IN CONVERSATION WITH ODYMEL
Interview by Samo Šajn
Brussels-based DJ and producer Odymel is making waves with his high-energy blend of house, techno, trance, and eurodance. His viral hit Gucci, a sold-out FUSE headline show, and an upcoming Tomorrowland mainstage debut mark his rapid rise. With over 100 gigs in 2024 and a packed 2025 schedule ahead, Odymel is one of dance music’s most exciting new talents.
Your rise in the electronic scene has been incredibly fast, with sold-out shows and viral tracks. Did you ever anticipate this level of success when you first started producing in 2023?
Honestly, no. When I started releasing music as Odymel, my only goal was to make tracks that reflected my vision and energy. I never expected things to move this fast. Playing over 100 gigs in 2024, selling out FUSE in three days, and now preparing for a mainstage set at Tomorrowland. It’s surreal, but at the same time, I feel like I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.
Your music blends house, techno, trance, and eurodance, styles that bring a different energy to the dancefloor. How do you approach combining these genres to create your signature sound?
For me, it’s all about emotion and movement. Eurodance and trance bring melody, techno adds drive and raw energy, and house gives everything a groove. I don’t overthink it. I just go with what feels natural in the studio. If a track makes me feel something and makes me want to dance, I know I’m on the right path.
You’ve mentioned that you spent years in the crowd, observing rather than just partying. How did that experience shape the way you craft your DJ sets today?
It was everything. I used to go to clubs and festivals just to watch how people reacted to different sounds, builds, and drops. I wanted to understand what really made a set memorable. Now, when I play, I don’t just think about the tracks. I think about the journey, the push and pull of energy. My sets feel instinctive because I know what the crowd needs. I've been in their place so many times.
Your track "Gucci" has been a massive hit, played by DJs everywhere. What inspired the track, and did you expect it to take off the way it did?
"Gucci" was pure energy from the start. I wanted a track that felt like a burst of adrenaline, something playful, powerful, and impossible to ignore. The reaction has been crazy, and seeing so many artists drop it in their sets is unreal. I never expect anything to blow up, but I’m grateful people connected with it the way they did.
You have a knack for reworking forgotten pop tracks and giving them new life. What’s your process for selecting and remixing these songs?
I love nostalgia, but I also love contrast, taking something familiar and flipping it into something unexpected. When I pick a track to rework, it’s usually because the melody or vocal sparks something in me. From there, I strip it down, rebuild the groove, and inject my own energy. It’s about making something fresh while keeping that emotional connection to the original.
Your tour schedule is already insane. Over 100 gigs in 2024, and 75 booked for 2025, and it’s only February! How do you manage such a demanding schedule while keeping your sets fresh and high-energy?
It’s intense, but I love it. The key is staying inspired, listening to new music, checking out other artists, and constantly experimenting in my sets. I never fully repeat a set. Even if I have go-to tracks, I always adapt based on the crowd, the vibe, and the moment. That way, every show feels different, and I never get bored.
Your headline show at FUSE sold out in just three days, a rare achievement. Now that the show has happened, how did it feel to play such an anticipated set, and what was the energy like in the room?
That night was unreal. FUSE is such an iconic club, and seeing it packed with people there just for my music was overwhelming in the best way. The energy in the room was insane from the first track to the last. It felt like a full-circle moment, like all the years of grinding led to that one night. I’ll never forget it.
Your sets are described as unpredictable, taking the crowd places they didn’t expect. Do you plan your sets in advance, or do you fully read the crowd in the moment?
I never fully plan a set. I have a selection of tracks ready, but I always adjust in the moment. Reading the crowd is everything. If they’re reacting to a certain vibe, I lean into it. If they need a shift in energy, I switch things up. That’s what makes DJing exciting. It’s never the same twice.
Huge congratulations on being announced as a Tomorrowland mainstage headliner! What does this milestone mean to you, and how are you preparing for such a massive moment in your career?
Thank you! It’s honestly a dream come true. Tomorrowland’s mainstage is one of the biggest in the world, and bringing my sound to that level is something I never imagined this early in my career. I’m preparing by fine-tuning my set, testing new tracks, and making sure it’s unique. I want it to be a moment people remember.
You recently released The Basement EP and Forbidden Voices. Looking back, what was the creative process behind these projects, and how has the reception been so far?
The Basement was about capturing the underground energy I love, gritty, hypnotic, but still full of melody. Forbidden Voices was special because it was a collab with Funk Tribu, and we really pushed each other creatively. The response has been amazing, and it’s pushing me to keep evolving my sound. Seeing people connect with these tracks on the dancefloor is the best feeling.
