Balancing sun-soaked days in Bali with nights spent crafting hypnotic electronic journeys, Touch The Sound have carved out a sound that’s as fluid as it is powerful. From their beginnings as club residents in their Ukrainian hometown to experimenting with analog synths and releasing immersive records like their ‘Mirage / Overdose’ EP this week, the duo has grown into a project that’s equal parts friendship, exploration, and deep connection to music. In this conversation, they open up about their creative process, the energy they bring to the booth, and how they continue to find light and inspiration even in challenging times.
Hey Touch The Sound, great to meet you!
Hi guys, nice to meet you, It’s a pleasure to speak with you!
Summer is almost over – what stood out for you? Is it a time you love?
We have been living in Bali almost 5 years, so it’s always summer here, we always have something to do here, a lot of performances, and a lot of new acquaintances. It’s never boring, today is a sunny day, we went to the beach in the morning, drank a cold coconut, recharged and came to the studio to tell you a little about ourselves.
When did you first meet and why start working together?
We met each other a long time ago, guess it was 2007, we had only two clubs in our city where we were residents and somehow we started talking about future about music and realized that we had very similar tastes of music and ideas, after a while we decided to start doing some parties and later began to learn how to produce music.
Who does what – do you each have a set role in the studio and what is that?
Basically we are on the same wavelength and there are no problems in the process of musical jam. Sometimes we send each other demo tracks and if our ideas coincide, we immediately go to the studio. The scenarios of the day are always different, we can gather in the studio with a clear plan of action, whether it’s to finish a track or work out a playlist for an upcoming performance, it happens that we sit down and just listen to music, surf through libraries of presets for synthesizers, samples, old tracks.
And how does it work in the dj booth – do you do one each back to back or?
At the core, we build the set track by track, but we’re not tied down by any strict rules. If the energy shifts, we’re ready to pivot, whether it’s taking things in a new direction or dropping that unexpected old-school banger that suddenly lights up the crowd. It’s never just a sequence of tracks, it’s a journey we’re crafting together in the moment.
Tell us about your new Mirage EP – what inspired it, where and when was it written?
Mirage EP is the result of our musical experiments and inner reflections. Each track was written at a different time, under a different mood. One moment that really stood out was when we first got our hands on the Moog analog synth: the sound was so warm and alive that what started as an experiment grew into a full track. In the end, the EP became more than just a collection of songs, it turned into a story about how our perception of music evolves and how every new experience shapes our sound.
Where do you start on a track – do you have a melody in your head or a groove or do you just experiment and see what happens?
It all depends on the task. If we’re aiming for a functional club track, we always start with the drum groove: if the rhythm makes you move even without bass or melody, then half the work is already done. But there are other days when inspiration just isn’t there. We don’t wait for it passively; instead, we create the right conditions: listening to new or old releases, digging through Splice, trying out something different. At some point the muse always returns, and the process kicks off again.
Do you make music to fit into your own dj sets, is there synergy like that?
We always create music that feels close to us and that we’d want to play on stage. But now, in the age of streaming, it’s important not to limit ourselves to just functional club tracks. If a lighter, more atmospheric idea comes along, we release it too, because music should live in different spaces, not only on the dance floor.
What role does or will AI play in your creative process, is it a useful tool or a bad thing for art?
AI is a powerful tool and a great assistant for musicians. The key is to use it wisely. But the uniqueness of art will always remain with the human, in their imperfections and raw emotions.
When was the last time you were in Ukraine and what impact does the situation there have on you and your creativity?
We were in Ukraine 7 years ago. At first, everything that was happening had a strong impact on our desire to make music, it felt like the inspiration was gone. But over time we realized that in difficult times it’s essential to hold on to something bright, to fill yourself with what restores your faith in life, so you don’t get lost in despair. That understanding is what brought us back to the studio and gave us the strength to keep creating.
What have you got coming up for the rest of the year?
These days it’s hard to make precise plans, but we keep working on our development strategy and setting ambitious goals. This year, we want to bring to life projects with major labels, take part in a few exciting collaborations, and, of course, not forget to enjoy life in all its forms. Every new venture for us is an opportunity to grow and to create something that inspires both ourselves and others.