A bit earlier this month, L.A. artist tyDi took the time to tell his fans he would focus more intensely on making new music and not be out quite as much on tour dates. The big payoff for our wait is still to come, but for now, he’s taken to remixing a hit by one of this year’s ringleaders of Escape: Psycho Circus. His take on the Chainsmokers’ “All We Know” modifies the musical properties of the song to suit his own sets, creating a feel-good house cut for the clubs and vast festival dancefloors alike. We had a chance to catch up with tyDi a little bit about his thought process behind the remix, out for free today.
What excited you most about the opportunity to remix “All We Know”? How did the opportunity come about?
[I’ve] been a fan of the guys for a really long time. So, I honestly just emailed them, and they immediately got back to me with stems. For as busy as those dudes are, they’re incredibly friendly and easygoing.
When you had the blank screen in front of you and stems in your possession, what was the first thing you did to get started?
I’m a huge fan of the original, so I didn't want to completely flip it and just use the vocal (even though Phoebe did an amazing job!). I got to work on making it a bit more on the house end and playable in my sets. I was in SF the other week, and I tried putting “Closer” in my set, but with the BPM and structure, it just didn’t work. I feel like this one is a great representation of the awesome job they all did, but more my vibe—and hopefully yours!
What approach did you take on this remix? Have you noticed a pattern or set of procedures you have exhibited in past remix projects?
Absolutely! My fans love it when I get really musical on my remixes; that means live strings, all-new chords, and inversions. The production is always very clean. I love the contrast of huge symphonic compositions when crossed with super-tight dance elements. Vocal chops are probably my favorite specialty, and you’ll hear it all through the drop in this remix.
Are you most excited to play this out in a club or a festival, and why?
Honestly, both. I think it’s a perfect house song for sets of any size. You have the vibe, you have the drop, you have the anthem vocal—it’s one of my favorite remixes I’ve ever done.
When a Chainsmokers fan discovers you through this remix, what are the first few original tracks you would show them to introduce them to your style and sound?
I know I’m supposed to say “Redefined.” But I’d probably say “Oceans” with Greyson Chance, or my collabs with Borgeous, or the new songs that are going to be coming out soon.
Your bio says you play Jenga with your fans before shows. What’s the most intensely close game you’ve played? What is it about the game that creates a connection with you and them?
Haha, as much as I’d love to say I’m the king of Jenga, fans have beaten me before. It’s a step further than a meet-and-greet. Actually, playing a fun game with my fans is really relaxing and chill before each show!
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