Hi Headrow, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for having me, Carl!
Let’s dive straight in – please could you introduce yourself to us all and tell us a bit about your musical history.
I’m Headrow, an electronic dance artist and DJ from Stevenage, Hertfordshire. I describe my music as “crying in the club” vibes because I aim to capture that bittersweet feeling of nostalgia in my work. So far I’ve released four songs, including my most popular track, ‘Let Go’, featuring ALLKNIGHT, which has been streamed over 700k times across all platforms. I’ve got a new single dropping on Friday too, called ‘Falling’ so keep an eye out for that.
And what made you decide that music is a thing for you?
Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember—I grew up playing guitar, flute, and recorder. I feel a bit bad for my parents who had to put up with all my late-night practice. I went to university in Leeds, which is known for its incredible music scene. That’s where I started exploring production, especially rap and drill beats, but over time, I found that genre a bit repetitive.
Everything changed during my final summer at uni when I went to an event called Garden Party in Leeds and saw PROSPA perform. It was a total revelation—the energy was contagious, and I felt so inspired. I went home that night, produced my first-ever house track, and I haven’t stopped since.
Now, I’m working full-time as a DJ and it’s been quite a journey getting here. Right out of uni, I worked at Barclays Bank for 2 years and while it was a great job, something in me knew that I had to give my music career my all. I quit this summer to pursue DJing full-time – it was a risk but one I just knew I had to take.
What’s the live music scene like in Hertfordshire and London right now? Anyone we should be looking out for – bar you, of course.
Of course, London is legendary for live music, and I’m lucky to live so close to it. I’ve had the chance to perform at some great venues; Battersea Barge and The Ned stand out in my mind! Hertfordshire has a fantastic house scene too, especially around Hertford. There’s a great community here, with some really talented artists. Definitely keep an ear out for NXT OF KIN—they’re doing incredible work in the house genre.
I’ve seen a lot of artists struggling for support recently online. What’s your view on the industry?
The industry is definitely a grind, that’s for sure! It’s crucial to put yourself out there and network as much as possible. The most important thing you can do, in my opinion, is use social media to promote yourself, especially early on. A few viral TikToks can really kick start a career – that’s what happened for me. In the end, it’s about finding ways to get your work noticed while staying true to your vision.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
Even though I’ve come a long way even in the past year, I’d say I’m definitely still at the beginning of my journey. I still have a lot more to show and I’m sitting on some new music that I can’t wait to share with everyone!
Let’s throw in a fun question – could you tell us two truths and a lie about you.
- I’ve worked with the Jonas Brothers on a remix
- I performed a last-minute set in Thailand when the DJ fell ill
- I had to be rescued by mountain rescue during my Duke of Edinburgh
I’ll give you a hint, one of them was covered in the local news.
What was your best experience on stage?
That’s a hard question since I’ve had so many great experiences so far to choose from. If I had to pick I’d say the best experience was when I performed at the Ned for the first time. I played in the Vault which is a very cool underground venue that you access through a fake bank vault door – never thought I’d be back in the bank after leaving Barclays but there where we were!
So many people turned up for me, with people travelling from all four corners of the UK, and the crowd’s energy was just insane. The set went off and really fed my passion for performing live.
And what was your worst experience on stage?
I’ve luckily never had a bad experience so far… here’s hoping it stays that way. However, I am always worried about accidentally pausing the song that I’m playing mid-set!
What are the next steps you plan to take as an artist to reach the next level?
Doing more live performances is definitely the next step for me. There’s something about connecting with the crowd in real time that’s a really powerful feeling. I’m also planning to do more remix sets on YouTube, hopefully in some wild locations! It’s all about bringing fresh experiences to my audience and pushing my creativity to new levels.
Can’t wait to see it, Headrow! Now you mentioned earlier that you have a new single coming out, what can you tell us about it?
My next tune is a chill house track about falling for someone that you didn’t expect to fall for. It’s quite a moving track but still danceable, which is a balance I love to strike.
What was the recording process like?
I worked with Tommy Sanders, who’s an amazing writer and producer. The track evolved so naturally – it started with a simple idea from Tommy that I expanded into a full track.
A lot of my tracks tend to evolve like this for me, often starting from a single memory or personal experience of mine before becoming something bigger.
What would you say the biggest learning curve in writing new tunes has been for you?
Structure can always be quite difficult. Finding a sound that really resonates and feels true to me takes a lot of experimentation and is something I’m always fighting for. With each track, I’m learning to refine my approach to make sure every piece hits just right.
And finally, is there anything else you would change now it’s finished?
No, I think the song is just as it should be now. It’s quite a simple but powerful track as I think sometimes less is more.
FOLLOW HIM HERE // PRESAVE THE NEW TUNE HERE
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