No Shortcuts: Cheat Codes’ Success Is All About the Grind

interview collaboration with

Nexus Lounge Miami 2025

Cheat Codes took a break from their busy schedule and joined us at the Nexus Lounge Miami for another epic catch-up. The trio, always full of energy and good vibes, spilled the latest on their new projects, musical adventures, and what’s been going on behind the scenes.

If there were a cheat code for chart-topping success, Los Angeles-based electronic trio Cheat Codes may have just cracked it. Since their explosive debut in 2015, these musical mavericks—Kevin Ford, Trevor Dahl, and Matthew Russell—have hacked the system with a genre-bending blend of EDM, pop, and house that feels like a late-night drive down Sunset Boulevard: neon-lit, unpredictable, and just the right amount of wild.

Sample TextBefore they joined forces like the Avengers of the L.A. music scene, each member was running solo missions—producing, singing, songwriting, and sharpening their individual craft. But when their paths collided, Cheat Codes was born, a name as cheeky as it is fitting. Why play by the rules when you can break them with style?

Their debut track, “Visions,” wasn’t just a song—it was a statement. A floor-filler built to make you dance like nobody’s watching (but secretly hoping everyone is). With slick beats and that sunny SoCal sheen, Cheat Codes stepped onto the scene like they’d been there all along.

After “Visions,” they hit rapid-fire mode. Singles like “Don’t Say No,” “Senses,” and “Adventure” showed off their versatility—infusing tropical house vibes, sultry vocals, and cinematic drops. Featuring artists like Evan Gartner, they built a playlist that could soundtrack everything from beach parties to breakup montages.

By 2016, they’d gone full beast mode with “Sex” (featuring a sample from Salt-N-Pepa’s classic “Let’s Talk About Sex”) and “Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On)”—turning throwback hooks into futuristic bangers. Streaming numbers skyrocketed. Dance floors erupted. The internet collectively lost its mind.

But wait—there’s more. In 2017, they dropped what would become their biggest hit yet: “No Promises” featuring the powerhouse vocals of Demi Lovato. Suddenly, Cheat Codes were everywhere—from American late-night TV to European summer festivals, all while riding the high of the No Promises World Tour.

And because they don’t believe in slowing down, they followed up with "Feels Great" (featuring Fetty Wap, naturally), blending nostalgia with millennial optimism. Because yeah, being young does feel great—especially when your soundtrack is this fire.

What makes Cheat Codes truly next-level is their refusal to be boxed in. One track might feel like poolside pop bliss; the next, a turbo-charged club banger. They’ve got the rare ability to shapeshift without losing their core identity: fun, fearless, and built for blasting at full volume.

In our Miami Music Week interview, the guys lit up when asked what genres they haven’t tackled yet but are itching to try. “We talked about K-pop—or like, K-pop artists,” one of them chimed in, with the others quickly backing him up. The excitement was obvious, like they were already dreaming up the perfect cross-continental collab. Then came another genre on their radar—Latin. “We’re always down to do Latin stuff,” they said with a grin. “We did a couple Latin songs and we have a couple we might be putting out. Actually, the Latin stuff is always fun.” With their usual laid-back charm and boundary-pushing spirit, Cheat Codes made it clear: no genre is off limits, and the best is probably still on the way.

At the heart of it all, Cheat Codes may be known for bending genres and flipping expectations, but when it comes to life, they’re refreshingly grounded. “I think we have talents and gifts that God gives us, and we’re called to make the most of those abilities—whatever they are.” But they didn’t sugarcoat the process. “You gotta take initiative,” they emphasized. “There’s consequences to your actions, and you can’t just sit around and hope to manifest something without doing the work.” There’s no magic trick to making it, no real-life cheat code. As they put it, success isn’t something you can fake or fast-forward through—you’ve got to show up, do the work, and earn every beat.

To learn more about Cheat Codes, including their favorite video games, listen to our full interview below.