AIRGLO Dives Deep Into the Influences Behind His Sound

Following his collaboration with Teddy Killerz, we caught up with AIRGLO to explore the influences, sounds and artists that have shaped his diverse sonic palette.

Not too long ago, we sat down with American drum & bass prodigy AIRGLO for an in-depth conversation around his single, ‘Rise Again.’ We talked about a range of subjects, like his approach to production, the evolution of his sound, his thoughts on drum & bass in the United States, and the ideas that continue to shape his work. But there was one part of the conversation that left us wanting to dig a little deeper.

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This feeling was because AIRGLO has been an artist who has never been particularly easy to pin down sonically. His music can move between soothing, atmospheric passages and deeply melodic, flipping all the way into head-turning, turbocharged basslines that carry maximum energy. This range is arguably one of the most interesting things about his music.

That became even more apparent when he dropped his recent collaboration alongside Russian-Ukrainian trio Teddy Killerz, ‘In My Heart.’ The track is a meeting point for sounds, backgrounds, languages, time zones and production styles, all coming together into one massive experience. It’s heavy but playful; emotional but energetic. Aggressive when it needs to be, while still carrying a sense of melody and feeling. There are several different ideas competing for space within the track, and somehow, that push and pull feeling in the tune is what makes it work across such a wide range of dancefloors and listening environments.

But like we mentioned earlier, it raised a question we felt was worth revisiting: where does that versatility come from?

Who were the artists or sounds that AIRGLO grew up listening to? Were there any tunes that left a lasting impression on him? Were there particular eras, genres, producers or sounds that changed the way he approached music? And most importantly, what are the influences sitting underneath the diverse palette we hear in his productions today?

So, to complete the circle, we went back to AIRGLO and picked his brain on the artists, records, sounds, eras and musical moments that helped shape the producer he is today. Here’s what he had to say –

NOISIA

“I’d say my biggest influence, especially within drum and bass, is definitely Noisia. I’ve been listening to them since around 2010 or 2011, and they had a huge impact on the way I think about sound and production. I was genuinely heartbroken when they decided to go their separate ways, so I’m really happy they’re finally coming back together. I can’t wait to hear some new music from them. They’re definitely number one on my list of influences.”

INCUBUS AND DEFTONES

“Outside of drum and bass, I’d say some of my biggest influences come from rock and metal. Bands like Incubus, particularly their first couple of albums, were really important to me. Then there’s Deftones and Tool. I think all three of those bands had a really interesting approach to texture, dynamics and sound design, which is something that has definitely carried over into the way I make music.”

OSCAR PETERSON

“Jazz piano is another huge influence for me. Oscar Peterson is probably the person I’d point to first. His musicality and technical ability are just incredible, and as someone who plays piano, he’s one of those musicians you can keep coming back to and learning from. Bill Evans is another big one, particularly because of his incredibly soft and expressive touch. There’s something very intimate about the way he played.”

IGOR STRAVINSKY

“Then, from the classical world, I’d definitely say Stravinsky. The Rite of Spring in particular has had a massive influence on me. I think that piece completely changed the way people thought about rhythm, harmony and orchestration, and its influence on film music is enormous. I’d argue that without The Rite of Spring, you probably wouldn’t have something like Holst’s The Planets in the form we know it today; and The Planets has basically become a kind of bible for anyone interested in writing music for film.

So I suppose my influences are quite broad. There’s a lot of drum and bass and electronic music in there, but also metal, jazz, piano and classical music. For me, all of those things connect through sound, rhythm, texture and musicality, which are the things I’m most interested in.”

These influences simply make sense, even when you take a quick dive into AIRGLO’s music. The aggression, the poise, the musicality, the patience—it’s all there. Each element finds its way into his productions in different shapes and forms, to create a sound that goes from delicate and devastating to measured and explosive.

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