Each of you comes from a different corner of the electronic spectrum. When you first got in a room (or on a call) together, what surprised you about each other’s creative energy?
Catmoonk (Yura Gerbei) – I was really impressed by how energetic those guys are. I’d known Alexey even before the pandemic and lockdown, and the three of us met up in Goa, India, in 2023. That’s where I met Anturage for the first time — I’d already heard about his talent and insane productivity, and right away I knew something exciting was gonna come out of this. We were working almost every day back then and ended up spending about six months there. During that time, we made around 10 demos together — some as a trio, some just the two of us.
Anturage (Viktor Petrov) – From the very first minutes, I felt super comfortable and at ease being around the guys. Alexey and Yura are really close to me in spirit — they have this warm, kind energy that just clicks with mine. That’s probably the main reason why we didn’t just end up collaborating, but actually became close friends over time.
Alexey Union – Victor and I have been friends for a long time, and it’s always super chill working together. We have fun, we laugh a lot — being in the studio with him doesn’t even feel like work, we’re just enjoying the ride.
When Yura joined us, that’s when the real magic started. I’m always impressed by how he comes up with these stories and catchy hooks. And his range is wild — from emotional tracks like Don’t Cry and Voice in My Head to bangers like Losing Control, Race Car, and our collab Akula.
Yulia Niko’s AXEPT label has carved out a space for music that’s both emotionally rich and club-ready. Why did this label feel like the right home for “Don’t Cry”?
Anturage – I’ve been following Yulia’s work for a long time — I really love what she does, and the new label is no exception. She’s achieved a lot in her career, and for me, it’s a huge honor to release this track through her label. We were all genuinely excited when she agreed to make it happen.
Alexey Union – I had a feeling this track would really hit home with listeners — especially with the girls. Releasing it on Yulia’s label was the best move we could’ve made. She’s got amazing support and recognition all over the world, and we’re super happy the track came out on AXEPT.
Catmoonk – That’s probably a better question for Yulia, but I can say I really appreciate her trust and I’m super happy to be on board of her ship. I’m sure it’s gonna be an amazing journey.
Catmoonk, your artistry feels theatrical in the best way—almost like storytelling through sound. Have you always approached music that way, or did that emerge as you moved into electronic production?
Oh wow, thanks for such a great question! Even in my imaginary interviews I’ve never asked myself that one (laughs).
That approach has always been with me — I kinda brought it with me from the past. It’s not something you see a lot in dance or electronic music. But I like making songs, not just tracks. With verses, choruses, bridges… I use a freeform structure to really get the emotion and the message across to the listener.
A lot of electronic collaborations happen digitally these days. How did you manage distance, timing, and collaboration on this project—and do you think that shaped the final sound?
Alexey Union – We didn’t really use any fancy technical setup to work together at the same time. Everyone’s got a busy schedule, so syncing up wasn’t easy. That’s why we just split up the work. Yura lives in a different city, and Victor’s in the same one as me, so he and I were able to meet up in the studio sometimes. Yura recorded the vocals — he actually works in both Logic Pro and Ableton Live. Victor and I stick to Ableton only.
Anturage – This track was made remotely — Yura recorded a demo and sent it over to me and Alexey. From there, we kept building on it in the studio. We pretty much synced up on every step, constantly sending each other updated versions. Honestly, I don’t think the distance got in the way at all — we still managed to create something we’re proud of.
Catmoonk – The whole thing started with my vocal. I was just surfing through Splice and came across this guitar loop that really caught my ear. I grabbed my guitar and started jamming — about 30 minutes later, the demo was done. By the end of the day, I had the lyrics written and recorded all the vocal parts.
Not everything made it into the final version, though. I recorded the vocals at home using a Shure SM7B, then just sent all the stems over to the guys.
Alexey, you’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the melodic house scene. At this point in your career, what draws you into a project? Is it about sound, people, vision?
I think it’s mostly because of the people.Most of my audience is female, and I was pretty sure that the way we approached the sound would connect with them on a deeper level — straight to the heart. And that’s exactly what happened.
The first time I played the track, I knew I wasn’t wrong — the crowd went wild, and the girls were screaming! After every show, our Instagram DMs were packed with people asking, “When’s that track coming out?”
Club culture often emphasizes energy over emotion. “Don’t Cry” flips that on its head—it invites vulnerability. Was that a conscious choice, or something that revealed itself along the way?
Catmoonk – Yeah, this track was kind of an exception for us too. I wouldn’t say I had a clear goal when writing the vocals — I just wanted to tell a touching story, something that feels real.
Anturage – “Don’t Cry” turned out really emotional and heartfelt — and that was the goal from the start. We wanted to make something that touches people’s hearts, and looking at the final result, I think we nailed it.
Alexey Union – Yeah, the main goal was to make the track super emotional, but still full of energy. I think we managed to hit both — even though it definitely stands out from the rest of our releases. It was kind of an experiment for us… and it proved that it’s one we should definitely try again.
Anturage, you’re no stranger to the underground circuit. What kind of spaces do you imagine this track living in? Big festivals, intimate afterparties, something else entirely?
Underground music doesn’t get as much playtime at big festivals these days. There’s definitely a shift toward more commercial sounds. You can see it in how artists like Tale of Us, Keinemusik, and others are changing their sets — it’s becoming the norm.
Every track has that one turning point—some unexpected moment in the studio where things click. What was that moment for “Don’t Cry”?
Anturage – For me, the melancholic synth leads in the second half of the track really define it. When I came up with those, I knew the idea was complete. That moment became one of the key elements of the whole track.
Catmoonk – For me, one of the key moments was when I got the idea to hide a deeper meaning in the lyrics — that the main character isn’t just going through a breakup, but actually leaving this world. It’s all told through symbols and hints, nothing too direct.
The reason behind it is left open, so everyone can create their own story of why it happened. The song is emotional, but also really sad. I wanted to reflect my own philosophical view on what comes after — that it’s not something to fear.
Alexey Union – For me, the moment was when Victor sent over the final version of the track — the one that went to mastering. He had changed the bass and made it a bit more aggressive, and the first time I heard it, I was like that’s it. That contrast between something emotional and something rough just hit perfectly.
Finally, with the scene constantly evolving, how do you each stay creatively sharp? Are there rituals, influences, or off-grid things that help you reset or recharge creatively?
Alexey Union – I just love digging for music, collecting it, listening, getting inspired by what others create — and then turning that into my own ideas. I wouldn’t say I need any specific rituals or anything like that. For me, creativity isn’t something I have to force — it just flows naturally.
Anturage – Honestly, we’re just channels — the ideas are already out there, we just have to tune our antennas the right way (laughs). Getting into the right mindset helps me connect with nature — living by the ocean, being around people I love — that’s where the inspiration flows. And when I need a more unconventional push, sometimes I just sit down and meditate until something comes through.
Catmoonk – Honestly, my favorite creative hack might be… procrastination (laughs). For me, the most important thing is to avoid stress when I’m working. If I start feeling uncomfortable or stuck, I just switch gears — I’ll read, watch a movie, or play some video games.
And sometimes, when I need to shut out the endless noise from social media and our phones, I do a simple reset — like a mental reboot. I just sit and stare at something, even just the sky, for about half an hour. It’s a kind of meditation I learned in India. It really helps when your mind is either overloaded or totally out of fresh ideas. Victor and I actually did it together a few times — it works.
