INTERVIEW: STÜM Chats Touring, Djaying And The Inspiration Behind His Latest EP!
Words by Dylan Hewitson-Bevis + Darcy Goss
Hailing from Naarm/Melbourne, meet the dynamic electronic act and multi-talented creative whose blend of chaotic and sweet energies has coined him as a powerhouse, both on and off the stage.
STÜM! Known for his high-octane fusion of trance and techno-fused productions, STÜM is a genre-bending force to be reckoned with. From rocking some of Australia's biggest festivals, like Pitch, BTV and Wildlands, and releasing electrifying tracks like 'Dreaming Of You' and his EP, 'Essence Of Time' Oh, and did we mention he's founded his own record label, Happy Wax Records and fashion label STÜM.
This guy doesn't stop. But we managed to catch him for a quick chat about his Solar Safari Tour, djaying and the inspiration behind his latest EP!
Check it out...
Hey Jack! How’s it going and where are you at right now!?
Yoo! Going well, just sitting in the home studio!
You’re getting to the pointy end of your Solar Safari Tour, what has been your favourite moment so far?
Playing 2 sold out Timber Yards has always been a dream of mine since watching my idols play there over the years such as DJ Boring, Skin on Skin, X Club etc.
So has been extra special for me to be able to do it twice.
You’ve been playing some huge shows lately but closing out Beyond the Valley and bringing in 2024 with a huge crowd would certainly have to be a highlight show. What were you feeling after you stepped off stage and what’s your favourite thing about DJing?
Closing BTV still feels so surreal. You can’t really describe the feeling before during and after, it’s a total rush of the senses. My favourite thing about Deejaying, is just getting so lost in the music and connecting with a like-minded crowd.
The people obviously can’t get enough of STÜM. Huge sold out shows across your tour and an added set in Brisbane (thank you, by the way!). What can people who haven’t experienced a STÜM show expect and are there any other touring plans for this year?
Expect a high frequency journey of energy and magic! After the Solar Safari Australian tour, I will be moving over to London to continue my journey with my European tour beginning in June!
These new tracks you’ve been slowly releasing have such an ethereal trance energy to them, what has your inspiration been towards the upcoming EP in comparison to your ‘Love In The Sun’ EP?
Got it, let's find a middle ground. The 'Essence of Time' EP has a distinctly ethereal feel across all the tracks, a vibe that tells its own story. In the groove of writing, there was this effortless flow. Years tuned into Lo-fi House have refined my ear for rich, full chords that bring depth and a bold personality to my tunes. This new EP? It's a step further into my sound—kind of carving out what I'm all about. The more I put out there, the more you'll get what I'm building. 'Love in the Sun' was just the starting point, the beat where this whole new world kicks off.
What advice do you have for aspiring electronic music producers looking to make their mark in the industry and build a community in their area?
Aim for the stars and always hold yourself to the highest standard + Be Confident. I think building a community starts from small connections first, the community will come when the shared vision becomes clear.
We’re all about amplifying Australia’s Electronic scene, are there any up-and-coming artists/DJs that have caught your attention?
KSMBA is an artist and friend of mine from Naarm Melbourne who blew me away when I heard their first ever track. The vision and the artistry are undoubtedly going to catch the eyes of many more whilst they release their debut EP on my Label Happy Wax Records later this year.
You’ve also recently released your Volt Smile collection through your website! I really admire your use of colour blocking. I was curious what inspired the visuals?
I love bold and striking colours that can be seen in the darkness of the club and festival environment. Very in your face designs that push their way in front of you. The designs come from the music plays around me every day from a multitude of electronic genres - “Sound Creates Vision”.
Thanks for chatting with us today Jack and we will see you at the Brissy show!!
See you then!!!! Can’t wait
If you want to see the artist everyone's talking about, grab your tickets quick.
With energy like this, you won't want to miss a beat!
You can catch STÜM on his Solar Safari tour below:
