I started DJing in 2008, playing Top 40 at college bars and frat parties before getting introduced to trance music, which eventually pushed me into production. I spent years producing and DJing in the trance world up until 2017, then stepped away from music for a while before launching the HIWATER project in 2023.

The first track that truly pulled me into electronic music was “Lift” by Sean Tyas. There was something about the emotion, energy, and scale of it that completely shifted my perspective on what music could feel like. That moment opened the door into trance for me, and even today, a lot of the emotion and tension in my music still traces back to discovering records like that.

What brought me back years later was hearing artists like Anyma, Korolova, Silver Panda, Adriatique, KREAM, and Argy. Their music reminded me that electronic music could still feel emotional, cinematic, and powerful while evolving into something darker and more forward-thinking. After stepping away from music for a while, hearing that sound sparked something in me again and ultimately led to the creation of HIWATER.

Cinematic. Driving. Emotional.

I like to feel comfortable on stage, so it’s usually a black oversized tee, black pants that allow movement, a bomber jacket, and Vans high tops. Add in the earbuds and a chain, and that’s pretty much the fit.

A little bit of both. I like keeping things minimal and understated, but still intentional. I’d rather the overall presence and energy stand out naturally than force it through loud outfits.

I usually get there early to catch the vibe from the opener or supporting acts and settle into the energy of the room before my set, then catch up with friends in the green room for a bit. After that, I’ll quickly go over what I have loaded on my USBs again and lock in the opening track because that first song really sets the tone for the entire night for both me and the crowd.

Argy and KREAM are two artists I always seem to come back to, both in my sets and for inspiration. They each have a way of balancing emotion, tension, and energy that really connects with me, and their records always seem to hit at the right moment on a dancefloor.

A lot of it comes from music culture, nightlife, and the environments around shows honestly. I gravitate toward clean darker tones, pieces that feel timeless, comfortable, and a little understated rather than chasing trends.

I think a lot of people only see the highlight moments online, the shows, releases, support from bigger artists, but there’s a massive amount of work happening behind the scenes that people never see. You’re trying to balance life, relationships, careers, long nights in the studio, radio show prep, sorting through promos, uploads, downloads, flights, travel, creating visuals and marketing around releases, while still finding time to actually stay creative. When you go all in on this world, there honestly never feels like enough time in the day. A lot of sleepless nights go into building something meaningful in electronic music.

Deep glacial cyan. Cold, cinematic, and futuristic, but still emotional underneath. The kind of color that feels like city lights reflecting through fog and water at night, which is pretty close to how I hear my music visually.

I represent authenticity, growth, and creative freedom. My journey as an artist has been about taking risks, evolving, and staying true to a vision that feels genuine rather than following expectations.

Through HIWATER, I try to create music that connects people emotionally, whether they're coming from completely different backgrounds or sharing the same experience in a crowd. I believe music has a unique way of bringing people together through a common feeling, and that's something I want my work to contribute to.

I also represent the idea that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Starting HIWATER was a leap into the unknown, and it taught me the value of trusting your instincts, embracing change, and building something that reflects who you are rather than who others expect you to be.