COHN, a London-based producer and DJ, has been a prominent figure in the electronic music scene for over a decade, with notable releases on labels like Kitsuné, Nervous, Ed Banger, and Bordello A Parigi. His latest project, Focus On Your Breath, released last month via Ulla Records, features three distinct mixes—Italo, Acid, and Late—each highlighting different facets of his musical influences. The track is built around a mantric vocal sample, showcasing COHN’s versatility and deep understanding of electronic music’s diverse landscape.
To delve deeper into his creative process and the inspirations behind this release, we spoke to COHN about his studio work, music discovery habits, and the evolution of his sound.
Your sound in ‘Focus On Your Breath’ spans italo disco, acid, and progressive tech. Can you share how you blend these diverse influences into one cohesive project?
There are more or less the three genres that I would play in a set, so they’re always in my head. Once me and the boys at Ulla Records knew that we wanted to make an entire EP based around this one motif, I started to think about how I could make three different and interesting tracks based off of one idea. The only through line was the vocal and that gave me a lot of room to explore and I had a lot of fun doing it.
The mantric vocal sample is central to this track. What drew you to this sample, and how did it shape the creative process?
Honestly, I was meditating and I heard that line and it had this rhythmic and musical tone to it and my brain suddenly lit up and I couldn’t sit still. I knew I had to make it into a club track because I could feel for myself how exciting it would be if I heard it while dancing in that environment.
Over the years, your music has been featured on iconic labels like Kitsuné, Nervous, and Ed Banger. How do you think your sound has evolved since your early days?
I play more DJ sets and in more diverse venues now, this has really helped me to hone what sound I want and I’m comfortable with in a live setting. This has massively influenced me because I try to make music that sounds good on the system and good on the AirPods. That is kind of my metric, if it won’t sound good in a club AND in headphones, it isn’t good enough.
As a London-based DJ and producer, how does the city’s vibrant music scene influence your work?
I’ve always loved the London scene, it has so many little neighborhoods that I’ve grown into over the years, from northeast to south. But if I’m honest, it’s starting to feel a bit too big for me as I get older. Lately, I’ve been exploring various parts of Europe, checking out these smaller creative spots in cities that might not have London’s massive pull, but have so much vibe and creativity; this is starting to bring back a lot of inspiration for me.
The three versions of ‘Focus On Your Breath’ have distinct vibes. Can you walk us through your production choices to achieve these unique interpretations?
With each one I tried to use some of the most traditional samples, drum machines, and synths that are associated with that genre; whether the Linn Drum for the Italo, the 909 and 303 for the Acid, or some of the more layered soft synths for the Late night one. After that, I just let the momentum of the style kind of push me forward and each one ended up sitting nicely in a different sub-genre. I love how it turned out haha.
You’ve described the track as an homage to the diversity and richness of electronic music. Who are some electronic artists or genres that inspire you most?
I’ve been trying to listen to as much early 2000s dance music as possible recently. That era when Continental Europe started to take over as the House Mecca, as the US and UK had been in the decade before. I love those early French productions and some of the more light and fun Euro-Dance tracks. It’s so much fun to bring back that energy and make some music that is vapid in a nice way, while so much of the world feels heavy.
From dreamy, meditative landscapes to club-focused tech, you seem comfortable moving across genres. Is there a particular style or sound you’re eager to explore further?
I want to get back into a sample-based house. I miss those days when everyone was just putting out white-label EPs sampling tracks that we didn’t know we needed in the club until we heard it. I understand why samples have gone out of fashion, but I also miss them. I’ve been speaking a lot with labels about how we can work on Samples in a respectable way and it’s really exciting.
Having released music on legendary labels, do you have any dream collaborations or future projects you hope to pursue?
I have so many dream collaborations but I don’t want to be too open with other people’s business haha. Let me just say my lifelong goal is to work with a singer and make a neo-Pet Shop Boys-style EP. This would make the happiest DJ in the world.
With a title like ‘Focus On Your Breath,’ the track carries meditative undertones. How do mindfulness or broader themes of introspection inform your music?
Mindfulness is something that has been a major part of my life for years. Like many of us in the creative space, I have struggled with mental health issues and it’s been an anchor for me to help with that. It still plays a significant role in my life and I am happy that I was able to marry both that element and the musical element of my life in one project.
As someone who’s been rafting house music for over a decade, where do you see the genre heading in the next few years, and how do you see your work fitting into that trajectory?
I honestly don’t know, but I just hope people continue to make fun and exciting music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I love this scene because it has such creative people exploring the more fun and silly sides of life, and as long as that remains the case, I will continue to love it!