After a three-year hiatus following his 2022 single ‘Never Younger’, genre-bending artist Older Future is back with ‘Mitch’, the first glimpse into his highly anticipated upcoming album. Bursting with blood-pumping basslines, pulsing drum machines, and kaleidoscopic synth modulations, Mitch perfectly captures Older Future’s signature blend of the futuristic and the nostalgic, crafting a soundscape that feels both familiar and otherworldly.
So we explore the inspirations behind ‘Mitch’, dive into the emotional layers of the forthcoming album, and hear how Older Future is redefining what it means to grow up in the electronic music scene.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I grew up in a deeply musical household, both of my parents are multi-instrumentalists, so music was a constant part of my daily life. I studied classical piano as a child, which became my foundation. As I got older, I became increasingly drawn to electronic music, finding myself at raves and parties, that’s when things got really interesting for me..
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
There are so many artists who’ve shaped my sound and honestly, depending on when you ask me, I might give you an entirely different list. As a teenager, I was really into grunge bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots. That rawness and emotional intensity definitely stuck with me. At the same time, I was diving into electronic music, ‘The Prodigy’ had a huge impact on me, especially their energy and the sonic punch they brought to their production.
Later on, I got drawn into IDM when it was in full swing. Aphex Twin,obviously, and Boards of Canada were big influences. There’s something beautifully emotional and harmonically rich in their work and they made me understand that sound design has its own way of telling a story.
As for more modern artists, I’ve been inspired by Dorian Concept for his boundary-pushing creativity, and Jamie xx for his ability to make music that feels effortlessly cohesive and emotionally intuitive.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
Music has always held a central place in my life, so in many ways, I’ve always taken it seriously. But there was a distinct turning point when I realized that if I didn’t fully commit to it, it would never happen. I started getting serious as an artist at an age where I already had a family and a steady job, so I really had to battle a lot of elements in my life just to make it work. I can say that the dishes aren’t always clean at my house, and my wife isn’t always thrilled hearing me play while she does them.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
My creation process is always evolving, it could begin by experimenting with sound or I might also begin with a lyric line or a concept and build around it in Ableton. Sound design plays a central role from the very start, and often, the textures and tones lead the way to create a sonic realm before any melody or rhythm emerges. At some point I tend to let it breathe and upload it to the cloud where I can listen whenever I want, stepping in and out of revisiting it with a different perspective, listening to it in several places and situations and basically driving everyone around me mad since they have to listen to it over and over… It could take months thinking and listening to a track, creating different versions and refining the mix until I get it to be the way I want it.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Much of the inspiration for my upcoming album comes from personal experiences, some ideas come from trauma, revenge fantasies and other moments that have shaped me over time. Each track carries its own story and serves as an extension of my inner thoughts, feelings and desires. Ideas can come to me at the most unexpected times, like when I’m riding my bike, driving, or simply lost in thought. I try to remember these ideas and hold onto them until I can write them down.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
My music is psychedelic, but also emotional and psychological, basically a sonic trip through issues ranging from childhood to adulthood. I want to make people feel something they weren’t ready to confront. Even though we each have our own experiences, there’s a lot of overlap in the thoughts and feelings we carry so even though I wrote it from my own perspective, others can relate to it. If my music gets someone to reflect on their inner world, that’s cool.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
The biggest challenges have been getting my music heard.
There’s so much noise out there, and so much formulaic, soulless stuff in my opinion that makes it very easy for genuine work to get lost in the shuffle.
Reaching people who resonate with what I’m creating is my goal when promoting my music.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
I love listening to my own music, and that’s the most rewarding part for me.
I also love it when my friends genuinely connect with my music. I send them a lot of raw material and get feedback, and that makes them also a part of the process, whether they want to or not:) .. There’s something deeply validating about knowing that the people I care about what I create.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I’m not big on trends. If you ever catch me following one, know that it’s an accident. Still, generally speaking, I don’t believe it’s easy being true to yourself, we spend most of our lives acting and doing things without understanding exactly why we do them.
Yet, I think being an independent ‘underground’ artist gives me the freedom to follow my musical desires. The less I try to understand what’s influencing me or try to avoid influences the easier it becomes to create music that is genuine to me.
I have no real involvement with the industry, and I don’t view my music as a product, so I’m not tied to trends, expectations, or commercial pressures and I strive to make music that speaks to me, whatever the influence might be, and build something authentic rather than chase what’s popular.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
There is tons of shit coming soon! I’m currently releasing tracks that lead up to the album that is set to release in a few months. It’s not your typical electronic project—it leans into themes that aren’t often explored in the genre. Ageing, depression, paranoia, childhood memories, broken dreams, and more. Mostly, electronic music avoids these feelings like they’re copyrighted, I wanted to see what happens if you actually address the stuff that hurts. If you feel uncomfortable listening to it, good, that means it’s working. It’s emotional, introspective, and designed to provoke thought more than just move bodies. I’m not trying to escape reality through but trying to face it head on.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
I hope to be evolving my music together with a grown and loyal fanbase. I want to keep pushing boundaries with the music I create, exploring new sounds, themes, and emotional depths. My goal is to release lots of material, and reach larger and larger audiences. If I can stay curious, keep experimenting, keep evolving and make music that moves me, I’ll call that success.
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Listen to Older Future’s new single ‘Mitch’ below.
