We sit down with Chicago-based DJ and producers Panfil & Rubh to celebrate their latest bass driven offering on Farris Wheel. Read on to find out more about the men behind the music
How are you, whats good and bad in your world right now?
We’re doing great! Right now, our creativity is flowing, so we’re making the most of it by generating as many track ideas as we can. The only downside is that we both have full-time jobs, so the time we can spend working together in the studio isn’t as much as we’d like.
When did you guys first meet and why hook up musically?
We first met through mutual friends while growing up in the same hometown. When Kyle was in college, he met a DJ who inspired him to buy turntables and learn how to DJ. As Kyle began DJing, he teamed up with another mutual friend, and together they started learning how to produce music. This inspired Dima to learn how to produce and eventually he joined in, and the three of us formed a previous music alias. Fast forward to the pandemic, and out of boredom, we decided to create a song together—this is when Panfil & Rubh was born.
Who does what, what does each of your bring to the partnership?
Having known each other and been friends for so many years, we feel it gives our dynamic a unique edge. Currently, we both have full-time jobs while working to grow our brand, so we’re hands-on with everything whenever we can. Dima has always had a strong passion for production, and his expertise and keen ear are crucial to our final tracks. Meanwhile, Kyle’s business background has made him an invaluable asset when it comes to the business side of things.
Tell us about your new one Good Bounce and what inspired it?
“Good Bounce” came together pretty quickly. We started by building the drums and bassline, and as always, we incorporated call and response into our production—this time, we brought that element into the vocals. We like to use original vocals whenever possible, so we worked with Resonomics, who has previously done vocals on a couple of our tracks, as well as Maddie B., a mutual friend. The track ended up developing its own unique identity, and we’re really happy with how it turned out.
What gear do you use to make music and does that matter to you?
We mostly work entirely in the box because we find it allows us to get nearly everything done. We definitely have our go-to plugins and sounds, which you’ll hear in many of our tracks, for now, this setup is working great for us. For us, it’s more about how you use the tools you have than the tools themselves.
How did you hook up with Gene Farris for this release on his label?
This is our second release on Gene’s label, following our first two-track EP in 2024. Being from the same hometown of Chicago, we’ve known Gene since our previous alias. Over the past few years, we’ve reconnected and developed a strong friendship. Once we felt we had tracks that matched his label’s sound, we began sending them his way.
How much does the history of Chicago house weigh heavy on your or inside you?
We definitely feel inspired by being from Chicago and the city’s rich history in house music. So many influential producers, DJs, promoters, and iconic clubs have shaped the industry into what it is today. It’s incredibly inspiring, and we couldn’t be happier to be making house music here, as it has been a cornerstone of the city for so many decades.
What is your own take on it, how do you make your sound unique?
As we developed our sound, we didn’t want to limit ourselves to just one genre. While most would categorize us as tech house, our music incorporates glitchy deep tech elements along with distinct, deep, groovy basslines. We’ve blended all these influences to create a unique and tailored sound.
What is next for you, what else you working on in 2025?
We have a new EP set to release in April, and we’re also busy in the studio wrapping up several projects that will be coming out later this year. Between studio sessions, we’re DJing and working on growing our brand. We’re in the early stages of launching our own record label as well.
