Music doesn’t arrive as a fixed idea — music is movement, inspired by cities, feelings, late nights, and the people orbiting around them. Australian producer 1tbsp builds his world exactly there, somewhere between club energy and emotional instinct. His new single Soulseek, created together with Columbian-American artist Soltera, captures that tension: intimate yet explosive, playful yet searching.
“I think through DJing, unpredictability is so fun to play with,” he tells us, describing the track as an entry point into a wider sonic landscape. Written across flights, hotel rooms and sessions in between travels, the song reflects a process guided by presence — “walking around an exciting city with new sounds, then heading into a dull space feels best.”
The collaboration with Soltera came at exactly the right time: “Our collaboration came at a good time for both of us, having a new voice & ideas to bounce off.” That connection now continues beyond the studio, as the two artists head out together on the North American bubble tour.
We caught up with Maxwell Byrne to talk about unpredictability, community, the upcoming album, and the new single and its video, directed by him and co-directed by Tom Ward.
photography by James Caswell
Hey Maxwell! Lovely to talk to you! I really love your new song “Soulseek.” It feels both futuristic and nostalgic at the same time. You described the track as a kind of duality — what draws you so much to that sense of unpredictability?
Hi! Thank you! I think through DJing, unpredictability is so fun to play with, and if anyone’s come to a 1tbsp show, they know that the set often covers quite a lot of ground. So on this new album that I’m making, I wanted to reflect that, and I felt that Soulseek was an interesting opener into that world.
You started the instrumental on a flight, finished parts in a garage studio, and reshaped it back in Australia. Do all these different cities change the emotional temperature of your music?
I think it must for sure! But it somehow feels easier to make a nice idea in a cheap hotel, or crammed on a plane rather than a studio space overlooking nature for some reason. Walking around an exciting city with new sounds, then heading into a dull space feels best. And then who I’m around, I think, is most pivotal!
Soltera & I made Soulseek after a trip to Mexico City together for a dotnight (label party) and the inspiration walking away from that show was high. A couple of days after we started Soulseek, we also went to Portola Festival in San Francisco and saw the Underworld set together. Hugely inspiring, it definitely seeped into the second half of this track.
Why was Soltera the right person for this track — not only just musically but also emotionally?
Hmm, just that Soltera is very creative and has interesting ideas, but also is a lovely person. We had a really nice first session together and after I saw a Soltera show I was hooked, it was so energetic and mesmerising. I think our collaboration came at a good time for both of us, having a new voice & ideas to bounce off.
“I wish I had more hours in the day, there’s so many ideas that I want to make.”
You described the ending as influenced by underground community parties. What makes a party feel like a community rather than just a crowd?
Yeah, my partner is tapped into this lovely community-forward underground scene here in Sydney and so I started tagging along. And slowly the music has started seeping into what I was listening to and making. But I think what makes a party community-forward is the intention set by the party throwers in collaboration with the attendees. And when there’s a strong communication & trust between both sides, really special events can take place.
The video fits the track perfectly — it feels chaotic and intensely powerful. What’s the story behind it?
Thanks! Soulseek felt to me like it needed a video. I ended up organising some dotnights (label parties) in Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne, sort of to help afford Soltera coming over to Australia. Around those parties we shot this music video, that I co-directed with my friend Tom Ward. We liked this idea of water having special properties, and Soltera being out of sync with everyone around her.
“Soulseek” is also the first glimpse of your forthcoming album — what can we expect from it? (smiles)
I think it’s very multi-genre and quite vocal forward.
“Playing it out when people know the song can be a pretty special moment.”
Best moment: finishing a track or playing it live?
I love making the music the most, but I would say with this 1tbsp project, playing it out when people know the song can be a pretty special moment.
You also announced your North American “bubble tour” with Soltera joining as main support. How do you prepare for a tour mentally and physically?
Yeah the last month I’ve been exercising a lot, eating well, sorting my life admin out, going to the dentist. I would say the lack of sleep + high energy of the show into the low energy of the airport is what gets me the most.
Why the name bubble tour?
If you come to one of the shows you’ll see why!
(Laughs) Okay!
And finally — what still excites you about making music today?
Ahh, it’s infinitely exciting, I wish I had more hours in the day, there’s so many ideas that I want to make. I love working out of concepts for projects, and then trying to fill in that world with songs.
Listen to Soulseek here: bfan.link/1tbsp-soulseek
Follow 1tbsp for more:
www.instagram.com/1tbsp.dj
www.facebook.com/1tbsp.dj
soundcloud.com/1tbsp
www.tiktok.com/@ma.xwell.b
