Robbie Doherty, a rising Northern Irish DJ/producer, debuts on Max Dean’s neXup recz imprint with his two-track ‘Work It’ EP. Featuring retro drum sounds, gritty bass tones, euphoric pads, and hedonistic vocals, the title track ‘Work It’ captures dance floors from Sunwaves to Space Miami. The B-side ‘In Your Mind’ showcases Robbie’s ever-maturing sound with punchy rhythms and hooking vocals, bringing his NeXup Recz debut to an impressive close. In our interview, Robbie opens up about the creative process behind his latest EP, how his early influences shaped his unique sound, and the challenges he has faced.
Can you tell us about some of the artists that inspired you the most and how these influences shape your music today?
I’m inspired by a lot of different artists and music. One of my first heroes in dance music was Carl Cox for his exciting and inventive sets. I grew up in a family that loves music, and we’d have the radio or CDs on every Friday night. My dad introduced me to a lot of rock music, which led to me learning the guitar as my first instrument, listening to a lot of his favorites, such as AC/DC, and discovering my own. My mum was the one who introduced me to dance music as she used to love some of the Balearic house and trance from the 90s. A lot of the sounds and ethereal breakdowns/melodies in those tracks inspire what I make today.
Can you walk us through your creative process when producing a new track? How do you balance your retro influences with modern deep house elements?
I don’t have a formula for producing. Like many, I wish I had but often get stuck listening to an 8-bar drum loop on repeat. My best inspiration seems to be when I’m on the road, listening to new stuff while on trains, planes, and buses. I usually take one of these brief flashes of inspiration, get the laptop out, and start making something with the hopes of playing it in the gig I’m traveling to.
Your track ‘Pour The Milk’ has garnered over 52 million streams. How did you feel about its success, and how has it impacted your career trajectory?
It was my first success in the music industry and to be honest, I’m still shocked at how well it has done! My sound has since changed as I’ve got a little older (I made it when I was 18) so I don’t play it as much anymore in my sets. However, that release helped me realize that music could be more than a hobby.
How have your previous musical partnerships influenced your growth as an artist?
I often collaborate with friends, and you’d be surprised at how much two artists can learn from each other no matter their perceived popularity. I think collaboration, even if it’s casual and never gets released, is very important for progress.
‘Work It’ EP on Max Dean’s neXup Recz – Can you share the story behind this EP?
To be honest, ‘Work It’ was almost going to be another idea just lost on my hard drive. If it wasn’t for my girlfriend, who heard the 8-bar loop when she came home and told me I had something worth finishing. I put a little clip on my Instagram story and decided to sleep on it. When I woke up the next day, I had a lot of really positive feedback from fans and a few DJs I look up to asking for a copy of the track. I finished ‘Work It’ that same day. The B-Side ‘In Your Mind’ was a fun track to produce as I had no real direction or inspiration but wanted to create a quirky moment for the dance floor.
How do live performances influence your production?
Usually, if there’s a particular point of a performance that gets a great reaction from the crowd, I take this on board and use it as inspiration for new music. This was the case for ‘Work It’ actually when I noticed a little loop I used on a vocal before the drop during one of my sets got everyone grooving.
As you approach this time, how do you see your music evolving?
My music is constantly evolving as I discover new influences. I have had a few people say they can recognize my tracks in a club which is nice as it shows I’m developing my sort of sound. However, this is not something I’ve ever tried to do. I just make music I think I would enjoy on the dance floor.
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You’ve received support from influential artists like Seth Troxler and Danny Howard. How important has this support been for your career, and what advice have you received from these industry veterans?
It’s super nice to see lots of amazing DJs supporting my music. This once seemed super unachievable to me, but over the years, as my music improved and I started to develop my sound, I’ve been lucky to see some of these legends supporting my music. I’ve received lots of advice over the years, and most importantly, a few of them have said it: stay true to yourself and what you enjoy playing/making.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career so far, and how have you overcome them?
My biggest challenge at the moment is adjusting to the increasing number of gigs and the travel that comes with it. I love seeing new places and playing in super exciting parts of the world. However, the travel really can be tiresome at times. The 20-minute nap has become my best friend to keep me fresh for the later sets.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for 2024 and beyond?
I’m aiming to put out a lot more music in the coming years than I have previously and try not to keep people waiting around for those unreleased tracks so much. Hopefully, my team and I can sort out some gigs in new countries I’ve never played in before too. Oh, and it would be nice to play back in Belfast sometime.
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