Contributing Writer
Rising producer Aitor Astiz lands on Hottrax for the first time with ‘Digital Soul (Freak)’, a track that’s already built a strong reputation through his sets and online buzz. Known for his groove-led productions and sharp vocal hooks, Astiz has steadily carved out his own lane across the house scene, and this release marks another key step in that rise. MI4L caught up with him to talk about the story behind the track, his creative process, and why Hottrax felt like the right home for one of his most requested records to date.
Hi Aitor, thanks for speaking with us today! How are you doing?
Hey, thank you so much for having me! Been following your media for a long time already :).
So yes, I’m doing really well, excited about everything that’s coming and really looking forward to sharing it with everyone.
‘Digital Soul (Freak)’ has already built a reputation as one of your biggest unreleased tracks. At what point did you realise this one was connecting differently from the rest of your records?
Yeah, this has definitely been one of the tracks that’s generated the most interest from people. Everything started last summer when Marco Carola opened one of his Music On sets at Pacha Ibiza with it. From that moment, people went crazy asking about the track on Instagram, TikTok and everywhere else. Some big artists also started messaging me asking for it, and little by little the hype and momentum around the track kept growing naturally.
You mentioned you’d been holding onto the track for a while waiting for the right label. What made Hottrax feel like the right home for it?
I felt straight away that this was the kind of track Jamie Jones would really like. The funny thing is that as soon as I sent it to him, he downloaded it immediately and played it at his very next show. From that moment, he already showed interest in signing it because he loved the crowd reactions every time he played it at Paradise and UNVRS Ibiza. Honestly, I think Hottrax is the perfect home for this record.
The reaction to this track online and in clubs seems to have grown pretty organically. How have you handled that anticipation while sitting on the release?
I’m not going to lie, it hasn’t been easy. For almost a year now, people have constantly been messaging me asking when the track was coming out, if it was signed already, if I could send it to them, or when the release date would be. And every time more videos appeared of Marco Carola, Joseph Capriati, Jamie Jones or Mau P playing it, the hype just kept getting bigger and bigger.
How do you feel your sound has evolved over the years?
I think I’ve evolved in every way, but especially when it comes to having a more recognizable sound. Right now more than ever, people hear one of my tracks without knowing it’s mine and still recognize it as my sound straight away. That’s probably one of the things I’m most proud of as a producer.
You’ve had support from some major names across the scene. Are there any moments where hearing one of your tracks played by another DJ really stuck with you?
Honestly, you never get used to that feeling. Every single time I hear another artist playing one of my tracks, I still get goosebumps. And when the video quality is good enough to really see the crowd reaction and people losing their minds, the feeling is impossible to describe.
But if I had to choose one moment, it would probably be Sonar 2025 in Barcelona, during the Metamorfosi afterparty. Joseph Capriati and Loco Dice played one of my unreleased tracks while I was actually in the booth with them. Hearing the first beats come in, realizing it was my track, seeing the crowd reaction, and then having Joseph hug me while the track was playing… that was a really special moment for me.
When you’re making records, are you thinking more about clubs, festivals, social media clips — or just your own instincts?
Usually, I sit in the studio searching for samples that inspire me, whether it’s vocals, musical loops or anything that catches my attention, and then I try to build a track around that feeling. Of course nowadays it’s also important to find a balance between originality and making records that really work on the dancefloor, tracks with strong hooks that connect with people instantly.
With the amount of attention this track has already been getting, does it feel like a breakthrough moment for you personally, or just another step in the journey?
Yeah, I definitely see it as an important moment for me. Hottrax is a label I’ve always dreamed about signing on, and I think it’s an amazing platform to reach new audiences, grow as an artist and keep pushing things forward.
What’s next for Aitor Astiz? Anything you can share with us?
Above all, a lot of new music. I’ve been incredibly productive in the studio over the last year and finished a huge amount of tracks, so over the coming months you’ll definitely be hearing a lot of new releases from me. Also new shows, new clubs and new countries where I’ll be performing.
Follow Aitor Astiz
Instagram – SoundCloud – Spotify
