How Ely Oaks Went From A Small Austrian Town To Packing Dance Floors Worldwide

Rising artist Ely Oaks dropped by to chat about his musical journey, how social media fueled his breakthrough, and what’s next for his career.

If you’ve been keeping up with this summer’s hottest tracks, chances are you’ve come across the high BPM dance anthem “Running Around” by Austrian rising artist Ely Oaks. The addictive banger from the Austrian rising talent blends bouncy, rave-inspired speed house with an irresistible groove that has been lighting up the dancefloor all season. However, that electrifying energy did not come out of nowhere; it’s rooted in Ely Oaks’s early years.

Growing up in Kitzbühel, a small ski town in Austria, Ely Oaks was always ready to find ways to channel his love for music. What started as a teenage obsession with metal and indie rock gradually evolved into a passion for electronic music. Now based in Berlin, Ely Oaks first gained attention when his remix of Florence + the Machine’s “Spectrum (Say My Name)” went viral on TikTok.

With his knack for crafting infectious melodies that strike a balance between raw energy and precise groove, he quickly proved that he’s much more than a viral sensation. Today, Ely Oaks is known for his music that fuses the hooks of commercial dance with underground credibility, striking a sweet spot that resonates with both ravers and producers alike. A testament to his rising influence is his collaborations with major artists such as Alok, Timmy Trumpet, Marshmello, and IN PARALLEL, which highlight his growing reputation in the electronic music scene.

Among Ely Oaks’ latest releases are a high-energy cover of Elle King’s “Ex’s & Oh’s” and a fiery, high-octane remix of James Hype’s “Waterfall,” both showcasing his prolific skills in reimagining tracks into an instant dancefloor hit. Currently on tour across Europe and North America, Ely Oaks has a packed schedule of shows lined up for the rest of the year. He’ll be bringing his captivating performance to major cities and festivals, including BOO Seattle, Escape Halloween, EDC Orlando, Dreamstate SoCal, and more. As he hits the road, we caught up with him to chat about his journey in music, the impact of social media on his career, and what’s next for this fast-rising artist.

Stream Ely Oaks’ Remix of “Waterfalls” on Spotify:

Hey Elias, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today! You grew up in Kitzbühel, Austria, a ski resort town not necessarily known for electronic music. I’d love to dive into your upbringing a little. What was it like growing up there, and how did that environment shape your first steps into music?

Thank you so much for having me! Growing up in Kitzbühel is very nice if you are into mountain sports! I’d say we have one of the best ski resorts in our area, and the mountains are stunning. Luckily, nightlife also existed, even though it was small compared to what I see now, but it’s a very touristy area. There were a few clubs here and there, where I actually had my first gigs and learned how to DJ.

Growing up with indie rock and metalcore as your first favorite genres, how do you think those influences shape the way you approach producing electronic music today?

It definitely shaped me in a way that I love, especially when music has drive and hits hard, if that makes sense. Back then, I transitioned from Metalcore to dubstep, which just made sense because it has a similar energy, even though it’s very different. I think you can still hear that in my music now, especially if you attend one of my shows.

Every artist struggles with defining their sound in the early stages. I imagine being in a place without a big electronic music culture brought its own hurdles. What was the toughest part of finding your own musical identity?

I think the toughest part is not overthinking it too much. We all take inspiration from stuff we love. Take those ideas and shape them into your own. That might sound tough, but it just happens automatically. Even if you try to “copy” someone, it might still end up being something totally original, because your influences come into play, and you might have something new.

Moving from Austria to Berlin must have been a big shift. How did that decision come about, and were there any obstacles you faced in making that transition, both personally and musically?

The shift was indeed big. I moved from a safe, functional environment into something completely new, with no place to stay (it took me 5 months hopping short-term rentals before I found my first shared apartment). But all the time it felt natural for me, it felt like there was no other way, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

You initially started posting non-music-related memes on TikTok, and then one of your remixes of Florence + the Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name) started to go viral and really kick-started your career. Looking back, how important do you think TikTok was in giving you a platform to reach a wider audience before your music went viral? Did going viral change the way you approach producing music, or your strategy on social media?

Fair to say that TikTok changed my whole career, or so to speak, my whole life. I realized that a lot of new artists started bursting onto the scene and making a career because of TikTok. My turning point was seeing the artist called BUNT popping off with his single “Clouds.” It’s just my way of thinking about the whole industry, and that was the year when I adapted my strategy and focused on making potentially “viral” TikTok snippets instead of writing tons of original songs that unfortunately never saw more than my hard drive.

Your new remixes of Elle King’s “Ex’s & Oh’s” and James Hype’s “Waterfalls” are fantastic additions to your repertoire. What draws you to a particular track when deciding to remix it, and how do you balance respecting the original while adding your own creative flair?

“Ex’s And Oh’s” is actually going to be a single re-release of the original, which is a big honor! For me, I look for a certain energy in songs. Both of these were already proven to catch attention online, and I wanted to shape them into something that might catch some attention from new audiences on social media, plus they need to work in my sets, which both of them wonderfully do!

With such a strong track record of viral hits, collaborations, and remixes, how do you decide which direction to take next in your music?

I always keep myself inspired by new music that’s popping on social media and then try to shape some of that stuff into what I call “Ely Oaks sound”. It’s a wonderful time where I think a lot of “non-commercial” stuff actually gets attention just based on whether or not it’s a sick vibe.

Coming up, you have an exciting lineup of shows across Europe and the U.S. What are you most looking forward to on this tour? How do you prepare your sets for such a variety of venues and audiences, from clubs to festivals like EDC Orlando?

Obviously, there are some big ones like EDC that excite me a lot, but I tend to just keep them coming and be surprised. I’d say most of my favorite shows from this year were actually shows I didn’t expect too much from, and then I was blown away. I’m just grateful to be able to visit so many new countries and continents, and share my music.