Interview: FIRZA Chat To Music Is 4 Lovers, Following Their Release Of ‘Erase It’ On Jamie Jones’ Hottrax

Hey guys, thanks for joining us today! How are you doing?
Hey! Thank you so much for having us, we are better than ever!

Your latest EP ‘Erase It’ marks your debut on Hottrax. What can listeners expect from this release?
This 3 track EP was made strictly for the dancefloor with some big driving basslines, energetic percussion and catchy vocals. It has garnered some amazing support from the likes of Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati and Tony Romera and we have seen the damage all 3 tracks have done on the dancefloor.

You were crowned as ANTS’ Next Gen winners of 2024, how has this achievement impacted your career as DJs?
Winning ANTS’ Next Gen 2024 and now being part of the family has been a major turning point in our careers. It’s put us on the global radar and given us the chance to play at one of the world’s most iconic venues — Ushuaia, Ibiza. The experience was incredible, and we’re thrilled to be returning in September. The recognition has boosted our confidence, opened new doors, and inspired us to keep pushing our sound forward.

How did the opportunity to release on Jamie Jones’ label come about?
We’d been sending music to Jamie for a few years. We consistently shared new material with him via Trackstack—which is a great platform for getting your music heard—and with consistent support the time was right for us to sign to the label. Releasing on Hottrax had been a big goal of ours, so getting something over the line felt incredible. It’s a real milestone for us.

What was it like growing up around London and its eclectic music scene, and how did it inspire you to become DJs/producers?
We both moved to London in 2017 and quickly immersed ourselves in the city’s vibrant underground scene, spending weekends at iconic venues like fabric, 93 Feet East, E1, and Printworks. Living in a shared house with friends, we bought a pair of Pioneer DDJ-200s and started throwing regular house parties where we would DJ for hours on end. That period really shaped our passion for music and laid the foundation for our journey as DJs and producers.

Your music has been played out at huge events such as Sunwaves, Solid Grooves and Music On. If you could play any event or venue in the world, where would it be and why?
Venue: Fabric room 1 – we’ve been to Fabric countless times over the years and what a venue it is! The music & artists we’ve heard there have been a big part of what has shaped our music journey, so to play in the iconic room 1 would be a dream come true.
Event: Sunwaves – we went to sunwaves for the first time last year in Mamaia and had one of the best weeks of our lives. It’s a big shame it’s no longer in Romania but thankfully its continuing across the other regions! It doesn’t get better than the setting, crowd and music at this festival and we were lucky enough to hear a lot of our music played there – to play it there ourselves one day would be incredible!

 

 

Who were some of your musical inspirations growing up?
Rich: From the beginning I have always been surrounded by music and instruments. My dad would always be playing records including bands and artists such as Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Thin Lizzy. That shaped my musical taste early on. As I got older I explored all styles of music and eventually stumbled into the electronic world which at first was disco house. Through the club scene and festivals I then found myself immersed in more house / tech house. Brands such as Defected, PIV, and Elrow have also played a major role in shaping our musical identity—both as fans and as artists.

Fred: I grew up playing a few different instruments and have played piano since I was 7. I went on to play keys/lead vocals in a few different bands throughout my teens and early twenties, mostly inspired by Indie Rock/Pop music (The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys etc). It wasn’t until I was about 16 that i first heard electronic music. The EDM producers of the early 2010s (Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Deadmau5 etc) were my first big inspiration and what led me to download logic pro and try producing. In the mid-late 2010s Rich & I discovered more underground styles of house and never really looked back. The likes of Rossi, Toman and Chris Stussy are who really got us into the music we love and produce today as FIRZA.

What advice would you give to emerging producers navigating the music industry?
Focus on mastering the basics of production before anything else (I.e your drums and basslines) — solid foundations go a long way. Beyond the music, your brand matters more than ever. Building an audience across social platforms including Instagram and TikTok is absolutely essential. And finally, just be a good person — relationships are key in this industry, and being genuine will help you stand out for all the right reasons.

What’s next for FIRZA over the summer months?
We have a few shows coming up in London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham before heading out to Ibiza for ANTS which we are very excited about. We also have a few more releases in store including our self release series FIRZA Flavaz! Don’t forget to follow our social media platforms to keep in the loop!