Max HeyraudWe sat down with DJ, producer, label-head, and radio presenter Ev Wilde to discuss his journey in dance music, from opening clubs at just 14 to playing the 3Arena and reaching number one on the iTunes charts. Wilde shares the intimate side of his daily life, including creative blocks, career doubts, and the realities of being an artist in the age of social media.
Few artists in the contemporary club circuit can genuinely claim to have lived and breathed music from childhood to the present, from pirate radio to teenage club sets, and ultimately playing arenas and topping charts. Ev Wilde is one of those remarkable individuals. His lifelong devotion to house music began as a child. He watched his father DJ and became fascinated by the art of mixing records and the close-knit community of the 90s Dublin house music scene. Wilde channels this energy into his music, consistently drawing inspiration from the past while weaving in his unique story.
Now, as a rising artist with a blossoming online presence and a recent residency at Spin 1038—Where his father once broadcasted on the same frequency back in the 90s as Future FM 103.8—Ev Wilde has carved out his own path, celebrating the growth of Dublin’s music scene. His love and romanticism for house music remain as untouched and magical as it was in his childhood, as he champions his own music and radio shows, establishing himself as one of Ireland’s most positive voices and tastemakers in dance music.
Let’s start from the beginning. You draw a lot of your musical influences from your dad, correct?
My dad was a pirate radio DJ in the 90s, broadcasting on Spin 1038’s frequency in Dublin before it became a commercial station. At that time, it was called Future FM. He and his friends ran the station from a garden shed, with a big antenna attached to the back of the house. Watching him was really inspiring and helped me understand what I wanted to do as a career.
Is that your earliest memory of experiencing dance music?
Yeah, I was about seven years old at the time. When I’d come in, there were cans of beer everywhere, the smell of stale smoke from the night before filled the air, but it didn’t bother me. I just loved watching it. I was just amazed that people could take a piece of wax and place it on a turntable, and then sound would come out. I was just in awe of it all.
So, when did you start going to clubs yourself?
I was only about 14 when I got asked to play my first club gig—definitely underage, but they let me open the night. It was at Sarah’s Nightclub in Rathfarnham Village, where I’m from. At 14, I started doing a little residency, opening the club every night. I was meant to be gone by a certain hour, but I never did [laughs].
What was the first setup?
My first setup was a Numark Axis 4, one of the first electronic CD drive decks. But I learned how to DJ on Technics 1210s in my uncle’s DJ room. It was definitely a challenge, to be fair!
When you think back to Dublin then compared to now, what differences do you see in terms of the music scene and everything around it?
Back when I used to go clubbing, a lot of the scene was underground, with a lot of smaller, undiscovered clubs—probably not hundreds, but definitely over 50. I used to go to places like The Mez and Andrew’s Lane. All those clubs are gone now. I think commercial clubs will always survive, the underground scene is disintegrating rapidly.
Do you think Irish dance music is being fairly represented in the media?
I don’t think Irish dance music is being fairly represented in the media. First of all, I believe that the media we do see is heavily controlled, so we’re not getting the coverage we really want, especially when it comes to DJs getting the limelight. Clubbing in Ireland is largely unrecognised, and honestly, it feels like there’s a push to abolish it altogether.
Staying on media, you recently started working with Spin 1038, which is a cool full-circle moment since your dad used to broadcast on the same frequency. How did that come about?
My pirate radio days started on a station called Tonik Radio, which broadcasted on 107.1 in the 2000s when I was just 14. I was there for about four years before taking a break. After that, I joined Phever Radio for another two or three years, but I took another short break again after that.
Then to bring it back to the present day, I collaborated on a track with an artist named Charlene Murphy and she got to perform at Longitude and invited me to join her since I made the track. When I was there, I met the head of Spin, and he instantly asked me if I wanted to do a Friday night residency on Spin. I would be broadcasting across three stations: Spin, Spin South West, and I-Radio. Happy fucking days, this was something I always wanted to do! I love being a radio DJ – there’s something special about talking in a room by yourself while broadcasting to 10 to 100’s of people. It’s great.
