Max HeyraudWe caught up with High Fidelity to discuss the Irish electro scene, receiving support from his heroes like DJ Stingray, the importance of experimentation, the emigration of Irish artists, and much more.
High Fidelity is undeniably one of Dublin’s leading electro artists, proudly representing every aspect of his craft. He embodies the raw, unpolished energy of the electro sound, drawing inspiration from Ireland’s gritty, relentless club culture. His music merges the chaos and beauty of Ireland’s underdog story with a hard-edged breakbeat and EBM-infused sound. This unique blend creates a powerful lineage that honours the past of electro while embracing a bold, discomforting future. Through his work, he channels the spirit of Ireland, a place he continues to champion.
In this conversation, we delve into his relentless experimentation and the highs and lows of being an Irish artist in 2025. With a creative drive that thrives on risk and a determination to break the mould, High Fidelity discusses how pushing boundaries is paying off both domestically and internationally, and reveals what’s next for this rising star in the world of club culture.
How are you feeling creatively at the moment?
Feeling good! I’m experimenting with a lot of different styles and techniques for production. I’m trying to step away from the screen a bit more, so I’ve been investing in new equipment to start building a live hardware setup. So far, I’ve picked up an Ableton Push 2 and was recently gifted a “Speak & Spell” to recreate those 80’s retro vocals found in classic Detroit electro. I’m hearing more and more artists pushing through the invisible boundaries that genres tend to create, so it’s inspiring me to step outside my traditional workflow.
You recently played a headline show on St. Patrick’s Day with The Lounge. How was that? I know it wasn’t your first time playing with them.
Serious craic! The buzz in Ireland around Paddy’s Day is unmatched, and I’ve always wanted to play an intimate party on or around the 17th. Sean and Aran, who run The Lounge, have been consistent supporters of mine, continuing to book me for great parties, so big shout to the lads!
You played in Prague recently. Was it your first time? Do you approach gigs abroad any differently compared to playing on home turf?
Yeah, it was the first time in Prague in general, and it was incredible! Up there with one of my favourite cities now. Playing on a night dedicated to electro, breaks, and ghetto-tek was so refreshing, since you don’t find a huge number of nights back home pushing those sounds. Nasty Rangers (Collective in Prague) worked tirelessly on the production elements for Fuchs2, and it was so cool to link up and play after Hermeth, someone whom I’ve admired since I started this project and now call a good friend. When I’m prepping for international shows, I do find I have more freedom to experiment with new material, especially in European cities when it comes to electro.
In October last year, you supported Boys Noize at Centre Point. How was that? I hear a lot of Boys Noize influences in your music, would I be right?
Absolutely, he’s been a massive influence since I started DJing and making music. It’s been a long-term goal of mine to release on Boysnoize Records too, so I hope we can make it happen soon. The show was perfect. I really enjoyed warming up the room for him, and he’s an absolute gent! We went for dinner before the show, and it was a great opportunity to hear about his experiences over the years and discuss his new experimental label, ONES and ZEROS.
On a similar note of influences and big-name artists, DJ Stingray was playing your tracks a while back. As far as electro artists go, he’s one of the most formative on the current circuit. How did that feel?
Yeah, I was kind of shocked when I found out, couldn’t wrap my head around it. For a legend of his calibre to be supporting my tracks (even recently on The Lot Radio), it was such an honour. It also acted as validation that I’m on the right track and people are fucking with what I’m making. I’ve been a DJ a lot longer than a producer (10+ years), so belief in my work is something I struggle with more than I should.
Electro is often an under-sung hero in Irish club culture, but you’ve been flying the electro flag for some time. Is it frustrating, rewarding, or a mix of both to be a champion of the sound in a country where it’s not always in the spotlight?
100%, it can be frustrating. Electro flies under the radar in Dublin a lot of the time. However, there is an excellent community pushing that sound right across the country, from Cork to Galway. Notably, Deep Sea Dweller in Galway have had some fantastic bookings lately, including Anthony Rother, homegrown hero Kerrie, and Dopplereffekt coming up this May.
I love to champion that sound and introduce more people to electro and breakbeat, especially those who haven’t looked outside the techno/trance/garage/house communities. Even when I’m booked to support artists or play nights that aren’t focused on that sound, I find a way to sneak in some electro. I feel I’ve built a solid fanbase from playing what I want, and I’d urge more artists to embrace that idea. There are communities out there for all types of sub-genres; you just need to seek them out or create your own!
You released a record via Parisian-based Molekül’s sub-label, Perfusion Records, a while back. How did that come about, and can you tell us a bit about your contribution?
Yeah, so Gabriel, the label manager for Molekul, reached out to ask if I was interested in contributing to the V/A release. It was a long-term personal goal when I started this new alias, but to release alongside Swooh and NiteFleit, two exceptional artists, made it even more special. The bonus was getting a physical copy of my music, too, since the release was distributed digitally and pressed to vinyl.
My track Say My Name took influences from classic electro but with a modern, pacey twist. The foundation of the track is that pounding subby 808, working with a rolling bassline. Introducing the vocal sample and the rave stabs added to the intensity, and I felt it encapsulated the energy I try to incorporate into all my music.
You’re also a key part of Cupra’s On The Pulse DJ Competition for the last two years. Can you tell me a bit about how this concept came about?
I moved to CUPRA in May 2023 and felt ambitious about expanding their music strategy. At the time, CUPRA had a global partnership with Boiler Room and a dedicated stage at Primavera Sound. I could see they were building strong ties to electronic music, and knew we could do something at a local level in Ireland to enter that space and support the electronic music community. A festival slot is something sought after by many artists and can sometimes seem unattainable unless you know the right people. Our partnership with Beyond The Pale in 2024 allowed us to offer an artist the opportunity to perform at an Irish festival as part of the competition.
We’re delighted to continue the partnership with Beyond the Pale this summer, and we’re in the middle of the second year of the competition. Entries have just closed with an outstanding 450+ submissions, far exceeding our expectations for this year! Our judges are currently reviewing the shortlist of submissions and deciding on our final 5 DJs, who will perform at Yamamori Tengu later this month for the opportunity to play at Beyond The Pale 2025 and receive a €2,500 cash prize.
You’ve previously said, “Our island is brimming with undiscovered talent.” Do you think last year’s competition was a testament to that?
Definitely. We received close to 300 submissions last year, and the judging panel were blown away by the level of talent when reviewing the entries. So diverse in terms of styles and genres, and our final 5 had to battle out at the finalist event. Cian Bolger’s winning set last year was exceptional, but the other finalists all held their own that night too. DJing in front of a panel of industry judges is no easy feat!
In terms of infrastructure, do you think it’s fair to say that Ireland is lagging behind other European countries when it comes to helping emerging artists break through to the next stage of their careers?
It’s a hot topic and has been for some time, but for good reason. As we continue to see clubs close in Dublin, reinforced by the constant backtracking from the Government over updating the licensing laws and the lack of late-night public transport infrastructure, I don’t blame any artists considering a move. Cork and Galway, among many other counties, have seen the loss of key clubs/venues in recent years.
For a country so deeply rooted in its history, traditions, and artistic expressions, I think we could do so much better to support artists and dance music culture. A move is something I’ve personally been considering, and so many artists who made the jump have gone on to do amazing things, while proudly flying the Irish flag.
Finally, what can people expect at the Cupra stage at Beyond The Pale this year?
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Four Four Magazine for our activation and stage at Beyond The Pale this summer. Expect 3 days of late-night programming at the CUPRA x Four Four stage, with a lineup of exciting emerging artists and talented Irish headliners. Can’t say too much more just yet!
