Kill Your Idols – Exclusive Interview at Underground Talent

Kill Your Idols at Underground Talent for An Exclusive Interview:

Dan Breeze AKA KILL YOUR IDOLS is a Techno DJ and Music producer from the northeast of England.

Dan has released music on multiple labels around the world and remixed tracks for the likes of Rebekah (Elements/SOMA). He focuses on hard techno infused with trance, metal, grime, hardcore and other genres to create a unique sound of techno ranging from 135 to 180bpm.

Kill Your Idols, has recently signed to Concrete Berlin for management and global bookings.

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Kill Your Idols, Exclusive Interview:

How did you start? What made you DJ?

When I was around 12 years old there was a party in my street and I was looking through the window and watching people on record decks playing hardcore, id never heard it before as I was big into Grunge i.e Nirvana, etc.

They invited me in and showed me what they were doing and I was fascinated and they gave me some tapes to listen to. I believe they were from an event called “the coliseum” which was a club in the northeast of England. Then from that Christmas, I asked for some record dex.

How do you describe your sound? Who were your influences?

I like a hard kick with a trancy melody. The first DJ who I heard play/produced this type of music was Dj Scott Brown.

Can you name a few of your favourite records?

Aneed – The Fallen

Jorg & Nøus –  Feel The Agony

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Paula Temple – Gegen X

Joe Sane – The Holy Grail

KARL SCHWARZ & FREEBOY – DER VERLORENE GLAUBE

Aida Arko – Subatomic

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Static – Crisis Melody

How did you come up with your artist name, Kill Your Idols?

Axl Rose lead singer of Guns n Roses once wore a T-shirt saying Kill Your Idols, I looked up what it means, which is to Kill Your Idols is to stop trying to be like your idols, artistically be yourself, so kill them off. A lot of music producers keep the same style, I’ve not found my style as I create what I want and I’m not scared to stretch the boundaries.

I’ve got a heavy industrial track coming out with the North East of England’s best Grime artist Just-B, we have been talking about a collab for ages and this is a banger, some people might think it’s a bit out there but let’s get this straight we are underground and it’s a place to experiment with sounds. 

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What draws you to and what made you begin a career specifically in Techno?

To be honest, techno isn’t big where I’m from so it’s hard to have events, once I heard techno it was like “where has this been all my life” mainly I was into Rave, Makina, and Hardcore, but now this is just the same but slower BPM.

How do life and music career feedback on each other?

As I have a high up position job I’m travelling the world anyway so it’s hard to nail down events, that’s why I’m speaking to Concrete Berlin who has offered me a position in their agency, and I have explained that it will be as and when I can. If I know well in advance I can plan around my job.

What do you personally think to be the best moments in your artistic career?

Remixing a track for Rebekah had to be the biggest when she said it was going to get released on her label. My first EP on expel your demons records, I thank Torre for giving me the opportunity. 

Check out Kill Your Idols:

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With whom would you like to collaborate the most?

Perc, his style is amazing and I would learn from his experience if given the chance he is a legend 

Kill Your Idols

If you could open a show for any artist who would it be?

Paula Temple, I could build up with the right set and atmosphere.

Why do you love Djing? Can you describe what makes a good DJ?

It comes naturally to me, I’m not a big fan of FX or playing the air piano, I get my head down and concentrate on the mix.

What was your first set-up as DJ? How has your set-up evolved over the years, and what are the most essential pieces of gear?

I started with sound lab belt drive turntables and Gemini mixer, I progressed up to technics then now I have cdj3000s with xone92 mixer. I want to add another CDJ and start using hardware for live sets.

What were your main challenges when you started as a DJ?

For me there was no youtube, or anyone to show me what to do. I didn’t even know how to beat a match. I was through meeting people at raves and going to their houses and learning that way.

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What is it about DJing, compared to music production, that makes it attractive to you?

I get the Buzz the tingles when dropping an amazing track especially if it’s unknown.

How important is practising for achieving your goals?

No matter what, I’m listening to music in many genres and understand how it’s made. Breaking down the track in my head.

How do you handle your mistakes when you perform? Did you ever have any troubles managing them?

I used to go red and devastated, but in reality, no one cares if you mess up a mix.

Do you like playing b2b? 

Yes, I recently met Balrog in Leeds and did a two-hour b2b but the recording was not good. I’m looking to get b2b with Vendex so we need to make it happen. My biggest concern when going b2b is the style of mixing and making sure the settings on the mixer are back to how I need them.

Do you travel a lot for gigs? How do you manage music production while travelling?

I travel a lot, that’s why I have a laptop with every plugin you can think of and I can get my head down and make music then once back in the studio I can mix it down ready for master.

Any plans for the future? What do you have coming up?