What is your affinity for radio? Many newer DJs don’t aspire to be radio DJs, so what draws you to it?
You know what? There’s a huge difference between pirate radio and mainstream radio, like Spin, where I’m where I’m at now. On pirate radio, you can have a bit of craic and banter with the listeners texting in. There isn’t a brick wall limiting what you can say or do.
But you know, for my mental health, being involved in radio is something I want to do. It keeps me busy when I’m not DJing, allowing me to open up the decks, mix, and send my sets across for broadcast. It’s great.
You seem like a natural fit for your role, especially given your online presence. When did you decide to embrace that and start sharing those older tunes with a younger audience?
When it comes to content, I got signed with Universal last August, which changed everything for me. They said I needed to up my content game. I realised I needed to take it seriously. I decided to go full-time into content creation, which opened my eyes to the real world and this is what’s happening.
I tested a few videos to see what would work, and one that took off was about my dad, sharing the backstory of me watching him DJ through the years. I decided to showcase the music he played on his radio show. My dad and his pals were the first DJs to ever host a Hellfire Club rave in Dublin back in the ’90s, so I went through his Hellfire Club playlist and showed his music taste. The response was incredible, and my following grew rapidly. It’s been mad since then!
So, the drive was to promote your music and DJing while also exploring new avenues for self-promotion?
Yeah, exactly. I have no problem diving two feet deep into things—whatever works, works, and I’m rolling with it. To be honest, I’m just rolling with life right now. I’m a 30-year-old man who didn’t grow up in this content scene, I’m just trying my best.
You’re one of the most positive voices in the online dance music scene. Given that social media can often be a negative space, do you find it difficult to maintain that uplifting tone in such a toxic environment?
Yeah, 100%. I think I have a bit of ADHD I’ve never been diagnosed but I’m sure of it, which makes it tough for me to stay consistent. To be honest, I’m not the most reliable when it comes to social media. If I’m not feeling happy or good, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a camera and make a video.
A lot is going on in my life right now, and it’s difficult to keep up. However, I do make it a point to turn on my computer and try to create a tune whenever I can.
So, is making music a consistent part of your life?
Making music is where I came from. I didn’t grow up in the content or social media scene. I believe in doing what makes you happy, and for me, that’s making music.
I want to ask you about your decision to leave your job a while back. What was the thought process behind that decision?
I went down and got a haircut one Saturday morning from a lad I knew, and he told me this story about moving to Bali. He said he didn’t know how long he’d be there, but he was going. After the haircut, I drove home and told my missus about his story. A few weeks later, we had booked the trip.
While I was there, I worked on an album called EV in the Wilde. I got the feeling for making music full-time; I didn’t have to go to work or worry about anything else. I thought, “If I can save a bit, I can definitely do this.” Once I returned, gigs started coming in, and I decided, “You know what? Forget this—I’m not going back to work.” Thankfully, I have a very supportive family, which made it all doable.
After you came back, how long did it take for you to reach number one on the iTunes charts with “Here We Go Again”? Did that success take much longer to achieve after your return?
I was back for about seven or eight months when I made “Here We Go Again,” and it took off in Ireland. I remember sitting down with my neighbour in Wexford and in the background, James Blunt’s “1973” was playing. I paused our conversation and thought, “Wow, that’s some hook.” About seven hours later, I was in the studio recording “Here We Go Again,” and it was released the following week—it just exploded.
Can you share a bit about your experience meeting James Blunt? It’s such a cool story.
He was playing in Dublin at Collins Barracks, and I knew a guy named Lorcan Mills who was working at the event. He mentioned he might be able to get me in, but he wasn’t sure. Long story short, he did, and I got to meet James Blunt. I was walking up the stairs with my ma to his dressing room, my track was blasting on the speaker. I got a little nudge from my ma, and she said, “Do you hear that?” I couldn’t believe it—James Blunt was playing my tune! His tour manager had heard the track and went up to show it to him. When he came back down, he said, “Yeah, he’s ready to see you now.” As we walked up, my song was still playing, and James told me, “This tune landed on my doorstep about a year ago. I couldn’t believe how you turned my sad, emotional tune into a happy dance track.”
