14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHARY:EH

Two years after their collaboration ‘El Cielo’ captured the attention of global tastemakers and racked up over two million streams, ary:eh and SASH return with ‘SET ME FREE’. Delivering a long-awaited follow-up, the slick collaboration lands on 31st July 2025 via ary:eh’s personal imprint, ary:eh’s vault.

Written during the same summer as ‘El Cielo’, ‘SET ME FREE’ has been kept under lock and key and saved for the right moment. A slow-burning and emotionally charged track, it fuses stripped-back production and subtle tension with SASH’s hazy vocals, once again written entirely by the artist himself. Framed by a spoken-word introduction and outro from legendary Ibiza chef Gianluigi De Angelis, the track carries a cinematic weight and quiet intensity, making it a track that fuses introspection and captivation for a lasting impression that extends beyond the dancefloor.

Now four releases in, ary:eh’s vault continues to evolve as a deeply personal space for introspective, forward-thinking work. Based between Paris and New York, ary:eh’s sonic identity is shaped by everything from Latin rhythms and hip-hop culture to Brooklyn’s underground, a blend that is clearly building across the label’s growing discography The release also lands in a purple patch for SASH, whose return alongside ary:eh follows his recent feature on The Martinez Brothers & Mike Dean’s ‘Take You Home’, a moment that has naturally reignited demand for his unmistakable voice. 

Q: Please introduce yourself

I’m ary:eh — a DJ and producer from Paris and New York. My sound blends emotional depth, groove, and global influence. I live between the studio and the dancefloor, always chasing movement — physical and emotional. Everything I do is built on instinct.

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

Pharrell Williams. He’s mastered the balance between timeless music and cultural relevance. I admire how he reinvents himself while staying true to his sound and vision. I’d love to talk to him about creative freedom and longevity. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Time manipulation — not to change the past, but to experience the early days of house music. That era had a raw freedom and sense of community that still inspires me. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

Space Jam. It’s nostalgic, surreal, playful — but also full of energy and movement. I’d love to reimagine that universe with a mix of electronic textures and groove-driven rhythms. It’s the kind of contrast I love working with: childhood fantasy meets adult sound design. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

Seth Troxler was one of the first artists I ever looked up to. I used to watch him play as a fan, and the way he mixed unexpected records with complete freedom really shaped my vision. He was also one of the first to support my music — and that support gave me the confidence to take this path seriously.

Separately, discovering Richie Hawtin and Marco Carola’s 2009 closing set at Amnesia was a turning point. It showed me how powerful minimalism can be when the energy is fully in control. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

I used to be all about rap and EDM until I was around 13. Then my cousin came back from Berlin and introduced me to Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, Lee Burridge… that opened the door to underground music for me. I got my first vinyl setup and started experimenting with mixing.

Soon after, I downloaded Ableton and started trying to produce. I even took in-person classes thinking they would help, but every time the class ended, I’d go home and still feel completely lost in front of the software. For years, it was the same loop — I’d download Ableton, try to make sense of it, get overwhelmed, delete it, then repeat the process a few months later.

Eventually, I took a break — and when I came back to it, I made a decision: this time, I was going to dive in and figure it out on my own. No shortcuts. I was listening to so much music by then that structure started to feel instinctive. I just kept scratching my head and pushing through until something I actually liked came out of it.

In 2023, I started posting my first tracks — first on Instagram, then SoundCloud, and later on Spotify in September with ‘El Cielo’. That whole period changed everything. The energy built naturally, and within weeks, artists like Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Richy Ahmed, Gordo, and many others were supporting my music. That momentum made everything feel real — and I knew I had to go all in.  

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?

Don’t chase trends — chase your taste. If it gives you goosebumps, you’re on the right path. And if you’re not looping your own music for hours and still vibing to it, go back to the drawing board. You have to be your biggest fan first. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

The first time I went B2B with Seth Troxler. He was one of the first artists to ever support my music, so sharing the booth with him was surreal. It marked a shift — from being supported to standing side by side.

Another one was playing the Casablanca afterparty during Paris Fashion Week at the Louvre, just before PAWSA. Growing up in Paris, that space meant something to me. Playing there felt like a full-circle moment.  

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

It’s gotten leaner and more focused. Early on, I experimented a lot — now I strip things down to the essentials. Everything has to earn its place. Minimal, but heavy.

At the same time, I’m always trying to strike a balance — to please the underground scene while still reaching people who don’t usually connect with house music. That contrast pushes me to make tracks that are both accessible and rooted in the culture. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

Rap/Hip-Hop. I grew up on it. The rhythm, the delivery, the honesty — it still influences how I build tracks. I see it as another form of groove. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

1- Loco Dice ‘Pimp Jackson Is Talkin Now!!!’ - This track — and the whole 7 Dunham Place album — completely changed how I understood groove, space, and storytelling in electronic music. It made minimal sound cinematic.

2- Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner 'Sky and Sand’ - Pure emotion. It was one of the first tracks that made me feel electronic music on a deeper level.

3- ZHU ‘Faded’ - Mysterious, sensual, and genreless. It showed me how electronic music could be both underground and accessible without compromising identity. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

The Château de Versailles. Imagine a rave inside the palace all night, then an afterparty in the garden as the sun rises. The contrast between royal elegance and underground energy would be unreal — pure freedom in a historic setting. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

This year’s all about expanding the vision — more collaborations, more cultural blends, and tracks that bring emotion in all kinds of ways. I want each release to hit differently, whether it’s deep, raw, or uplifting.

I’m really excited about ‘SET ME FREE’ as it’s a track that SASH and I have been waiting to release since our first collab together, almost like a cousin to ‘El Cielo’. After this, I’m going to continue building out my label ary:eh’s vault and am working with artists from Ireland, the UK, the US, and South America. A US tour is also on the way. And maybe… another one with SASH to come as well — shhhh. 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

When I released my first tracks in the summer of 2023, I had no idea I’d end up doing music seriously. I recorded ‘El Cielo’ and ‘SET ME FREE’ with Sash just for fun — poolside in Ibiza, on a basic setup. I also dropped a Drake edit called BIRDMAN on SoundCloud.

It was all instinct — no plan. But by September, everything moved so fast that I decided to make music my reason to live. Looking back now, I honestly don’t know what I’d be doing if it wasn’t this.