum drives the song forward and keeps you in a rhythmic lock to leave no room for stillness.

Currently on the road for his summer tour, Ikin is performing in major cities worldwide, including Ibiza, London, Croatia, Zurich, Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more. Amidst his busy schedule, we caught up with the artist to chat about his classical roots, the creative process behind “Rush,” and what fuels his drive to keep innovating.

Read on for the whole conversation, and stream “Rush” by Martin Ikin on Spotify or your preferred platform.

Stream Martin Ikin – “Rush” on Spotify:

Let’s start this one off by digging into your roots in the scene. How does your background as a trained pianist and studio engineer influence your creative process?

Yeah, having some music theory behind you helps when writing music and chords, and likewise, the skills I’ve learned from engineering for over 30 years are also something I can draw from. But as quickly as technology moves on, so should your skill set. Otherwise, a lot of what you’ve learned can end up redundant. So I’m still learning every day. And obviously, the technology influences your workflow and methods, which are always changing over time, so it’s a fluid situation.

You’ve been quietly shaping UK house music for over three decades. How do you approach translating your studio production to the live DJ setting? Are there moments you design specifically with club crowds in mind?

Yeah, pretty much everything I make is designed for my DJ sets. That’s usually the first test that any idea has to pass: Is it something I’m going to want to play out? If it’s a no, then that idea gets left behind.

Congratulations on the new single! There’s a real sense of build and release in this song. What was your approach to mixing and layering on this particular track?

Thank you, I spent a lot of time on the sound design. I wanted the elements to be noticeable and satisfying, but not in the way of the vocal, so finding the balance took some time. When it comes to mixing, I always mix as I go, so for me, it’s an integral part of the creative process.

Hayley May’s vocals also add such an emotional lift in this club banger. How did the collaboration come about, and what drew you to her voice for this one?

Hayley and I have worked on a few tracks together over the past seven years, so we know each other’s sound pretty well. We actually wrote this one back in 2021. It was originally a piano track when I first composed the music, but I wanted to take it in a different direction, which is why it took me a while to come back to it. [Laughs]

Which producers do you look up to the most right now?

Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo are definite standouts for me.

You’ve been playing some massive shows lately, like Bolesworth Castle, Northerly Island, and The Summer Club NYC. What’s been a highlight on the road this year so far?

I have to say, the Beats for Love festival was insane. The venue is so cool. I think it’s an old steelworks, and it looks straight out of a Mad Max film from the ’80s. Really unique and full of vibes!

Looking back on three decades in the scene, what keeps you inspired to keep innovating?

Just the love of the music. If you have that, it keeps you going forever.