GET TO KNOW
In a candid conversation with Julian Anthony, the artist opened up about some of the most personal aspects of his life—fatherhood, his love for vinyl, and the ever-evolving journey of his music career. What stood out the most was how grounded and genuine he remains, even as his world shifts with the arrival of his daughter.
Julian recently stepped into a new role: being a dad. He laughed when I asked him how fatherhood has chan- ged him, admitting,
“It’s definitely an adjustment, but honestly, I’m used to sleepless nights!”
The sleepless nights he’s faced as a DJ touring late hours have helped him prepare for the new chaos that comes with a newborn. Right now, he’s choosing to stay close to home, focusing on gigs in the Netherlands to keep family life manageable.
Though becoming a father hasn’t drastically altered his music-making yet, his daily rhythm has shifted.
“So far, it hasn’t really impacted my creative process. I find myself working during the day while the little one sleeps, and I can still squeeze in some music-making time, especially since it’s easy to work on my laptop. As for my sets, the energy hasn’t changed much yet, since I’m not doing much touring outside the country at the moment”.
For Julian, family comes first, no question.
“I want to be there for my family, but I’m lucky because I’ve got an amazing partner who gets what it’s like to be in this business,” he said.
Five days of the week, he’s fully focused on his family, which means his studio time has taken a slight hit. But he’s not in a rush.
“Once things settle, I’ll be back in the studio regularly,” he shared.
Julian’s connection to vinyl is deep. He still spins vinyl at his gigs, and when he talks about it, there’s a spark in his eye.
“There’s just something about putting a record on the turntable and cueing up the first beat that digital for- mats can’t
match.You can only bring so many records, so it forces you to be creative with what you’ve got,” he said.
It also helps him slow down, preventing him from rushing through mixes—a common temptation when playing digitally.
“Vinyl keeps me more engaged with the flow of the set,” he admitted.
Julian’s vinyl collection is a source of pride, one that’s grown significantly, especially during the pandemic. When the world slowed down, so did his production, but instead of stepping away from music, he leaned into record digging.
“I was spending at least six hours a day searching for new records,” he recalled.
It wasn’t just about finding tracks, but about discove- ring new genres, artists, and sounds that would even- tually shape his future sets and productions.
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Though most of his digging now happens online, Julian still cherishes the thrill of visiting record stores, espe- cially when he’s touring abroad.
“Every country has its own unique vibe, and you’ll find records in local shops that you just can’t get anywhere else,” he said.
For him, it’s like collecting pieces of history, snapshots of the music culture from different parts of the world. With such an extensive collection, Julian has the lu- xury of crafting sets tailored to any crowd. He thrives on this versatility, noting,
“I love playing for different crowds and seeing how they react.”
A recent festival saw him playing his first official te- chno set, while the next day he was back to his roots with a house and garage set.
“The dream has always been to play whatever I feel in the moment, without being boxed into one sound or genre,” he shared.
This year has been a big one for Julian. Releases on respected labels like Dungeon Meat, X-Kalay, and even Fabric have marked key moments in his journey. Des- pite this, he’s quick to downplay how prolific he’s been.
“A lot of people think I’ve put out a ton of music, but I’m really careful with what I release. Every EP or track has to mean something—it has to represent where I’m at in my career,” he said.
His recent X-Kalay release, for example, reflects his re- turn to the studio post-COVID, directly inspired by the energy and sounds he absorbed from the dancefloor. Meanwhile, his Dungeon Meat EP took over four years to complete. The artwork for that EP, which features a Samurai version of himself in anime style, is a nod to one of his lifelong passions.
When it comes to his creative process, Julian keeps things simple. He starts by searching for samples— whether on records, YouTube, or in sample packs—and once he has a loop, he builds from there.
“I’m not the type to sit in the studio for hours on end,” he confessed.
Instead, he keeps his projects open, adding to them whenever inspiration strikes throughout the day.
As Julian looks to the future, there’s plenty to be ex- cited about. He’s got new music in the works and big plans for 2025, including the possibility of launching his own label. Special back-to-back sets with artists like Fafi Abdel Nour, Elias Mazian, and Carlos Valdes are also on the horizon.
In January, he’s heading to South America for a tour, and he’s hoping to secure a U.S. visa soon for potential tours there. But with all that’s coming, fatherhood has also sparked something new in his music.
“I just made a track this week named after my daugh- ter. It’s my first time back in the studio since she was born,” he said, clearly moved by the experience.
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