“Dying for you” gave fans an intimate glimpse into the 81 spirit, while “Embrace the pain” pushes into darker territory. How do these tracks reflect your internal dialogue as an artist and a human being?
Dying for You was a deeply personal tribute to my best friend who passed away. In that track, I tried to capture the heartbreak and gratitude I felt for the bond we shared. Writing it became a way of transforming my grief into something meaningful, and it showed a vulnerable side of me as an artist. On the other hand, Embrace the Pain takes a darker approach, looking directly at the struggles and fears we often try to avoid. It channels that intensity into a powerful statement about accepting hardship as part of self-discovery. Both tracks reflect different layers of my internal dialogue and shine a light on the 81 spirit, which is about harnessing deep emotions and using them as fuel for growth. Each release tells a piece of my story, from navigating loss to facing personal battles head-on, and together they offer a glimpse into who I am both as an artist and as a human being.

Your collaborations with Basswell on tracks like “Lunar” and “This is war” are electric. How do you balance creative control and synergy when working with another force in the scene?
Working with Basswell has been a unique blend of our two worlds. He brings the club perspective, focusing on the structure and how it will hit on the dancefloor, while I draw inspiration from music you can listen to at home and more focus on create the sound design, mix and mastering. We combine these ideas so each track finds a balance between creativity and pure club energy. Our roles naturally complement each other, that what made this connection really special !

Techno is often described as catharsis through chaos. For someone who has “graced the stages of Europe’s premier venues,” what emotions do you aim to evoke in your audience when the bass drops?
When the bass drops, I want the audience to experience a moment of absolute release, where tension shifts into euphoria and any chaos turns into a powerful force of unity. It is about everyone embracing the music together, letting go of what has been weighing them down, and feeling completely alive. For me, techno has always been a channel for honest expression, and I aim for the crowd to connect deeply with both the energy of the set and each other. It all ties back to the spirit I bring to every performance, blending intensity and vulnerability so people can feel something truly transformative on the dancefloor. That’s also why I will never prepare a set, everything need to happen in the present.

Hard techno has always thrived on counterculture. How does Onlynumbers challenge the mainstream, and where do you see the genre pushing boundaries next?
Hard techno has always been linked to counterculture, but for me, it is not about challenging the mainstream. I believe those labels can sometimes create barriers that limit creativity. Instead, I focus on maintaining the energy and spirit of hard techno while welcoming a wider audience. I do not mind if people call it mainstream or underground my goal is to stay true to my sound and keep pushing my own boundaries.
In terms of where the genre is headed, I see more artists blending influences from all over the musical spectrum. That open mindset will keep hard techno evolving, allowing it to maintain its rebellious edge while inviting more people to experience the intensity it can offer. But I don’t think this genre is still underground. I mean, how can an underground music can sell that much ticket and make millions of streams?