The spaceplane hums beneath you, engines throbbing in a rhythm that mirrors the 5/4 time signature in your head—off-kilter, relentless, and driving. Through the small window, the crimson landscape blends with the dark horizon. The synths pulse, layered with a chaotic intensity, as an eksopragmatic lead riff cuts through like a signal from the future. It’s happening. We are here. Welcome to Mars.
Read our discussion with Ironfist below.
Describe your sound in 3 words
Dusty, Atmospheric, and Electronic
“Mars” seems to encapsulate a lot of your dark and atmospheric style. Can you talk about the specific narrative or concept you aimed to convey with this track?
The song “Mars” was initially inspired by World War 1, but I aimed to modernize the feeling of ominous brutality in my own way and for the 21st century. One of the major challenges was getting the meter to groove. The song is in a 5/4 time signature, which isn’t common in electronic music, but I wanted it to have a groove that makes you want to nod your head.
You often draw inspiration from literature, art, and film. Were there any particular works or themes that inspired the creation of “Mars”?
Visual arts and literature have always had a huge influence on the types of music that I write. I’m inspired by paintings from masters like Goya and John Singer Sargent, as well as novels by Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy.
I also love movies. I think that filmmakers and electronic music producers have a lot of similarities in how we tell stories. Lower budget horror movies have had a huge influence on me, because making a scrappy film with a vision is similar to a music producer writing an instrumental that tries to convey an idea.
How does your work with Rabotat Records influence your approach to producing tracks like “Mars”? Does running a label give you more creative freedom?
At Rabotat, I’m in charge of A&R for the label. In order to successfully release our artists’ music, I had to learn about the culture and inner workings of many different genres. Through this process, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the emotional impact of music. Working on Mars felt like a return to my roots and a way to reflect on my musical journey, combining various experiences into an intense project.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
My wife and business partner Alex aka Madame De Fer always constantly inspires me with her attitude and outlook. She handles a lot of the backend with Rabotat and still manages to find time to create incredible electronic music that I call “Horror Techno”
I would say my influences are a mix between classic hip hop producers like DJ Premier, RZA & DJ Muggs, and electronic producers like DJ Koze, Recondite & Deadbeat.
Favourite album of the past 3 years
I’m a big fan of Zaliva-D’s Totally Withered. The electronic music that’s coming out of Asia feels really fresh and exciting right now.
Which Superpower would you choose?
I would have to say super strength and endurance, then I could really live up to my name Ironfist.
One last thing we should know about you?
I’ll continue to release my versions of the Planets. After Mars, Venus is up next so stay tuned!
Thank you!
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