Did you feel any pressure to create another track that sounded like “Here We Go Again”? Following up on a big hit can be challenging, and even though you’ve had success since then, did you feel any weight on your shoulders after that?
I just go on the computer and create whatever comes to mind. I never try to replicate the success of my last track because I feel that if I’m focused on making something better than before, I won’t be able to do it. Honestly, I feel like I haven’t been producing at 100% in the last seven months due to a bit of a creative block. But I show up every day, and it’s interesting because on that one day, when you least expect it, an idea can strike.
You mentioned that you experience creative blocks. What’s your approach to overcoming them?
If I don’t turn on the computer, I’ll spend the whole day thinking, “Today is the day.” You never know which day it will be, but I’ll be sitting there waiting for it. So, I just turn it on every day. It’s an addiction, honestly. It’s just what I do.
How was supporting Belter’s Only in the 3Arena?
I know the lads very well, and one day I was sitting down having dinner with my ma when I got a call from them asking how I’d like to support them in the 3Arena. At first, I thought they were taking the piss with me because they’re messers. But ye, it was one of the best feelings ever. The adrenaline rush was incredible! I had a half-hour set, and I’d play that gig ten times over. I started off with the place empty, but by the time I finished, it was packed.
After reflecting on all your big accolades and standout tracks, it’s clear you’ve had a long journey. Were there any doubts along the way?
There are doubts every day. When you start this journey at 14 and turn 30 this year, still working towards a dream that’s never left your mind, it can feel like a long time without reaching your goal. But, I have a lot of supportive people around me who push me to keep going every day.
In my mind, you’ve accomplished a lot of landmark goals that most DJs in Ireland aspire to achieve. So, what is your definition of “making it”?
If I were to tick boxes for what I’ve accomplished in the last two years of my career, I would be one happy man. But, my aspirations go beyond just ticking boxes. I want to see the world for the love of music. I want to travel, meet new people, and share the love of music throughout the world.
What’s a day in the life of Ev Wilde look like?
So, I start in the studio at half six every morning, usually working until about five in the evening with a half-hour break in between. That routine has become what my body is built to do. I’ve been doing it for the last three years. After finishing up, I usually go up to my ma’s place for a cup of tea with my family, then I head back down to bed. I wake up the next day and do it all over again. I’ve got the most repetitive life you’ll ever see, but right now, it’s perfect for me.
I can imagine it can be tough to stay creative every day, and if you don’t manage to produce a track, it might take a toll on you mentally. How do you navigate that?
You never know what day you’ll sit down at your computer and something great will happen. If we could make bangers seven days a week, we’d be rich men [laughs].
What up-and-coming producers we should be on the lookout for?
I think Cameron Watsin is a massive talent – he’s not only a great person but also an exceptional producer. A lot of people should keep an eye on what he’s doing because he’s blowing it out of the park at the minute. There’s also another Irish producer, CAZ, and Patrick Topping is heavily supporting one of his tunes. I generally just listen to Belters Only, Jazzy, Kyle Meehan, Evan McGee and more.
The Irish house music scene is super positive right now. What do you think is driving that energy?
I’m from a council estate in Ireland, but I have a dream. There’s a big, bad world out there, and I want to explore it. Playing on big stages like the 3Arena fuels my love to keep pushing forward. I won’t stop until I experience it again.
Do you have anything lined up that we should keep an eye out for?
I’m going to dive into the podcast scene, I have a friend in New Jersey, and we’re thinking of calling our podcast “Across the Pond.” We plan to do it through the web and start bringing on Irish DJs, making it a weekly or bi-weekly thing. I’m just trying to ride this wave and keep going.
Have you got any final words of wisdom?
I’ve said throughout this before, but if you have a dream, don’t ever stop working for it. You are your only competition in this world, nobody else.
