M-High is a Dutch DJ/Producer who has really risen to the top over the last 12-18months. His work as the A&R at leading house label PIV Records is a testament to his music knowledge and skills at unearthing what is the next new “sound”. With a recent release on Fabe’s label Salty Nuts ‘The Answer’ EP, we caught up with him to him to find out where he draws inspiration from, and his plans for the rest of the year…
WWD: Hi Marijn! Pleasure to have you with us. How has your year been so far?
Hi guys! Thanks for having me! Frankly my year has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve made some huge steps in my career and I’m not planning on slowing down any time soon. Great to talk to you!
WWD: Lets jump straight in shall we. You’ve just dropped your new EP ‘The Answer’ on Fabe’s Salty Nuts imprint. What’s your relationship with Fabe, how did this come about?
I think I first spoke to Fabian when we were discussing his track on our PIV ADE sampler. After that we started talking more and more via WhatsApp about nerdy production stuff. Fabian really knows his stuff when it comes to samplers and gear, and I have the same interest and passion for new ways of making music but also looking back to how the OGs did this. I guess because of this we started talking more and more. One day I posted a small snippet of The Answer on my IG story, Fabe replied that he liked it. I proposed two more tracks and we even got Dan Ghenacia on the remix, which is something very special for me. Dan has been one of my heroes ever since I started listening to underground music.
Fast forward and we finally got to meet in real life in Amsterdam during ADE, and the next year during ADE we played a B2B set at PIV. Great vibes!
WWD: What inspiration did you draw from for the production of this EP?
I really see this EP as the start of a new era. I must admit that my sound has been changing a little bit over the past year, and ever since I’ve been making what I really really love, things have been going so fast. This EP really shows the vibe I want to portrait as M-High: straight up 90’s grooves, no swing, the snares in the right place and a phat 808 hat loop that rolls through the track like a train.
Unlike my other EP’s, this EP is much less focused on scoring that ‘hit’, but more so on just releasing what I love listening to and would play as a DJ.
WWD: What made you think Dan Ghenacia would be perfect for the remix? How did that link-up come about?
Oh man, usually it takes so long to find a remixer, but Dan was literally one of the first names on my list. Apollonia has been a huge inspiration to my current sound. The gritty 90’s stuff they play always makes me feel so inspired and happy. So, to see Dan Ghenacia and my name on the same EP, is like a dream to me.
WWD: You’re the A&R for the legendary PIV Records! What flavours guide your decision when your selecting new artists for the label?
Well, as I explain to a lot of producers that send music on a daily basis: DON’T send what we already release. If it’s sounding like one of our releases, chances are high I’m not going to sign it. We’re always looking for that new fresh sound, that might sound a little cliché, but it’s just how it works. My personal taste is sometimes a bit deeper than what works for the PIV label, but I have the feeling that I know just right what will work. We’re also working on a cool project that really brings back the underground life to the label, more on that later!
WWD: PIV has grown into a powerhouse of a label in the recent years. What do you think drove this?
Consistency, hard work, and above all, one vision. Prunk and the team just know where we want to be as a label in say, 5 years, and if you have a common goal, you’re able to work towards it as a team with much better effort. Also, our releases dominate the charts every single time, so the exposure is great on that side of the industry as well. I think a big part of it is that the people who work at PIV are just really down to earth, sweet and loving people. And that alone takes you a very very long way.
WWD: Would you say you guys are a family?
1000% The team really feels like a family. We have been on so many amazing adventures together, all over the world. I think when you travel, party, laugh, eat, and work together on a weekly basis, you will become family without a doubt. It’s funny that we’re a bunch of people that are so different from one another, but this is exactly the thing that makes it so much fun. Everyone fills up their own little cog in the loving machine that is PIV.
WWD: What record never leaves your bag?
Oh man, I have so many records I have RINSED! But, I found this old 90’s record over at Seawolf in Amsterdam that has a sick groove and contains some nasty vocals. The label is completely white, so no idea what it is. All I know is that I’ve never ever heard it before. I play it so many times! And just to name one more so that I actually spill the beans on an ID: Hey MR Deejay (Cathedral Stab Mix) is a track I played a lot the past year, it really is an energy shifter. I always play this one whenever I feel the party is ready for the next tier in energy levels.
WWD: What artists inspire you most and why?
Oh man, if I’m honest, I’m inspired by so many people! It totally depends on what area of music you mean. If it comes down to performing, KINK is a legend to me. The way he just made live performing next level, he is ACTUALLY making music live. I’m hoping, that one day, I’ll be able to incorporate such a thing into my sets as well. When it comes to production, I have been really loving what Liquid Earth has been releasing recently. Also, Alex Neri, Fantastic Man, Gene On Earth and Yamen & Eda are people I listen to when I need some inspiration. The music they find and play always gives me some sort of inspiration for my own music.
WWD: What has been your favourite venue to play so far in your career?
I’d say either Amnesia Ibiza, Shelter Amsterdam, Printworks London or Fabric London. All special in their own way! I’ll be back at fabric august 5th to close room 1!
WWD: What artists do you listen to outside of the studio and DJ Booth?
I’m a big sucker for old hip hop, the old old stuff. Gritty drums, grooves, and feelings! Also, I’m a big lover of the golden age of rock (Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Pink Floyd, and of course many many more). When I play the piano, I like to play classical and jazz, but I’m not really listening to that that often. Apart from that I also have a HUGE love for Drum and Bass, preferably the old Jungle stuff and the 2000’s era stuff. Mega stuff!
WWD: What up-and-coming artists have you got your eye on at the moment? Who should we be looking at?
There is so much talent out there. For me the difference lies in originality, nowadays everyone can make a good sounding track in my opinion, but making something truly unique is very hard. Some artists I’ve been loving lately are Retrouve, they make amazing music, on a musical and on a technical level. It sounds just underground and gritty enough, but always keeps that touch so that also less underground people can enjoy it. I have known these guys for a while now, I used to live in Haarlem and they were friends of a friends friend, if that makes sense. One day they sent me music via that one friend, and I was blown away, instantly signing an EP on PIV with them. Another artist I have been loving is Mateo Dufour, his sound is just what I love! He’s obviously way past “up and coming” but I feel this dude is going to make it in the scene.
WWD: What does the rest of the 2023 hold for M-High? What new releases do you have in the pipeline you can share with us?
Ohhhhhh man! I wish I could name the labels I signed EP’s to. Not in a million years I would have thought these labels would sign my stuff. But, it happened. I have 4 more EP’s in the pipeline, and I can say that it’s my best and original sounding material so far. I literally cannot wait till 2024! In 2023 I have one or two more EP’s planned, one coming as fast as august. The next EP is a bit less hype and more of a package full with nice little groovers. I also love showing that side of mine sometimes. ☺
Many thanks guys!
M-High’s “The Answer” EP is out now on Salty Nuts. Grab it here.
M-High: Facebook / SoundCloud / Instagram