As I mentioned before I’m in talks with concrete Berlin so hopefully I can get some festivals and clubs booked in. Currently playing in Manchester at XLR club in a joint event with my label Decom and Techno notice. Also planned to play in LA in September once I get back from Australia.

What inspires you to make music? What are you trying to express?

I’m the type of person who believes if someone else can do something I can do it, I’m a positive thinker. I make music because I love music, I want to make a track that everyone remembers me by.

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Can you describe your development as an artist?

I think remixes help me understand a track layout and how other people think so I do remixes now and then, either of music I like or for other artists. I used to send demos to loads of different labels. Now I get asked which is a good and bad thing as I can’t say no, well I find it hard too. 

Kill Your Idols

There are many forms of collaboration. What role do they play in your opinion, and what are your ways of engaging with other producers?

I have done a few collaborations, I either start a track then it gets sent back and forth until we both like it, or I hear a track someone has not finished and I finish it. I’ve yet to make a track in the studio with someone. It’s always been over the internet.

What is it like for you to get in the zone of inspiration? What supports this ideal state of mind. How do you handle distractions? Are there strategies to enter the zone more easily?

I’m is lucky I have an understanding wife who supports everything I do, even though it’s not her type of music she gives me as much time as I want to make music. The best way for me to get in the zone is to listen to music all day and write down what I hear in tracks that I’ve never thought of.

How do you see the relevant importance of DJ and music production? 

They both compliment each other on either knowing how to build a track for the dance floor or how a track is built when mixing.

What release are you most proud of so far, and what projects are you currently working on?

I made a track for Eastel’s label Hearts Whispers called “Send me an angel” which is sampled from Ralph Fridge’s classic trance track Angel which needs to be played more!

I love my EP on Tholos Records, Saints of LA has to be one of my best tracks also played by Paula Temple at Intercell. I have an EP out on Darkground Records which is due out beginning of June but I have also a vinyl release on Balrog’s Label Khazad Records with remixes from Mython and Acierate which I can’t wait to release. We are looking at having an event with everyone involved in the vinyl release to play. 

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Do you have any recommendations for your work for people to check out?

I have a track which is Hard Trance / Makina called “Visions” which is due out on Waxxa Records VA very soon, 170bpm of bounciness 

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free?

I give music away to labels for free or do remixes for free. I also give away music to people who ask as it won’t get heard if people don’t play it. I know some amazing producers who won’t release anything as it’s not perfect for them but blows me away. You need to get it out there for feedback as part of the learning process.

What’s your view on the value of music today? In what way does the plethora of music change our perception of it?

I spend a fortune on Bandcamp to support labels, many labels would give me it for free as a promo but I like to buy and support it. It’s different nowadays if you have a laptop you can become a music producer and don’t need a huge studio with multiple synths.

Music by Kill Your Idols:

How did the pandemic affect your plans? Do you believe the music industry will ever recover? 

Luckily, I could work from home with my day job so I have my evenings to make music as I wasn’t away from home as much. So it worked out OK for me, but I felt for the DJs who have a career from it.

What do you think about London’s underground electronic music scene?

It’s great the likes of Mass London etc, although I feel they seem to keep it to local DJs unless a headline event wants to keep the cost down. Man, I would go down and play for free for Omen as he has supported me in the past and is a really nice guy.

Any advice to aspiring artists beginning their journey in the underground electronic music industry?

Don’t sit on music, get it out there, and try and collaborate with other artists. Rebekah did a DJ challenge in the lockdown and that was good for learning. We created music for horror films, and created tracks with only drums remixed her tracks. I recommended it, maybe Rebekah will do something like this again.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Don’t be like me, KILL YOUR IDOLS, and be yourself.

If you ever had the chance to travel back in time and talk to a younger version of you, what would you advise yourself? 

I wish I got introduced to hard techno a lot sooner.

Please recommend a couple of artists to our readers who you feel deserve their attention.

RZVX is killing it, I can see big things from him.

Nøus is young and raring to go, an agency needs to get this guy on their books.

Mark Wildman, met up with him in Sydney Australia, a talented producer and has a remix on my latest EP.

Amuck Indstrl from LA, he has some fantastic productions!

What’s next for you?

I want to play a festival, Boiler Room, HOR Berlin, BCCO Tower, Fold, get my label events growing, and remix a track for Perc. These are my goals for the next year or so. Also start performing live sets!

Finally, who in your opinion, is the hottest/best/most fire DJ around today?

There are so many I admire and watch quite a few performances so for me it has to be Paula Temple, I like every track she plays. For live performances, 6jour destroys the dance floor.

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A big thanks to Dan Breeze AKA Kill Your Idols for doing this exclusive interview at Underground Talent and for inspiring others with his music and great personality! See you in the future!

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