We caught up with DJ Elephante at the CALPAK Space at our Nexus Lounge Miami during Miami Music Week. The iTunes US Dance Chart-topping producer, songwriter, and artist gave us some travel tips, played a game of our Take 5 Series, and shared a little about the ethos behind his recently launched label and creative collective, Hidden Horizon
Elephante, born Tim Wu, is a boundary-pushing producer and artist renowned for blending melodic electronic dance music with pop, blues, and rock. His EPs, including 2018’s2018’s chart-topping “Glass Mansion,” have amassed hundreds of millions of streams, earning acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and EDM.com.
As a captivating live performer, Elephante has graced stages at major festivals like Lollapalooza and EDC Las Vegas, alongside sold-out national tours and prestigious nightlife residencies. Rejecting EDM’s confines, he views, pushes boundaries, and connects deeply with audiences through his mission to craft songs with profound meaning.
Elephante’s most recent project, “Say It Like You Mean It,” is a soaring, emotionally produced big room track featuring a collaboration with SABAI and the vocals of Olivia Ray. It was released through Elephante and SABAI’sSABAI’s recently announced label, Hidden Horizon.
Getting into our interview, the DJ shares a little about why he felt the need to found his own label:
"When I first started a career, I didn't have a crew, I didn't have a community. I didn't know anyone. And I know better than anyone how hard it is to try and start a career in that environment. So I just wanted to create the community I wish I had when I first started."
With Hidden Horizons taking off, Elephante is gearing up for a year of album and single releases, with a focus on Asian artists working within the industry. With so much going on, Elephante’s found himself on the road more often than not, so we asked him for his biggest travel tips. “Make sure your carry-on is regulation-sized,” he shares, adding: “And bring a water bottle because airport waters are robbery.”
Before he heads out, Elephante plays a quick game of our Nexus Take 5 Series, where we ask our guests questions ranging from severe or funny to just plain odd. As part of the series, he shares a little about the tracks that get him most excited, his favorite toy as a child, and a prank involving Rick Roll and a compromised deck…
We’ll let you discover all that and more via the full-length and exclusive interview below. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @nexusradiodance, where we’ll share more exclusive content, including interviews with the biggest names in dance music and exclusive festival coverage.
