When the Music Does the Talking
Raised on Everything
Growing up in Brighton, DAETOR was never just a house music kid. He was growing up through a blend of genres. His parents had old school garage on constantly. His brother pulled him into grime. That led to dubstep, drum and bass, then EDM. By the time he first walked into a club at 18, house music was waiting for him like the final piece of something that had been building itself.
"From a really young age I was exposed to such a wide variety of music, and I loved all of it."
One track in particular stuck with him as the pivotal moment in the start of his journey.
"I remember when I started getting more into house music and heard Kerri Chandler's Atmosphere for the first time. When it cuts out and it's just the bass playing, then the trumpets start layering up and the strings pull it into that classic stripped back 909 house groove, it never fails to make you feel good."
The alias came from a notepad and a bit of luck.
"I was honestly just messing around on a notepad using letters from my name to come up with some obscure alias that looked different. DAETOR popped up and I liked the look of it. Then later on I found out through Wikipedia that Daetor was apparently the name of a warrior in the Trojan War, which definitely sounds a lot cooler."
The Show That Made It Real
In 2019 something shifted. He went to We Are Festival and watched Pawsa and Michael Bibi play a Solid Grooves stage. That was it. His goal was there now it was time to get started.
"After seeing Pawsa and Michael Bibi play, it was pretty much set in stone that this was something I wanted to do."
That same year he downloaded FL Studio and started trying to recreate the sounds he was hearing on nights out. A year in he moved to Ableton. That is when things started picking up pace.
"I also collaborated regularly with my good friend Sway-B. We'd spend hours messing around with synths and making some pretty crazy stuff. Sessions like that really helped open up my sound. When I first started producing, I had a much more minimalist approach, but collaborating with other people introduced me to completely different ways of making music and really changed the way I thought creatively."
From a Notepad to the Beatport Charts
Labels That Mean Something
The Best Is Still Ahead
One Million Streams and a Lesson in Timing
No Hiding became his breakthrough moment. One million streams. Number one on the Beatport Overall Releases Chart. But the road to that point was not straightforward.
"When I was making the track, the goal was to create something that really made a moment on the dance floor. It used a palette of atmospheric sounds, and as soon as I found the vocal, it instantly felt like something special."
"The track also taught me a lot about timing. When I first played it out, it didn't get the reaction I'd hoped for, so I ended up leaving it alone for a few months. Then after my Belief EP, I sent it over to East End Dubs and he instantly wanted it for Eastenderz. That completely caught me off guard because it was so unexpected, but then seeing videos of him playing it out and watching the reaction it got was surreal."
The track changed things. Not just the numbers but the confidence.
"It definitely feels like a real turning point for me. A lot of opportunities came off the back of that release, and it gave me a lot more confidence in what I was doing creatively. I think it also showed me the importance of making music that feels genuine instead of overthinking everything."
Every label DAETOR has released on is one he respected long before they ever came calling. Nexup, Heavy House Society, Eastenderz. Not just big names of people who own labels but a sound that has shaped and resonates with him and his craft.
"I've looked up to Heavy House Society and Eastenderz for years because of the consistency and quality they've maintained over such a long period of time. They've both played a huge role in shaping the sound of the scene, so having them believe in my music and want to support it was a massive moment for me personally."
"More than anything, having support from labels like those gives you confidence that your sound is connecting with the right people. Every release has taught me something different, and I'm grateful to work with teams that genuinely care about the music and culture around it."
Having the belief in yourself and then seeing it reflect on the labels who trust you, is fuel that adds to DAETOR and everything he is building toward. With that ownership mindset is starting to take shape on his own terms too.
"It's actually something I experimented with in the past, but looking back I think I was probably a bit too early in my journey to be releasing music fully independently. Now that more time has passed and I've released a lot more music, it's definitely something I'd like to explore properly in the near future. I think there's a lot of value in having full creative control and building something that fully represents you as an artist."
"I've also released some music through Bandcamp before, and I think it's a really great platform for artists to get music out there directly and connect with people who genuinely support what they do. It feels a lot more personal in that sense, which I really like."
BBC Radio 1 and Staying Grounded
Two consecutive plays of Eclipse on BBC Radio 1 Future Dance with Sarah Story was the kind of moment that makes everything feel real. Followed by support from Josh Baker, Max Dean, Chris Stussy, East End Dubs and Sidney Charles. All of these things are taken as a reason to work harder and keep the foot on the gas.
"Seeing artists you respect supporting your music is a really good feeling, especially when they're people whose sets and productions you've followed for years. At the same time though, I try not to overthink it too much or change my approach because of it. I think the most important thing is staying true to what feels natural creatively, because that's usually when the best music comes out."
Away from the music, life in Brighton is straightforward. He still works full time as an engineer alongside everything else, and keeping that balance is something he is very intentional about.
"A normal day is probably a lot less glamorous than people might expect, to be honest. I'm still working full time as an engineer alongside the music, so a lot of it is about finding the right balance between work and DAETOR stuff, which can definitely be tricky at times. Because time is quite limited, I try to stay organised and plan my weeks ahead as much as possible so I can make the most of the time I do have."
Switching off is something he is still figuring out.
"Honestly, I think unwinding is something I still struggle with a bit. Between working full time and trying to balance music around that, it can feel like there's always something that needs doing or thinking about."
When he does manage to switch off it is usually the simple things.
"Spending quality time with my girlfriend, walking the dog, going to the gym, swimming, or working on the house we recently moved into. I think having things outside of music that keep you grounded is really important, especially in an industry where it can feel like everything's constantly moving."
2026 is shaping up to be his biggest year yet and he has got plenty in the pipeline to back that up.
"People can definitely expect a lot more music this year, but also a slightly deeper direction from me in places. I've been spending a lot of time refining my sound and trying to make records that feel more timeless and personal rather than chasing trends."
"My next release is a four track EP coming out on Georgia Records, which I'm really excited about. That's also going to be getting a vinyl release, which has been a personal goal of mine for a long time, so that feels like a huge moment for me."
Creamfields. The festival where he first camped out with his friends, now the stage he wants to play most. Part of the bucket list that needs to be checked off.
"It was actually the first festival where I did a full camping weekend with all my friends, so I've got a lot of good memories connected to it as well. Being able to play there one day would definitely be a real full circle moment for me."
The music has always been there. The scene is starting to notice. There is a lot more to come from DAETOR and we are here for all of it.