While much of today’s electronic landscape is driven by algorithms, trends and the race for the next viral moment, the producer has quietly carved out a sound rooted in raw emotion. Blending melodic bass, future bass and hybrid trap with cinematic textures and metal influences, his music embraces vulnerability just as much as intensity.
His latest EP, Stitched, continues that philosophy, bringing together three emotionally charged collaborations with OVRTHINKR, SOH SOH and THE ONUS. Rather than telling listeners exactly what each track means, Barren Gates prefers to leave room for personal interpretation, a belief that music becomes most powerful when every listener can find their own story within it.
In our conversation, Gates opens up about the artists who shaped his sound, why authenticity will always outweigh chasing industry trends, his thoughts on AI in music, and why he believes an artist’s greatest strength isn’t their social media presence, but the ability to create something that truly resonates. 
Many artists today move across and blend genres rather than fitting neatly into a single category. How would you personally define or label your sound, and what genres, subgenres, or underground scenes have most influenced and shaped your evolution as an artist?
Stylistically speaking I tend to be more on the angsty and melancholic side of melodic dubstep, future bass and hybrid trap with some metal and cinematic influences. Metal has been my main listening preference for quite a long time, with some of my favorites being Sleep Token, Static Dress & Bad Omens.
How did the environment you grew up in shape you as an artist, and in what ways does it still influence your creative identity today?
My dad introduced me to quite a few artists that I still love to this day. Other than that I was a shy and introverted youth, so music was my escape from my environment. It had a strong therapeutic effect on me and I still attempt to this day to write to that emotional caliber. I would scour the internet for new music and was rarely interested in it elsewhere.
Can you share a brief, compelling narrative or inspiration behind this new release?
I prefer to withhold my emotional inspirations behind my music. Just as I try to avoid reading any stories behind the music I like because I love to find my own inspiration and relation to it. To me, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of music, how a piece can be so powerful that even if you are experiencing something completely different than the artist, an emotional connection can still be forged and help you transcend what you are going through.
How would you evaluate the current state of the global EDM scene in terms of its overall health and creative direction, and how would you position it within a broader spectrum ranging from emerging challenges to strong creative growth?
I don’t really pay much attention to the global EDM scene. It’s cool to see that more people than ever seem to be enjoying electronic music though.
Do you see AI as a threat to musicians, a helpful collaborator, or something else? How do you plan to keep your music relevant as the industry changes rapidly because of these tools? By embracing AI, avoiding it, or taking a different approach?
I think AI can possibly be useful on the education side since it seems to remove the gatekeeping of information, but I don’t think that was needed much anyways given how easy it is to learn basically anything on YouTube or other platforms these days for free. Using AI on the creativity side seems like micro-theft to me. And like using any short-cut, I’d assume the user will miss out on the greater benefits and growth that comes from struggling to achieve something on their own. I don’t believe that an artist who puts their creativity first should concern themselves with staying relevant in the music industry. Fads and bandwagons are never worth chasing and they expire far faster than music created from authentic passion.
What’s one piece of advice you would offer to an aspiring DJ or producer looking to break into the music scene today?
I recommend focusing on your own artistry instead of worrying about breaking into the scene. In regard to artists looking to grow and explore deeper depths of their creativity, I highly suggest not wasting your time on social media and to limit your use of it as much as possible. Your attention span is more fragile than you think and it’s not something worth sacrificing if you are truly passionate about music. Your music can touch someone’s soul and improve countless lives in a way that your appearance and brand never will.
What is the official title and release date of your latest or upcoming single, EP, or album?
My latest EP is titled Stitched and is currently being released with the final track coming out on July 20th.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the next phase of your artistic journey, both creatively and personally?
I would be interested in playing some shows at some point, as I’ve yet to do any under this alias. I just clawed myself out of a long grey period of struggling to write, so I’m perfectly happy to reach for deeper depths of my artistry in the next few years before venturing off for shows. There are several artists who I dream to work with and that is a much larger goal of mine currently.
Listen to the exclusive mix on PLAYY.
Follow Barren Gates
Instagram – SoundCloud – Spotify – YouTube
