Route 94

Fresh from a stint at the top of the UK charts and planning for the Rinse Easter party at Fabric tonight, we caught the once-elusive Route 94 for a quick chat.

Attack: You are 20 years old and you’ve already had a UK number one. Does this feel like real life?

Route 94: It didn’t feel as great as I thought it would. Still a big achievement though.

You started making music at a very young age. What music were you into when you made your first foray into recording?

Everything! I’ve always made everything from hip-hop to house to drum and bass. I have to make whatever interests me to keep myself happy and keep my creative juices flowing.

How did you get into it? Are your family musical?

A little bit. A few of them play instruments and stuff but I think I have my mum to thank for my musicality. She has always been really into it – not the technical side, but she has always had music on in my house as I’ve been growing up.

UK number one? It didn't feel as great as I thought it would.

Your recent releases are crisp, stripped back house with big vocal hooks. A lot of people have compared it to 90s house and garage. Do you consciously draw influence from that era?

No. I’ve only got three or four tracks out anyway and they all just happen to be like that. I’ve got a lot of material in a completely different direction that I will be sharing with everyone very soon. I’m just waiting for the right time.

We’ve only heard a small amount of your output but obviously you’ve been working up to this for a long time. Has anything come along which has revolutionised your creative process? Do you feel like you’ve had any massive changes in direction over the years?

Yeah, I just think growing up and being in different environments has changed me, and therefore my music, a lot. Being younger I made music that I just wanted to jump around to; now I make stuff that means more to me.

You maintained anonymity for quite a while – what was the motivation behind that?

I just wanted it to be about the music but then it became more about the anonymity…

There’s a different kind of anonymity in producing for other people. You’ve ventured into that with your production on ‘Everything’ for Katy B’s Little Red. How does that compare to making your own music?

It’s the same, I guess. I still just write the music how I want to and do what I want.

Do you ever need a break from music? If so, what do you do to clear your head?

Everyone needs a break. Too much of one thing isn’t good for your brain. I try and give myself a little bit of time every now and then to just do nothing and clear my mind when things get a bit hectic.

I just wanted it to be about the music but then it became more about the Anonymity...

We really hoped you’d named yourself after the London bus route 94 from Acton Green to Piccadilly Circus but apparently not?

No, it’s a road in America that goes from Chicago to Detroit. This being the roots of house and techno I thought it was pretty cool. That and I just like the name.

You’re playing at Fabric on Thursday for the Rinse Easter party. How tight are the Rinse crew? Do you enjoy being part of a collective?

I love it. They look after me like a family would, nice to know someone always has my back!

Finally, a few quick ones. Who are you in awe of?

The future me.

What has been your proudest moment so far?

I’m never really 100% satisfied so I don’t really have a proudest moment because I always know I can do more.

Art or money? Jurassic Park or James Bond? Sunrise or sunset?

Art, Jurassic Park, sunset. Because if sunset’s good enough you’ll be up till sunrise.

Smooth.

Route 94 plays Fabric tonight for the Rinse Easter Party, alongside the likes of Mumdance, Visionist and Ben UFO. Find him on SoundCloud, Facebook and Twitter.