Nashville-based artist FENIK swung by to discuss his beginnings in the scene, his upcoming release with AK Renny on IN/ROTATION, and more.
FENIK is rapidly establishing himself as a prominent name in the house music genre. Originally hailing from Philadelphia but now based in Nashville, he made a striking entrance into the scene last year with his debut on Walker & Royce’s Rules Don’t Apply featuring the track “Blowing Up My Phone.” Since then, he has released tracks such as “Vertigo” with No/Me and “Escape” with Basura Boyz under the same label, while also venturing into techno with “All Night” on Trace Amounts.
The success FENIK achieved in 2024, which included supporting top-tier acts like Gorgon City and Sonny Fodera, has continued into this year. He kicked off 2025 by joining Insomniac’s IN/ROTATION with his latest tech house track “Obsession.” As spring unfolds, he is set to release another standout track, “My Mind,” on April 15. This collaboration with AK Renny showcases an emotionally charged soundscape enriched with bass-driven production elements and haunting vocals.
Before the release, we caught up with FENIK to discuss the creation of the track, his journey in the music scene, his views on Nashville, and much more. Read on for the full interview and check out his exclusive guest mix on SoundCloud.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 462 || FENIK on SoundCloud:
Hi FENIK, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today. Let’s dig into your roots to kick this one off. Who were some of your earliest influences in the electronic music scene, and when did you realize you wanted to become a DJ and producer?
I was first introduced to the realm of electronic music through Avicii and Martin Garrix back in 2018. From there, I quickly became obsessed with the future house scene, with big influences being Mike Williams, KSHMR, Mesto, Curbi, and all the other artists in that big room/future house realm. Hearing that music and seeing the videos of the stages that those artists were playing at the time made me want to make that kind of music myself and perform it, heavily inspired by the big festival scene and sound.
You teamed up with AK Renny for your upcoming single “My Mind,” which is due out soon on IN/ROTATION. What brought you two together to create this tune? Is there a story behind the track?
I first met AK in January of 2024 when she came to Nashville to play alongside Corrupt (UK). Having become friends with Corrupt at a show I played a few months prior, I was hanging with him in the green room and had the opportunity to meet her before her set. We hit it off, and I talked to her about sending her a track the next week when she got back home to see if she would be down to write on it, that track being what ended up becoming “My Mind,” which, before sending it to her, was a remix that I had made using an acapella from another track.
“My Mind” doesn’t just feature house and techno elements; it adds a touch of drum and bass for a solid punch. What’s your approach to blending genres? Is it rooted in what you’re listening to or your desire to experiment with different sounds?
I tend to blend my current phase of musical taste into what I’m producing, and at the time of making “My Mind,” I was really into drum and bass. My favorite part of any electronic song is the synths. I love a good lead that can really make a track sound big, and drum and bass is full of those, so when making the track, I just went searching for drum and bass lead samples as well as played around in my plug-ins to see how I could incorporate those synth sounds. There is no real structured approach, just trial and error and seeing what fits and what doesn’t.
You’ve also put your spin on tracks like Charli XCX’s “Apple” and Dom Dolla’s “Dreamin.” Is there something that draws you to a specific track to remix it?
In most cases, what draws me to remix a specific track is a vocal that I feel I can do something different production-wise with. I’m normally more drawn to original production, having very few remixes of my own in my repertoire, but when I do remix something, it’s normally due to me enjoying the vocal and wanting to create a new vibe or experience around it that I feel fits my sets.
On the performance side of the spectrum, you’ve been tearing up clubs all over the US lately and have dates coming up in Denver and Calgary. What’s been your favorite part of touring this year? Have any specific shows stuck out recently?
My favorite part of touring has been introducing people to myself and my music. I’m not well known right now, and many people who see me are there to see the artist playing after me, so I always enjoy introducing these new crowds to what I have to offer and hopefully helping make their night more special.
That ties directly into my favorite set so far, which was my set opening for Odd Mob in Nashville. It was a Thursday night this past January at a club called Night We Met, and I was the only support artist of the evening, playing the two-hour slot from doors opening to Odd Mob coming on. As normal when doors open, the club was empty, but nothing was more rewarding than as the sold-out room filled up, just increasing the energy and showcasing what ended up being my best set front to back that I’ve ever played, not only technically, but just room-wise too, the energy that built up in that room that night was unforgettable.
What’s been the biggest struggle you’ve faced during your rise through the ranks of the scene?
I think the biggest struggle that I’ve faced is honestly just getting my name out amongst electronic music listeners. I’ve been able to grow amongst the DJ audience, gaining a lot of recent support, however, I still feel that I haven’t been able to really touch your day-to-day listener yet.
Nashville is one of the biggest cities for music in the US, yet it has only recently become a home for many electronic artists and events. Can you share what you love the most about the scene there?
I love the community that has developed here and the constant effort to truly grow the scene. We have an electronic community with a strong passion for growing their scene and putting their city on the map.
Finally, what goals do you hope to achieve in 2025 and beyond?
I don’t normally have many written goals. I have some dream venues and festivals, of course, but I think my general future outlook involves providing a platform for people all around the world to have a great time, whether it be streaming my music or coming to one of my shows.
Follow FENIK:
Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube | TikTok
