Exron Exclusive Interview: Acraze at Beyond Wonderland 2022

July 1, 2022

Exron Music had the amazing opportunity to interview the “Do It To It” producer Acraze at Beyond Wonderland PNW.

Exron Music had the exclusive opportunity to sit down and interview music producer Acraze at Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland festival. After massive global success, Acraze has recently signed to Capitol Records in partnership with Thrive Records. The artist also just went on his first headline tour and played his high-energy sets for fans around the world.

With an attitude of humbleness and gratitude, Acraze speaks about how important remaining true to himself is. As well as why he transitioned from more bass-oriented music to house music during quarantine to represent the music he wants to make.

After a 10-hour flight, Acraze performed at the Gorge playing his well-known song “Do It To It” as well as some unreleased tracks. After his set, Exron sat down with Acraze and got all the details about his life and future plans.

Exron Music: What initially inspired you to become a producer? Any early musical influences?

Acraze: When I was in high school I wanted to become a DJ and I knew that the only way for me to become who I want to be is to make music. I was inspired by DJ Snake, and Skrillex but I was like I can’t just be a DJ I want to make some sort of music to represent myself. They were definitely an inspiration but I had to figure it out all myself and do something different.

Exron Music: Congrats on signing with Capitol Records and your first headline tour! How has your experience been so far with all of these pivotal career moves?

Acraze: Capitol is awesome they have been so welcoming. I remember having a session with the head A&R of Capitol Jeremy and he was in the studio with me, and the guy who runs Thrive who I also signed with. While in the studio, he was throwing pillows and dancing around when I was playing music and he was so excited about all of the music I was playing. I love the people that are on my team who are as excited about my music as much as me. It has been cool to see other people be as happy as I am. That Has been cool. They are like a family to me.

Exron Music: Your song “Do it to it” has amassed over 8 billion streams and has been played at shows and festivals across the globe. What has been the most rewarding part of this journey?

Acraze: That’s nuts! Such a huge number. Winning awards such as the I heart radio award was super monumental for me. I remember seeing all these superstars [at the award show] like Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Halsey sitting next to me and they were asking me oh hey what are you here for and I told them I had just won the dance award and they told me how sick that was. Being in that atmosphere and seeing them win as well was the most inspiring thing ever.

Exron Music: In addition to massive streaming success, “Do It To It” was also recently featured in a Pepsi commercial. Do you have plans to continue working with more brands to share your music with a wider audience?

Acraze: We have been working with many brands. Shoutout to my Mamitas family who I work and my Cincoro Tequila family that I work with. For any brand or person that I believe in I try to be active in reaching out and saying hey I want to work with this group. Those people I feel passionate about are the people I want to work with.

Exron Music: You started out your career with more bass-oriented music and now you are producing more house music, what inspired this?

Acraze: I love bass music but I do not love it as much anymore. When you grow older you grow out of stuff so while I do still love it I have moved on. I probably won’t make it anymore but if I do it will probably be under another alias because I have so many hard dubstep songs just collecting dust at this point. But the influence towards house music was during quarantine I was making music and just not feeling bass music as much and I really love house music, and it was really moving me. I always made house music but I made “Do it to It” during quarantine and I was making so much of it that I was just like screw it let’s just keep this going.

Exron Music: You’ve been spotted wearing a trench coat for many of your sets and recently wore Dolce & Gabbana outfit at EDC Las Vegas, what are some of your must-have wardrobe items that you couldn’t live without?

Acraze: I can not live without Dolce. Dolce is my brand, I love them. When it comes to Cincoro and Mamitas those are my people but as far as fashion goes Dolce & Gabbana has definitely fitted me from top to bottom in a bunch of stuff and I love them. They know my vision so that is why I continue to work with them. It is important for me to work with people who have the same vision as me.

Exron Music: Back in 2021 you reworked Lipps Inc’s song “Funky Town” can we expect any other fun remixes to classic disco songs?

Acraze: I love disco music but I don’t know if I will ever make more remixes of it. I have stepped into the sample era but I don’t know if ill keep continuing it because I think everyone is expecting me to keep it going and to continue the early 2000s samples but I want something different. I’m not gonna say I started the genre but with “Do it Do it” it was the start of sampling records but I really want to try to make something new. If I want to be a trendsetter I am always going back to the drawing board to try a make something new instead of continuing what someone else already started. It is cool to see something new come out. Trendsetting is always something I have loved and I want to continue trying to do that.

Exron Music: What does the rest of the year look like for you? Can you share any plans with us?

Acraze: Lots of music, lots of touring, lots of enjoying Cincoro & Mamitas, and wearing lots of Dolce and Gabbana. But also being fun and sharing good vibes. I’m just one of those people that goes out in the crowd and just wants to be friends with everyone. I really hope that a lot of DJs are not too egotistical when it comes to being themselves. I just love being myself and making sure I’m not trying to be someone that I am not.