Where Liverpool roots meet modern dancefloors
“It probably sounds quite cliché, but my first trip to Ibiza back in 2018 was a massive turning point for me. I remember standing on the dancefloor at ANTS in Ushuaïa Ibiza and thinking, This is what I want to do. At that point, I hadn’t really thought about the logistics of it all, but something just clicked.”
For Candidate, clarity came in an instant. At the time, reality back home couldn’t have been further removed. He was preparing to move to Leeds to study Chemical Engineering, with music very much sitting on the side. There was no master plan, no safety net, just a feeling he couldn’t ignore.
“I was heading to Leeds after that trip, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but we made it work.”
Instead of choosing between structure and instinct, he committed to both. That balance would quietly become the foundation of everything that followed.
A City That Shapes You
Growing up in Liverpool
“I grew up in Liverpool, which is renowned for its rich musical heritage. From The Beatles to the city’s rave culture in the 80s and 90s, there’s just so much history there.”
Liverpool’s influence runs deep. Long before Candidate ever thought about releasing records, he was surrounded by a city that lived and breathed music. Iconic spaces like Quadrant Park and Cream didn’t just host nights, they shaped scenes, sounds, and generations.
“Being from Liverpool definitely meant I was exposed to so many different types of music, and all of that has probably consciously or subconsciously shaped my sound over the years.”
Those early influences still surface today, not in obvious ways, but through groove, swing, and the way his tracks feel on a dancefloor.
Sound Without Borders
Hip-house roots with a modern edge
“I don’t like to pigeonhole myself too much when describing my sound. I prefer going into the studio with an open mind.”
Candidate’s productions don’t follow a strict formula. Some days lead to uplifting, house-driven tracks. Others drift into deeper, more stripped-back territory. What connects everything is feel rather than genre.
“That said, there’s usually a nod to 90s house and hip-house in my productions. I spent a lot of time early on listening to house records from the 1990s, and I think that influence naturally comes through.”
For Candidate, it’s about taking something familiar and reframing it.
“I love taking something from that era and giving it a modern spin, rather than trying to recreate it exactly.”
Breakthrough Moments
From first releases to Bass Revolution
Candidate first caught attention in 2023 when his debut track Sore Feet Society landed on Jamie Jones’ Hottrax label as part of the Tripleution compilation. It was a quiet but important introduction to the underground house community.
Then everything accelerated.
“I actually made Bass Revolution in less than two hours. It was one of those moments where everything just came together really quickly.”
After sending the track to Max Dean, East End Dubs, and ALISHA, Candidate woke up the next morning to something he hadn’t expected.
“I opened Instagram and saw all three of them playing it out at their shows. That was an unreal feeling.”
Released on Max Dean’s NeXup imprint, the EP hit number one on Beatport within 48 hours, opening doors almost overnight.
“It definitely gave me a confidence boost and opened a lot of opportunities, but I think it’s really important to never get too comfortable. The scene is constantly evolving, and you’ve got to keep working to stay relevant.”
Support That Hits Different
Full-circle moments
“It’s always amazing seeing your music played out by people you’ve looked up to. The buzz you get from it is like no other.”
For Candidate, some of that support carries extra weight. Early on, he learned to produce using Syntho, back when many of the tutorials were created by Josh Baker.
“I think a lot of the tips and advice from those early videos definitely fed into my music, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.”
Seeing those same artists now play his records feels like a full-circle moment, one that reinforces the importance of staying grounded and consistent.
Collaboration and the Dancefloor
Built in the studio, proven in the club
For Candidate, collaboration is less about strategy and more about momentum. When ideas slow down, bringing another voice into the room often unlocks something new. That’s where his partnership with fellow Liverpool DJ Saigon comes in.
“We’re really good friends, and we also share a studio in Liverpool. Sometimes, if one of us is struggling to make something individually, we’ll just jump in the studio together and start a project.”
With shared taste and an intuitive understanding of each other’s workflow, their sessions often move quickly and naturally.
“We have very similar taste in music and understand each other’s workflow really well, so a lot of our favourite productions come out of those sessions.”
That chemistry has already resulted in multiple releases, including Ladies & Gentlemen on Three Six Zero Recordings and the Steady On EP on Archie Hamilton’s MicroHertz label.
Those records are shaped by real dancefloors. Candidate has steadily built his reputation behind the decks, playing venues like Lab11 and 93 Feet East, party brands such as Eastenderz and Flow, and standout international shows like After Caposile in Italy.
“If I had to pick one, playing at After Caposile really stands out. The crowd and the energy there are just next level.”
That experience reinforced how closely DJing and producing are linked.
“I’ll structure an intro or breakdown a certain way because I know it works best in my sets.”
Looking Ahead
Staying grounded in a fast-moving scene
“One thing I’ve learned is that the scene is constantly and quickly changing, sometimes for the better and sometimes for worse.”
Beyond releases on Hottrax, NeXup, MicroHertz, and PIV Records, Candidate continues to give back through Syntho tutorials and his own sample packs.
“This is how I learned to make music in the first place, so it only feels right to help others in the same way.”
For him, community is essential.
“These are the people who’ll be listening to your music, coming to your gigs, and supporting you.”
As momentum continues to build, Candidate’s mindset remains unchanged. Stay true to yourself. Make music you genuinely believe in. Let everything else follow.