In a short space of time, Ian Asher has emerged as one of the most exciting young names in electronic music. Blending infectious energy with a sharp instinct for what works both online and on the dancefloor, the DJ and producer has been turning heads with his rapidly growing catalog of releases and increasingly packed live shows around the world.
When Rave Jungle caught up with Ian Asher, the conversation moved naturally from the early days of discovering electronic music to the adrenaline of performing for thousands of fans.
We spoke about the mindset behind crafting high-energy records, the lessons that come from touring globally, and how testing new ideas in front of a crowd continues to shape his sound.
From studio perfectionism to unforgettable festival moments, Asher gave us a deeper look into the creative world behind his music.
Check out the full interview below!
• What initially drew you to DJing, and at what point did it evolve from curiosity into something you knew you wanted to pursue seriously?
I’ve been obsessed with electronic music since I was about 10 or 11. I don’t really remember a time before imagining myself building a career around it, this has always been my dream. I’ve always chased after this.
• How has performing live more consistently influenced the way you approach arrangement or energy in your productions?
My music has always been high energy so I don’t see much difference between live and online. If you hear one of my tracks and love it, you should feel like jumping around in your room just like you would at one of my shows. That’s always the goal. So when I’m producing, I’m thinking about that physical reaction, and building around that.
• During periods of strong creative momentum, what does your day-to-day look like?
When I’m in that zone, I’m just fully locked in. I’ll be obsessing over structure, pitching a vocal up half an octave, stuttering it, cranking the bass to 11, just following whatever feels exciting in the moment. There’s no formula behind it. I just love what I love and dive deep into the details until it feels right.
• What excites you most about where dance music is headed right now?
There’s so much incredible music being made all over the world. It feels less like one perspective and more like a global conversation of new voices making dope things. Genres are blending, rules matter less, and people are just following instinct. I get to contribute to that conversation in my own way, that’s pretty sick.
• For someone seeing you perform live for the first time this year, what do you hope they walk away feeling?
I want it to feel raw and real. Just instinct, energy, and music that makes you move. If someone leaves feeling like they experienced something — not just heard a set, that’s everything.
• When a track performs exceptionally well online, how does that impact your creative mindset moving forward? Do you ever feel pressure to replicate success, or do you intentionally treat each release as its own world?
Of course there is a bit of internal pressure, but what makes a record great is that it is a new spontaneous idea. So while I learn a lot from success and having big records, I always remind myself to focus on what is new and exciting in the moment.
• What’s a musical influence that might surprise people, something not immediately obvious in your sound, but foundational to how you think about building records?
When I was growing up I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson. He is the king!
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• Looking back, what has been your most memorable gig to date, and what about that experience still stands out to you?
My most memorable gig has to be Storm Festival Guangzhou. It’s a NYE festival in China that I played a few months ago and it was absolutely epic, I believe there were around 30,000 people there.
• At what point do you trust a track enough to test it live for the first time, and what are you listening for when you play it in front of a crowd?
I’m a perfectionist so I always try to push myself to play unfinished tracks even when I’m not totally comfortable playing them. There’s no set way of telling when something is ready, it’s much better to just dive in and play it.
• Outside of music, where do you find inspiration that feeds back into your creative process, whether visually, emotionally, or culturally?
It’s so great that I get to travel and tour around the world, outside of music that is where I get the majority of my inspiration.
• What’s a technical or behind-the-scenes skill you’ve focused on refining over the past year that listeners might not immediately recognize, but that’s had a major impact on your work?
When it comes to production definitely mixing. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to properly mix records, and now I’m having a lot of fun breaking those rules intentionally to come up with new and exciting sounds.
• Have there been any clubs, events, or shows recently, either as a performer or as part of the crowd, that left a lasting impression on you?
I just had a show in San Francisco at Midway. I did it 360 and there were 2800 people making it my biggest headline yet. Totally unreal night!
As the conversation wrapped up, one thing became clear: Asher’s rise is being driven by pure passion for the craft and the energy exchange between artist and crowd.
Whether he’s obsessing over the smallest production details in the studio or stepping in front of thousands of fans at a festival stage, the goal remains the same — creating music that sparks a genuine reaction.
With major shows, new releases, and a rapidly expanding global fanbase, Ian Asher’s journey is only gaining momentum. And if the intensity of his productions and performances is anything to go by, the dance music world will be hearing a lot more from him in the near future.
Check out his upcoming shows below!
