Sleepless Nights with Daktyl

With undeniable skills and the melodic rhythms to match, London based producer Daktyl has been hitting it big with original tracks and remixes for everyone from Flosstradamus to Odesza.  In 2014, Daktyl released an 11 track album on L.A. based label Mad Decent, making him one of the only British artists on their roster. The album, Cyclical was released on the 21st of April 2015 and reached #14 in the US Electronic iTunes chart.

Photography and Interview by Mike Greene

Mike: What was it like growing up as a producer in Britain? How was the underground scene, and is that reflected in your music?

Daktyl: It definitely is. It’s really interesting as Britain is such a melting pot, there are so many amazing musicians there. Growing up I listened to a lot of acoustic and indie rock. My brother who ran a big drum and bass night club up in leeds really got me into the music. Obviously its such a big scene in the UK, so I kinda grew up listening to that. That inspired me a lot for the music that I create today.

Mike: Was there any artist in particular that you, your parents, or your brother listened to that had a profounding effect on your love for music?

Daktyl: My mom is genuinely one of those screaming Beatles fans (laughs) so she was always listening to them, along with the Beach Boys, and loads of Bob Dylan, so maybe that affected the way I make music today. It’s hard to say though because there was always orchestral symphonic music as well playing and a lot of classical cause my dad was into that. They weren’t that musical themselves they just had really good taste.

“It’s still a mindfuck that people are actually coming to my shows and downloading my music and following me. It’s a crazy feeling.”

Mike: An artist’s music is typically a reflection of themselves in one form of another. What does your music say about you?

Daktyl: That is a really interesting question! I guess what my music says about me is that I make music that i love making and there’s nothing else to it, i just enjoy everything about it. I don’t know, I sit down in my studio and whatever comes out, comes out.

Mike: You’re from Britain and now travel the world doing what you love. What’s the biggest insight you’ve gained on cultures and people in general?

Daktyl: Wow, that’s a deep question! I would say people in music especially in the electronic music world that I’ve encountered have all been really nice and amazingly down to earth. Everyone I’ve worked with has been great and I haven’t really encountered any egos or anyone you might think might have a bad stereotype being in the music industry. It’s been awesome, I love traveling and meeting new people and I think this is the best kind of education in that it allows you to experience new cultures and open your mind to different forms of thought.

Mike: Have you learned anything about your fans that’s inspired you, and or reflected in your music?

Daktyl: Definitely yeah! It’s still a mindfuck that people are actually coming to my shows and downloading my music and following me. It’s a crazy feeling. I’m trying to think of specific examples – there have been people who have said my music has helped them recover from heroin addiction. There was an Israeli tank driver that hit me up whos tank commander died and was saying how all he wanted to do was make music but he wasn’t able to due to the war. There’s been some very deep conversations that I’ve had with my fans and it’s all been part of the learning experience.

Mike: Have you learned anything about yourself in particular that’s surprised you after your journey thus far?

Daktyl: I’ve learned I could stay up later than I thought i could, for a consecutive number of days (laughs)

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