Contributing Writer
After more than 15 years in the scene, UK producer Dale Howard kicks off 2026 with his long-awaited Hot Creations debut, ‘Funk Rider’ EP. Blending his current sound with influences from his early career, the release marks a full-circle moment in his journey. We catch up with Dale to talk about the making of the EP and what this milestone means to him.
Hi Dale, thanks for joining us today! How are you doing?
Hey! No probs. Yea I’m alright cheers
‘Funk Rider’ marks your long-awaited debut on Hot Creations – what does finally releasing on the label mean to you at this point in your career?
It means a lot. It’s always been a goal of mine to sign something there, so to finally do it after so long feels good.
How did you first get into producing electronic music, and what pulled you towards house in particular?
It was just a natural progression really. I started getting into House / electronic music and DJing when I went to Uni, and after a while, playing other people’s music didn’t feel like enough – I wanted to make my own (which was terrible, because i had absolutely NO clue what I was doing).
After over 15 years in the scene, how do you feel your relationship with making music has changed?
It’s definitely become more pressurised over the years. When you have no real expectations for your music or can’t even fully comprehend the potential ramifications of becoming an artist that people like – it’s pretty easy because you’re just trying stuff out and experimenting and the outcome doesn’t really matter. There’s a kind of naive freedom to it. I used to be able to knock a track out in 4-5 hours and then go straight into another one (most of those tracks don’t hold up now, but it was still a ‘simpler’ time).
Whereas now, I’m a lot more cognisant in the studio and my creative process has changed quite a lot from what it used to be. Now, my passion is also my career, so the outcome of my studio time does matter. Plus there is a whole new social media aspect, which wasn’t as much of a thing when I first started.
When you sit down in the studio, do you usually start with a clear idea, or do you prefer to let tracks evolve naturally?
Most of the time, no. It’s quite rare that I have a specific vision of what I’m trying to do. It’s usually more of a chord / lead melody or a bass idea that’s in my head, and then I build the track up from there.
Sometimes it can be a couple of days before I feel like I have anything decent though.
‘Funk Rider’ is your first release on Hot Creations – did working with the label influence your creative process in any way?
No. I’ve tried that approach in the past and 99% of the time it never works. I always think it’s better to just make something I’m happy with, regardless of whether my ‘first choice’ label would sign it. If you prioritise the music rather than the label you’re trying to sign to, you’ll be a lot happier when it’s release day, regardless of where it’s signed to.
Both tracks on the EP feel very dancefloor-focused. How important is it for you to test music in clubs before considering it finished?
Vital. I make music for people to dance to, so testing a track for the first time and getting that feedback from the dance floor is so important to me. It’s also an unreal feeling when you test something out for the first time and it goes off! Then you know you’ve got something (and conversely, if it flops, you know it’s complete and utter shite and should never see the light of day again).
Support from DJs can play a big role in a track’s life. How does it feel hearing your music in other people’s sets?
I still find it mad.
Outside of producing, what parts of being an artist do you enjoy the most – and what do you find the most challenging?
Getting to see the world and eating different types of food. I’ve seen so many amazing countries that I never would have, were it not for music. The most challenging thing now is being away from my family, but I know how fortunate I am to be able to travel and play music all over the world, so I would never complain about it. It’s just a double edge sword.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the next chapter of your career?
Getting all my new music out. I’ve been grafting in the studio so i can’t wait for people to hear them! X
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