Emerging from the San Francisco Bay Area’s electronic underground, angelrot is carving out a sound that refuses to stay in one lane. Rooted in the raw, internet-born energy of angelcore, the producer’s music has evolved into a genre-blurring collision of aero, trance and outsider sounds, balancing atmospheric textures with kinetic, high-impact production. As his audience continues to grow around the world, angelrot remains firmly connected to the spaces that shaped his music: the underground. We caught up with the producer to discuss his evolving sound, creative influences and the energy driving his growing project.
Listen to angelrot’s mix on PLAYY. Music while reading the interview below:
How would you describe your musical style and the genres or subcultures that most influence your sound?
Musica Electronica – my music mainly is focused on trance, electronic, and angelcore. I’m working in the aero project that focuses on hyper electronic, early 2000s-2010s dance music and hip-hop fusion.
Music Creation: Describe the primary setting or environment where your music is conceived. Is it a chaotic, overstimulating studio, a minimalist digital space, a rehearsal room, or a more isolated location?
I always work in the setting I am most comfortable in. I’ve tried working in unfamiliar spaces, just doesn’t put me in the right headspace to create.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
For me, it is the feeling. If it feels euphoric, nostalgic, or heavy – that is the feeling I always gravitate towards.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
FL Studio, Scarlett 2i2, Audio-Technica ATH-M40x’s, and my computer.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
LONOWN would be crazy. One day –
Any side projects you’re working on?
Always, I release all my side projects on SoundCloud releases only 🙂
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
sadance – such refreshing hard trance.
What role does ‘rebellion’ or ‘counterculture’ play in your music? Are you aiming to challenge commercial norms, sonic structures, or societal expectations?
I make music that is for the counterculture – always welcome anyone to listen to my music. I’m here to challenge what’s normal for producers in the sense that we can find success and recognition without having to do what everybody else does, or fake yourself. Showing that just being yourself, making your own music, can take you very far.
Who is one non-musical artist (e.g., fashion designer, visual artist, film director) whose work feels sonically synonymous with your sound?
David-Lev Jipa-Slivinschi – person behind the fragrance house Toskovat.
What aspects of your artistry feel most important to you, for example your sound, visuals, storytelling, or live performance style?
For me, my music comes through feelings. Whether the feeling you garner from the sound design, the storytelling – that is what is most important to me is how it makes you feel.
The Future: What is the most exciting and the most terrifying technological development impacting the music industry right now (e.g., AI composition, NFTs, digital distribution models)?
AI doesn’t scare me – if you’re good at what you do musically wise, AI can’t replicate that. What I’m most excited about in the music industry is more and more independent artists pushing the boundaries and creating things that challenge the norms – i.e use of social media, creating communities, etc.
How would you describe the live music environments you feel most connected to? For example, are you drawn more to the energy of massive festival stages, the intimacy of underground warehouse parties or DIY venues, or a mix of both?
I love both, but to be honest, it is the intimacy of underground warehouse parties that is where underground sounds gain the most traction, so definitely that.
Famous last words?
See you later, space cowboy.
Follow angelrot:
Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok | YouTube | SoundCloud
