We caught up with DJ, producer and record label founder CRYME (pronounced CRY-ME) who released his latest outstanding EP REALITY RUSH, on 16 January via his imprint SEVEN.
CRYME outdoes himself with the EP by showcasing masterful blends of classic, atmospheric house with a contemporary edge. The title track ‘Reality Rush’ is a sublime, ethereal journey equipped with delicate yet sharp synths, soothing vocals and a vibrant mood-altering melody. The track is an essential dancefloor tool that will elevate spirits, and resonate with the listener’s core. The EP features remixes by Christoph Faust and Mesmer, who invoke a sense of expansion and contrast with their respective remixes.
CRYME has supported the likes of Honey Dijon and Palms Trax, while he’s also performed at the likes of Hör in Berlin, Boiler Room and Basement New York. In our exclusive interview with CRYME the creative extraordinaire reveals his earliest musical memories, favourite part of the production process, and talks upcoming gigs at Wire Festival and Whole Festival. Stream the REALITY RUSH EP below while reading our interview with CRYME below: 
Could you tell us what is your earliest musical memory?
I sang a lot at school – pop music and stuff. I remember singing ‘Grenade’ by Bruno Mars! But then my voice broke and I was finished a singer lol. But maybe the most important musical memory was seeing Honey Dijon play at Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain in 2018. When I saw her play that set I thought wow, I want to be able to do my version of that.
When you compose and produce tracks, do you make music for yourself or do you make it with others in mind?
For myself 🙂 I think it’s really important to stay true to your music and just let the success follow (or not). It would be awful to become successful making music that you didn’t even like yourself. But also of course I am thinking about the crowd but not in a way that changes what I make. More as inspiration. I imagine how the crowd in a club will react to my music and imagining their happy smiles and dancing really pushes my on and gives me the inspiration and excitement to finish a track
You’re gearing up to release another phenomenal EP titled REALITY RUSH on your imprint SEVEN. How has the creation of the EP challenged you as an artist?
REALITY RUSH was a dream not a drama lol. The original tracks came together really well and quite quickly then I got to work with two great remixers in Christoph Faust and Mesmer who were both fantastic to work with.
What is your favourite part of the creative/production process?
I love the start, I love starting a new track when you play about with an idea and it catches and builds into something that is really exciting. I find the production process really exciting and fun and I get so much enthusiasm as it progresses. There is a magic moment when it really starts coming together and I play it on the big studio monitors and have my first dance around the studio to it. I love that bit too.
How do you separate yourself from other artists and producers right now?
I try not to consciously compare myself to other artists – I think that’s a sure fire way to get to unhappiness to be honest. I just do me and that’s all I can do. I think other people look at me and think what I do is maybe a little less usual because I came from a Techno background and then got into producing and playing House Music. So my House is Techno inspired and that’s maybe what makes it special.
Which piece of hardware or software would you consider the most essential in your setup, and that you would be a little lost without?
I’m pretty hardware minimal most of the time, just a laptop and Ableton are my key tools. My friend and label colleague at SEVEN is Ben Reymann and he recently got me into using the Roland 303 Bass Line which I am becoming a big fan of. But the true answer to what is essential, it’s just my macbook. My Macbook and Me, that’s all I need.
Which is the one piece of software or hardware you’re still looking to add to your collection?
Actually I already added something that I still don’t use enough, It’s the Octatrack MkII. I think it could be a lot of fun but I just haven’t clicked with it yet and it sits on my desk winking at me. Sometime soon we need to make friends.
What’s the weirdest or most amazing reaction you’ve had to your music?
Once at a festival a guy loved my set so much he came and gave me a 10 euro tip lol. At the same set a couple got so excited they asked if I would DJ at their wedding. So there must have been something in the air that night.
What inspires you outside of music?
Outside of music it’s fashion. I love digging for new clothes nearly as much as I love digging for new music. That, and maybe whisky sours too.
What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?
OMG there is loads of great stuff coming – I have a collab EP with my friend Ben Reymann coming out on SEVEN in May, that I am really excited about. Also I have a track on the first VA from Shockwerk which also has tracks by my friends Tarkno and Slin.
And some really fun live gigs too – I’m playing Wire festival in NYC and Whole Festival both for the first time this year, I’m doing a b2b with Slin at my own party SEVEN Sunday at ELSE and I have a b2b with Pablo Bozzi coming at Feel Festival in July.
Follow CRYME:
Website – Spotify – Instagram – Bandcamp
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