INTERVIEW: MARBS

In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic music, few artists manage to strike a perfect balance between raw emotion and high-energy soundscapes. Marbs is one such creator, crafting music that resonates on both a personal and dancefloor level. From their journey of self-discovery in the studio to the influences that shaped their sonic identity, they share insights into their creative process, the evolution of their tracks, and their vision for the future of electronic music. In this conversation, we explore the inspiration behind their latest work, the challenges of knowing when a track is truly "finished," and the impact of running a label on their artistic growth.

1. Your music often tells a deeper story beyond just beats. What’s the narrative behind Tidal Break EP?

-  This EP explores the dualities of life. That feeling of “I’ve found my way and I’m in flow” to only be met by unexpected turns and hard seasons. Its what makes life whole and I wanted to express this through these two tracks. Toroidal explores this heavily with the uplifting vocal that then fragments and fractures into twisting turns within the drops and intrumentals. Breaking is more focused on the hard seasons we have to weather and is a full dive into a more experimental side of my sounds.

2. Toroidal plays with unexpected shifts. Do you enjoy taking risks in your music?

-  Absolutely. For me music and art have to take risks, they have to be unexpected at times. Art and music should reflect life... and life is an ever changing and turbulent experience. The risks and unexpectedness of life is integral into the human experience and for me my creations should reflect that.

3. What emotions were you trying to capture in Breaking?

- This track iscfocused on weathering the hardest seasons ~ a deep heavy break beat groove matched with a weighted and heavy vocal. Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies as we all know, and I was clearly going through a hard season when I wrote this track. The irony in it is I always find beauty in my darkest tracks and I like to think that’s a lesson in life. There is beauty in everything if we pay attention.

4. From underground parties to global recognition, what’s been the most surreal moment in your career?

-  This is a tough one. I’ve had a lot of moments in my career that I never thought I would have reached if you asked me when I was a young gun. Getting a remix by one of my lifelong influences ~ Damian Lazarus ~ during the pandemic was a huge one. I couldn’t believe it was real at first. Seeing my first release on Desert Hearts Black being played by Dubfire / Deepdish at Coachella (a festival I had been going to well before I ever made music or played Dj sets) was a very surreal moment... and then I always have surreal moments at our Desert Hearts festival. The festival is everything to us, and especially last year when we found our new home at Playa Ponderosa ~ when we did our family set at the end ~ I was in tears, I couldn’t believe we finally got back to that moment after so many hard years during and after the pandemic. I know this isn’t one moment, but it’s impossible to pick just one. Im constantly reminded of how grateful I am to be doing what I’m doing.

5. How do you see Desert Hearts evolving in the next five years?

-  Well we found our new home at Playa Ponderosa near Flagstaff, AZ last year. Moving the festival out of California was a scary and big move, but it couldn’t have felt better. We know we found our new home and we have so much opportunity to dream big again. This means expanding our community, bigger art, more music, more experiences, and massive growth for both us as a brand and our community. With this new change will come exciting new evolution with what we’re trying to create.

6. What’s the most unconventional sound or technique you’ve used in a track?

- Probably my approach to Toroidal. It’s the happiest and most uplifting vocal I’ve probably ever used, but instead of mimicking that energy in the instrumental elements I decided to flip it on its head to reflect the duality of life. This was a risk and a bit unnerving but its what felt right and the most authentic to how I was feeling in that moment. I’m really happy I took the track in that direction because it feels very “me” and I hope it makes people feel a bit of what I felt when making it. It’s not a “on the nose” dance floor banger, its for the heads and I think that intention paid off.

7. Music is deeply personal. How do you stay authentic while also pushing your sound forward?

- All my creations have to be an expression and reflection of who I am. If I go into the studio with the intention of making a chart topper banger it never feels right. As I get older its more important to me to make something real that gives listeners a deeper look at myself. I think this naturally propels my sound forward and makes it more unique.

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