AZYR: From Blackpool raves to Boiler Room fame

WE SAT DOWN WITH AZYR, ONE OF THE MOST EXPLOSIVE NEW NAMES IN THE GLOBAL HARD TECHNO LANDSCAPE, TO TALK ABOUT BEDROOM BEGINNINGS DURING LOCKDOWN, THE RISE OF A SOUND BUILT FOR SWEAT-SOAKED DANCEFLOORS, AND HOW A BOILER ROOM SET IN MANCHESTER CHANGED EVERYTHING. FROM FREE BLACKPOOL PARTIES TO CLOSING STAGES AT GLASTONBURY AND AWAKENINGS, HIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN FAST, FULL-THROTTLE, AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY HIS OWN. IN THIS INTERVIEW FOR ANOMIE DURING ADE, WE GET INTO THE MOMENTS THAT SHAPED HIM, THE RAVE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED HIM, AND THE FUTURE HE’S CARVING AT 150+ BPM.

Olly (AZYR) at a gig

Anomie: Hi Olly! You’ve been immersed in the music and festival scene since you were in your teens, but said you never saw yourself DJing. What was that moment during COVID that made you realize you wanted to step behind the decks yourself?

OLLY: I remember the first time I ever tried to use a controller at a house party and I was absolutely useless. I genuinely never thought I would find myself in this industry, especially with no musical background whatsoever. COVID was the moment that changed everything for me. For the first time in my life I had found something that gave me a sense of purpose and from the first second of practicing this new skill, I could already see myself on stage and no longer just wanted to be a part of the crowd.

ANOMIE: Things took off pretty quickly from there, how do you think that unique time influenced your style and the way you approach your sets now?

OLLY: I think one of the biggest influences on my sound was definitely Teletech. I was a regular attendee of their events before and after COVID, and I was obsessed with the music I would hear at these shows, so for me it was completely natural to play this type of music myself. One of my biggest goals in the beginning was to play for this party, that drive and passion has really shaped the kind of artist I am today.

ANOMIE: Your Boiler Room set in Manchester with Teletech was a huge turning point, what did that moment feel like for you, and how has it shaped your journey since then?

OLLY: When I was told I was going to do a recorded Boiler room with Teletech, I genuinely didn’t believe I was ready or deserved this type of opportunity. I think a lot of people probably thought the same too. As soon as I stepped on to that stage, all those previous doubts disappeared, I saw this as an opportunity to show the world how serious I am, how much I want this, and for that hour, I was fully immersed in the moment. I remember on the run up to the recording being released, it was the only thing I could think about. I was playing the set over in my head repeatedly, overthinking every transition and track I played. It wasn’t till the set was released where I truly felt how much of an impact this set would have on my career.

ANOMIE: The rave scene has really evolved post-COVID, with people craving that connection and energy. How have you felt that shift, and how do you approach creating that special vibe in your sets now?

OLLY: Connection and energy are two really important things in this industry and ever since I started to play in front of crowds, I have tried to incorporate the two as much as possible. From the first minute to the last, I give the maximum amount of energy on stage and have always loved interacting with the crowd. I think it can really enhance the experience for someone and can make them feel closer to the music, the DJ, and the overall performance. I want to create a vibe where everyone’s dancing and, in that moment, they can forget about any worries or problems they may have.

ANOMIE: You were doing an aeronautical engineering apprenticeship before all this! Did you dream about breaking out of the typical 9-to-5, or did this whole DJ journey take off so fast that you didn’t have time to think about it before it all blew up?

OLLY: Ever since I was in school, I think I always knew I was destined for a life outside the typical 9-to-5 system, I just hadn’t discovered what that meant yet. When I found my passion for DJing and music production, I treated it as my full-time job while keeping my regular career in the background. I spent four years as an aeronautical engineer with Rolls-Royce, and the day I earned my degree and finished my apprenticeship, I decided to pursue music full time. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

ANOMIE: You’re playing sets all over the world now; how does that busy travel schedule impact your creativity, and do you find inspiration differently when you’re constantly on the move and surrounded by new faces and places?

OLLY: I think one of the hardest challenges as a DJ, and for me personally, has been finding the time to get in the studio and create new music I’m truly in love with. Having such a busy touring schedule and being constantly on the move makes it so difficult to activate that creative spark when I’m back at home, as I spend a lot of that time resting and recovering. Inspiration is something I’ve never lacked as I can find it from anything. With such a growing scene filled with a lot of underrated talent, they are constantly evolving the genre and that makes you want to improve.

ANOMIE: You seem a bit more like someone who likes to live in the moment, but looking ahead to the next couple of years, is there a dream venue you’re aiming for or any goals that you’d love to see come to life?

OLLY: My ultimate goal when I started this journey was to play for Awakenings and I was lucky enough to close their summer festival this year, which was such an amazing experience and was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. In terms of looking ahead to the next couple of years, my biggest goal is to produce my first album. I really want this to be my main focus in 2026. I would also love to break into the Asia scene as this is a continent I haven’t gotten to experience yet.

ANOMIE: With that, any dream collabs?

OLLY: I think it would be cool to collaborate with artists outside of my sound one day. I’m a huge fan of the trance scene and take a lot of inspiration from the likes of Ki/ki, Funk Tribu, Pegassi, Marlon Hoffstadt etc. So I’d really like to work with one of them at some point and create a fusion between our styles.

ANOMIE: Your EP 'I'm Here Once Again' dropped in August, how does that release reflect where you are as an artist right now?

OLLY: This was my first EP since ‘Speed Masters’ in 2023, so I was super excited about this release, and it was great to collaborate with some amazing, underrated artists too. I think the EP perfectly reflects everything you can expect from a typical ‘Azyr’ set, blending through multiple genres and experimenting with a plethora of sounds. ‘I’m Here Once Again’ was built for the dancefloor and I wasn’t happy with it until I could picture myself playing every track. This truly reflects the artist I am currently and my attitude to music I want to present when I step on the stage.

ANOMIE: The Netherlands is such a hotspot for techno, especially Rotterdam with the All Night Long shows, how do you find playing here, and what stands out to you about the nightlife?

OLLY: I think the Netherlands has a lot of similarities to the UK. They’re very passionate and invested in the scene and really support up-and-coming artists. I played some of my first international and All Night Long shows here, and the support I received was amazing. It’s always a pleasure playing in the Netherlands.

ANOMIE: Thanks Olly! Lastly, tell us about your upcoming ADE shows

OLLY: I am so excited for ADE this year. I will be closing out the hard opening night for Awakenings at the Sugar Factory which is a brand-new venue that hasn’t been used before, it’s an honour to be one of the first artists to play here for such a prestigious party. Then on Thursday I will be playing at AFAS for Teletech which will be a big family affair. I'm sure a lot of people from the UK will be there to see that one and that always encourages me to put on a crazy performance.

@AZYR_MUSIC