Max HeyraudAhead of his long-awaited Irish debut at Tengu this Saturday, which also happens to be his birthday, we catch up with Raredub to talk breakout moments, studio magic, and the making of a modern techno classic.
Sofia’s Raredub has become nothing short of a force of nature in the techno sphere. Over the past year, he’s racked up collaborations with Partiboi69, released on Mall Grab’s Steel City Dance Discs, delivered multiple live sets and studio projects with KiNK, and earned support from heavyweights like FJAAK, Peggy Gou, and Paul Woolford. His name has been on every DJ’s lips for the past 12 months, and while artists are often described as having a breakout year, in Raredub’s case, that almost feels like an understatement. He hasn’t just broken out, he’s ripped through the techno stratosphere and etched his name across global dancefloors.
There’s a constant debate in electronic music about the lack of “modern classics.” Why don’t today’s tracks resonate like those from the ‘90s or 2000s? Is it our attention span? The oversaturation of releases? The way streaming has changed how we consume music? Whatever the reason, when Raredub and KiNK dropped “Time to Change” last October, it shattered those assumptions.
It felt instantly timeless. Already played by all the right DJs on all the right dancefloors well before its official release on Mutual Rytm, it was clear a future classic had landed. And with two heavyweight remixes by Berghain’s own Marcel Dettmann, its legacy was all but sealed. It’s the kind of track that crowds sing along to, not the words, but the bassline. As Raredub puts it, “TA DA DA DAAAA… TA DA DA DAAA.”
And if that weren’t enough? It was made in just 20 minutes. One of those rare, perfect storms, the kind of track that feels like it fell from the sky, and KiNK and Raredub were simply there, hands open, ready to catch it.
We caught up with Raredub ahead of his Irish debut at Yamamori Tengu tomorrow night.
How’s life? You seem to be super busy lately.
Life’s good — no complaints!
Where do you feel most comfortable: in the club or in the studio?
Honestly, I’m at home in both. My studio’s like an underground dungeon — a proper man cave, haha. It used to be an illegal gambling spot back in the ’90s, so it kind of feels like a club without the crowd.
What’s the techno scene like in Sofia right now?
I haven’t been out to a techno party here recently, but the scene is definitely still alive. There are a few smaller crews and promoters doing cool things, and the production quality has seriously leveled up.
Can you share the story behind the name Raredub?
Nothing too deep behind it, to be honest. I was young, throwing my first DIY parties with some friends back in my hometown, Plovdiv. I needed a nickname and thought “Dub” was a solid start — not that I’m some space-echo guy or anything, haha. I looked around the room and spotted a bottle of J&B whisky. The label said “J&B Rare.” Boom — Raredub. And it just stuck.
How long have you been producing music?
I started messing around with music back in high school — just a crappy laptop, a boombox, and some early version of FL Studio. Later, I moved to Ableton, version 6 at the time. So yeah… it’s been a minute. I had no clue what I was doing, of course.
When did you start making music you truly loved?
It really started to click once I began carving out my own sound — and more importantly, when I figured out how to actually get there. That’s when I truly understood what I wanted from my music and how I wanted it to hit people. I just love making music!
Let’s talk about the big one: your collaborative track with KiNK, “Time To Change.” Has it changed your life?
“Time To Change” got massive support from both fans and DJs, which has been incredible to see. It’s just cool watching it travel around the world. It was also one of our fastest-signed tracks — just a few hours after finishing it, we were already discussing release dates with Mutual Rytm. I’ve got a feeling this one will age like a fine wine.
Did you know straight away it was going to blow up?
Absolutely. I know a banger when I hear one, and this one just hits. What really cracks me up is when the crowd starts singing the bassline like it’s a lyric: TA DA DA DAAAA… TA DA DA DAAA, haha.
The track was remixed by the legendary Marcel Dettmann. How did that happen, and what was your reaction?
Having Marcel remix our track was a huge honour — he’s a true legend. It meant a lot. And actually, Paul Woolford, aka Special Request — one of my musical heroes — recently did his own version too. Can’t wait to drop it this Saturday!
What’s it like working with KiNK in the studio?
It’s insane! We’re basically like two kids in a playground. Our energy just clicks. And it looks like that’s not changing anytime soon — we’ve been cooking up a lot of new music together lately.
How did you two first connect?
Cool story, actually. I’d been a huge fan of his since I was like 16. We kind of knew each other through socials, but never met in person until one night when I was VJ-ing at a festival (yeah, I used to do that). He was playing, and during his set, the stage manager came up and said, “He wants you on stage.” I was super nervous, but I went for it, and we ended up doing a 20-minute live jam. Totally surreal experience.
What’s one piece of studio gear you couldn’t live without?
I used to be a total gear junkie, but these days all I really need is my laptop and some creativity. Don’t get me wrong — I still love knobs and buttons — but I’ve learned I can survive without them.
You’ve also collaborated with Partiboi69. What was that like?
That was a wild one! I was already working on the track, and he sent me this voice memo on WhatsApp with the idea for the lyrics. I listened and laughed my ass off. A few hours later, the whole thing was recorded. PB69 is an absolute beast — such fun, chaotic energy to work with.
You’re playing in Dublin this weekend. What can we expect from your set?
Saturday the 14th, just after midnight — technically my birthday — I’ll be celebrating it at Yamamori Tengu! What can you expect? You’d better come and find out!
You can purchase tickets to Lost Present Raredub at Tengu tomorrow here.
