The Story Behind Souls Decay

Arriving as a reflective split EP rather than a conventional collaboration, Souls Decay captures two parallel artistic voices shaped by shared history, trust, and evolving perspective. Built on over a decade of creative dialogue between longtime friends, the release moves beyond functional club music into a space where vulnerability, restraint, and intention take center stage. Released via Human Machine Wisdom at a symbolic milestone for the label, the project explores the delicate tension between human intuition and electronic structure.

Souls Decay arrives as a split EP rather than a collaboration on every track. What did the split format allow you to express that a full joint project might not have?

The split format gave us space to speak honestly in our own voices while still being part of a shared statement. Kevin and I have a deep connection, but we’re also very different artists. Rather than blending everything into a single aesthetic, the split EP allowed us to present two perspectives shaped by the same history. It reflects mutual respect, standing next to each other rather than merging into one. In a way, that makes the connection even clearer.

You and Kevin Over have shared a friendship and artistic dialogue for over a decade. How has that long-term connection influenced your decision-making on this release, consciously or unconsciously?

Time builds trust, and trust changes how you make decisions. There’s no need to impress each other anymore, only to be honest. That unconsciously raises the standard. Every choice on this EP comes from a place of confidence and openness, knowing the other person understands where you’re coming from. The music benefits from that depth because nothing feels rushed or forced.

The title Souls Decay suggests both vulnerability and reflection. What personal or artistic ideas were you exploring while shaping your contribution to the EP?

"Souls Decay" isn’t about darkness for its own sake. It’s about acknowledging erosion of ideals, of energy, of innocence and asking what remains underneath. Artistically, I was exploring restraint, space, and intention. Letting things breathe. Vulnerability comes from allowing imperfection and honesty into the process, rather than hiding behind functionality or trends.

You’ve both stepped away from purely club-focused music in recent years. What felt different about returning to the club context now, and what standards did you set for yourself this time?

This time, the motivation came from within, not from the scene. Returning to club music only made sense once it aligned with our current values. The standard was simple but strict, timelessness. No shortcuts, no formula, no pressure to deliver something that “works” immediately. The question was always "Would this still make sense years from now?"

As a vinyl collector with wide-ranging influences, how do non-club genres continue to inform your production, even when you’re writing for the dancefloor?

Vinyl culture teaches patience and curiosity. When you listen across genres, you start paying attention to arrangement, tone, silence, and emotion, not just rhythm. Even in club tracks, those elements matter. Non-club music reminds me that groove doesn’t have to be obvious and that tension can be subtle. That mindset always finds its way into our productions.

Human Machine Wisdom marks a symbolic milestone with this release. What about the label’s ethos made it the right home for such a personal project?

Human Machine Wisdom stands for human-made electronic music. It carries a quiet but clear critique of automation, efficiency, and the idea that electronic music should function like a machine. In that sense, it echoes the question Kraftwerk once posed with „Die Mensch-Maschine“. Where does the human end, and where does the machine begin? "Souls Decay" lives exactly in that space. It’s electronic music shaped by intuition, imperfection, and lived experience rather than systems or formulas. The label’s ethos values intention over output and wisdom over speed, which made it the right environment for such a personal and reflective project, especially at a symbolic catalog milestone.

You and Kevin Over have released on labels like Madhouse Records and Rough Recordings in the past. How do you feel your sound and priorities have evolved since those earlier chapters?

Those releases were essential chapters. Energetic, exploratory, very much of their time. Today, the priorities have shifted. It’s less about presence and more about meaning. The sound has become more distilled, more focused on atmosphere and longevity. Experience teaches you that doing less can often say more.

The EP is released one day before Valentine’s Day, framed as a gesture of friendship rather than romance. How important is it for you to highlight platonic bonds and long-term trust in electronic music culture?

It’s extremely important. Electronic music is often about individualism or short-lived connections, but long-term friendships are what truly sustain creative cultures. Releasing „Souls Decay“ as a gesture of friendship is a reminder that trust, shared history, and mutual growth are powerful forces. Not everything meaningful has to be romantic, some of the deepest bonds are built on respect and time.

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