Out today via Insomniac’s Interstellar, Marsh’s new single ‘Stay’ marks another luminous step forward for one of melodic house’s most emotionally articulate artists. A producer and DJ whose music feels less like a profession and more like a life’s calling, Tom Marshall has steadily carved a name for himself with a warm, trance-tinged sound rooted in feeling, nostalgia, and technical finesse. From his breakout on Anjunadeep to headlining world-class venues like Red Rocks and The Brooklyn Mirage, Marsh has evolved into a key figure in the next wave of progressive house. Now based in North America and constantly in motion, his globe-trotting livestreams and critically acclaimed albums, including 2023’s Endless, show a deepening artistic maturity. With ‘Stay’, he continues that journey, fusing dancefloor drive with melodic depth in a track that reflects the emotional clarity he’s made his signature.
Read our interview with the dynamic producer and stream ‘Stay’ now:
Paint us a picture: what sparked your passion for the arts in the first place? Was there a single moment or experience that solidified your decision to pursue this path?
I grew up enjoying a wide range of music but always seemed to gravitate towards electronic music with synthesised sounds. As a teenager, I discovered Trance music via the album compilation Classic Euphoria. Music had never spoken to me in this way before and with a genre label that best suited the style of music I’d discovered I was able to go down a rabbit hole and discover a whole world of artists and record labels that were releasing this music. It then led to me wanting to have a go at creating it myself in 2017.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
I think the right sound leads to the right emotion in the chords or melodies I’m jamming with and then the story starts to unravel as I get further into the compositional process.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
I work mostly ‘in the box’. I use Logic, I have a UAD Apollo Twin X audio interface, I have Genelec Studio Monitors – Sound ID by Sonarworks helps correct the poor acoustics in my room, I have a 49-key Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboard which is lovely to play for pianos, chords, etc. and then I have a Roland System-1 which I mostly use as my easy-to-reach MIDI controller – it sits right in front of me. Everything else is done in the box. There are too many plugins to list but I like to invest in new plugins slowly and (attempt to) get to know what I have.
What’s your go-to ritual or trick for getting into the creative zone?
I don’t have one. I just try to sit down, relax, have fun and keep an open mind to trying some new things out each time and not just reaching for the same old sounds every time – as tempting as that can be!
What’s the one item you always keep within arm’s reach while creating or performing?
Creating, would probably be a MIDI keyboard or my Sennheiser HD650 headphones – I can’t trust my room acoustics 100% yet so I do most of my mixing in these. While performing I like to keep a drink at arm’s reach!
How did you ultimately end up defining your sound?
I think it’s heavily influenced by the late 90s, early 2000s trance sound that I grew up with. Mix in influences from the progressive house world, think Israeli or Argentinian – Guy J etc. and then influences from the 2010s deep house phase – Dusky etc. Oh and of course, lots of Eric Prydz inspiration!
How has your creative process or perspective shifted since you started your journey?
I’ve just got much more efficient at knowing when an idea has enough interest and hook to arrange. I’ve also got much quicker at mixing the record.
Walk us through a recording session: what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had in the studio?
Tough question! I couldn’t single out one moment but there is this feeling that I chase every session – a high that no gig can compare to. It’s when a track starts clicking together and you’re just so obsessed with the vibe. It’s the best feeling.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
I would definitely say that Ferry Corsten was an unexpected, dream collaboration for me as I grew up listening to everything he did!
Any side projects you’re working on?
Nope! I guess unless I count the quarterly mix series that I release on my YouTube channel. That’s a ton of work but it’s such a fun project and a great opportunity to showcase new music I have on the way and other music that I’m inspired by.
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
Everyone I support in my YouTube mixes!
What’s the strangest or most surprising song currently on your playlist?
I have someone’s remix for an old Beverly Craven record!
Which song, album or playlist do you never get sick of no matter how many times you listen to it?
Classic Euphoria!
Are there any unexpected hobbies or projects you’re exploring outside of your main work?
Nothing unexpected but I have recently got back into playing tennis. I grew up playing every day, wanted to either go pro or coach full time but ended up realising I wasn’t going to be good enough to go pro and I replaced it for music!
If your life and career were an album, what would its title be, and what’s the hidden track only your fans would know?
What a question! Well the career is a crazy one to say the least. I am so grateful to be in a position where I can tour and play my music to people that want to hear it around the world. But it’s certainly a career that quickly swallows up pretty much everything you have to give. There’s the physical exhaustion from all the travel. The pressure to create the best music you can. The uncontrollable factors – how do I stay relevant? Are people going to buy tickets this week? I’m a little bit tired of playing X at every show etc. I wouldn’t change it for the world but it’s a tough road to travel. The title would be Mindfunk and the hidden track would be ‘Wheelbarrow’. (Don’t read too much into any of this).
Give us a glimpse into the future – what surprises or milestones are coming up for you this year?
I’ve just released my second collaboration with Volen Sentir called ‘Different’. I debuted it in my Santa Barbara YouTube mix at the end of last year, it’s been a hotly requested ID in my sets and it features the amazing vocals of XIRA. I also have my first single on Insomniac’s Interstellar label called ‘Stay’.
Let’s talk about your latest track, ‘Stay’. As usual, it’s a masterclass in melodic and progressive house, balancing airy ethereality with pulsing drive. What was the inspiration for the track, and what influenced its sonic direction?
Thank you! The idea came from a really fun jam session where I was exploring a new virtual instrument that I had bought called Anamorph. Everything started with the main riff and the rest sort of just fell into play so easily!
Given your background in emotionally charged trance and drum & bass, how do you blend these influences into your current melodic house productions?
It’s mostly the melodies and chords I gravitate towards but it’s also in the bassline grooves and samples I like to find and manipulate.
How do you manage to balance danceability and emotive richness in your electronic productions like ‘Stay’?
I think there’s the very simple riff which is easy to sing along to. Then there’s the small vocal phrase ‘Please stay’ which carries a lot of emotional weight to it and could mean something personal and different to everyone that hears it. The bassline and drums definitely keep it good for dancing too!
Famous last words?
Great questions, thanks PLAAY. for the interview and thank YOU for reading along. I’m busy working on my next album, so please bear with me as I create this amidst the crazy touring schedule! Life is pure madness haha. Hope to see you on tour very soon! Much love!
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