Interviews

Australian multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Declan McDermott has carved out a sound that sits confidently between genres — a blend of jazz-trained musicianship, deep-rooted electronic influences and a lifelong commitment to pushing musical boundaries. Now based in Berlin, he channels the city’s creative energy into his work, balancing club-focused productions with richly textured, emotionally driven compositions. With a new EP landing on Delusions of Grandeur and his debut album on the horizon, Declan reflects on his journey from Sydney to Europe, the artists who shaped him, and the personal experiences that continue to fuel his evolving sound.

Thanks for taking the time to talk. How are you doing, are you good?

I'm doing well! Getting ready for spring in Berlin after a long winter and working on some tracks for my upcoming album.

We are talking to you on the week of your new release on Delusions of Grandeur. How you feeling about that?

Really happy to be talking with you guys around the time of the release. It's been great getting feedback from the EP and hearing my music out in the club and on the radio!

Love to go back and talk to you about your inspirations in sound. When you first started out, was there a track that marks your production beginnings, that inspired you to make the music that you do?

I first started playing music when I was 5 years old. I began with guitar but slowly gravitated towards other instruments like piano, drums and bass. I've always been playing in bands, singing in choirs, learning instruments or studying music in one way or another.

I've had a lot of different music that's inspired me over the years but the one artist that’s inspired me the most would have to be Prince. I think it’s a great reference to have as a multi-instrumentalist.

However, as I slowly started to produce music in my teenage years I began to focus a lot on electronic music, which led me to Underground Resistance. I felt a deep connection musically and I was exposed to a whole new world of music that I wasn’t experienced in. If I had to pick one piece of music that inspired me it would be -Jupiter Jazz” by Galaxy 2 Galaxy.

Who were the producers at that time who were making you sit up and listen?

Mike Banks, Sneaky Tim, Rick Wade, Floating Points, also bands/musicians like Hiatus Kaiyote, Jamiroquai, Prince, Don Blackman. I am quite open musically so I would drift between a lot of different sources of inspiration.

When you started out back in the day, did you have a vision of what sort of music you wanted to make?

Absolutely. I always wanted to push the boundaries of music and create a unique style. I often felt like I was in between genres when composing, so I wanted to create something that was a mix of all my favourite aspects of music and played to my strengths as an instrumentalist and producer.

Does that musical vision remain the same today?

It has shifted and transformed over time but my vision is ultimately the same. Working with specific instruments, gear or ongoing collaborations involving musicians that come from different musical backgrounds can have a big influence on the direction and style of my productions. A perfect example would be my collaboration with Luxonous (Omri Abramov) on “Dani.”

If you knew then what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self about the music industry?

I was always so focused on making the best music possible, as often as possible, and constantly trying to improve my skills as a producer that I forgot there are many other aspects of being a creative person that deserve equal attention. Sometimes it’s good to zoom out a bit and focus on the bigger picture.

Tell us where you were originally from and what took you to Berlin?

I’m from Sydney, Australia. After studying film scoring I decided to move to Istanbul, Turkey. After some time working on film scoring and audio engineering there, I returned to Australia but still wanted to see what else there was to discover. I had constantly been hearing about how amazing the creative scene in Berlin was, so after visiting a few times I decided that I would move here.

What is it you love about where you live today?

I feel free. I meet all sorts of people from all over the world who are open-minded, excited and ready to go out and experience something new. It feels like I’m in the right place at the right time and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else… at least for now.

You’ve been working as a musician for a long time. Tell us a little about that.

I’ve always tried to be involved in a lot of different projects, focused primarily on using my skills as a multi-instrumentalist and composer to the utmost extent. I’ve worked on music for advertising, film scores, studio projects, production for artists and a lot of interesting projects as a session musician.

Who are some of the artists that you’ve worked with over the years?

I’ve worked with a lot of amazing artists in the scene such as Lovebirds, Blackloops, SIRS, Derrick McKenzie, Ettore Carcano, Joel Holmes, Jussmils, Redpigflower, Omri Abramov. I’ve also been very fortunate to be a part of a wide range of band projects involving some amazing musicians.

What was the first track you put out?

I’ve been a part of many tracks as a co-writer or featured artist, but my first release under my own name was actually my first single with Delusions, “Doin’ It All 4 U.”

Which of the records you produced do you think made the biggest mark? Or is that yet to come?

100% that is yet to come, stay tuned.

There’s got to be a record that you felt was brilliant and went under the radar. Is there one you can earmark for us to check?

I think one of my projects that I still really love is “Great Ocean Road,” which was released by Lovebirds on his label Teardrop Records. Really love the overall vibe and the live instrumentation — also features Blackloops on drums! I’m also really into my track “Dani” featuring Luxonous on EWI and soprano sax.

What inspires you to make music do you think?

I make music because it’s a natural expression of things that are going on in my life, the environment I’m in, or impactful experiences or memories from the past. It’s something that’s always been a part of my life, so I can’t imagine what I would do if I didn’t have this kind of creative outlet.

Where do you find the new music that you are into today?

It really depends on what kind of music I’m looking for as every genre is different. I am often looking into the past for inspiration; however, when it comes to current music I find myself looking into my local scene or observing which high-level musicians or producers are involved in certain projects.

Was there a particular inspiration for this new EP?

The two tracks come from very different worlds. “Why Don’t You Believe Me” is a track whose tone has been shaped by my time in Berlin, whereas “Yara-Kimba (Lindeman Island)” is a homage to a beautiful island that I used to visit during my childhood growing up in Australia. Two very direct translations of real-world environments that had a huge impact on me as a person — two very different results.

Are there ever personal events in your life that influence the music and its direction?

Yes, definitely. There are even points in my life where something deeply impactful happens and there are almost waves of creativity that are very clear even after the event. I can recall several examples of this occurring throughout my life. Often the most difficult times yield the best results creatively.

You have been on Delusions a few times now right? How did you link up with the label?

I was working alongside Blackloops for his Always Moving LP under Freerange Records. I really liked the vibe of the label and I knew they had also worked with a few other colleagues including Lovebirds. I had been looking for a suitable label to release my music through and Lovebirds was kind enough to send my music through to Jamie (Jimpster) and the rest is history. Really happy it worked out — I’ve released two EPs with them so far and am currently working on my first album.

Tell us a little about the EP and when we can grab it.

The EP sheds a light on two very different worlds and features some amazing remixes from DJ Nature and I:Cube. It’s available on vinyl from April 10th and available digitally from the 24th.

What upcoming artists do you think are making great music right now?

If I had to pick three I would pick: Jussmils, Ettore Carcano and Luxonous.

What is the most recent record you purchased?

Sounds 005 - “Sideburns.”

Is there anything else you would like to talk/tell about? Feel free to add here.

2026 will be a big year. I will be releasing my album via Delusions of Grandeur and I am working on my live solo project and band project. Can’t wait to get out and perform my music.

Lovely to talk to you Declan.

Love to talk to you and thank you for having me!

Check out the latest release from Declan McDermott.