haxxy talks plugins, freedom, and staying clear of past styles
There is no fixed formula behind “Like U.” Haxxy started it during a rough personal period, choosing to write purely by feeling. That openness led to a track that Avoure immediately connected with, and instead of reworking it into something more polished, they followed the original spark, even if the tempo itself was a little more energetic and driving than his usual sound that he’s best known for.
The result is a genre-agnostic blend of melodic structure, UK Garage nods, and fluid electronica. Released on Biome Recordings, the track marks the start of Haxxy’s album era and offers a more introspective slant on Avoure’s usual melodic storytelling.
What makes it click is the clarity of intention: every element feels like it belongs. The track already pulled early support from DJs across Anjunadeep, Armada, Toolroom, and Lost & Found. And while it sits well among melodic house playlists, it also moves outside those lines.
We caught up with Haxxy for a short interview on how the track came together, what plugins played a role, and why he no longer lets outside praise or past styles shape what he writes next.
How did “Like U” first come together between you and Avoure?
The idea came to me suddenly. I was going through a difficult emotional period, and I decided to do everything based purely on how I felt in the moment — without sticking to any particular style, standard approaches, or conventions.
It was a special time for me. Once the intro and drop of the track were ready, I decided to show it to my friend Avoure. He felt a deep connection to it and decided to become part of the story, since we’re very similar on the inside. That’s how Like U was born.
From your side, what were the core tools or plugins that shaped the final version of this track?
In this track, I didn’t use any special plugins — Serum as a main synth and just the basic ones like a compressor and an equalizer. I worked with a few samples, which I processed to the point where they became unrecognizable.
You’ve shifted through genres pretty fluidly over the years. Do you still carry ideas from your Drum & Bass days into your current process?
No. Everything I used came from the experience I’ve gained over the years. It’s really hard for me to stick to a specific style — I enjoy the freedom, even freedom from style itself.
You’ve talked a lot about your influences from UK Garage and Electronica—where do you hear those coming through in “Like U”?
Right now, this is a new chapter in my creative journey. When I started working on this track, I had no idea what genre it would end up in — everything came together during the process of creation. It just so happened that the drum pattern and a few elements from UK Garage fit perfectly and helped me express exactly what I wanted to say with this track.
How does support by names like Above & Beyond, Maceo Plex, and Don Diablo affect how you think about what you release?
That was a long time ago. Back then, it was an emotional boost, but it doesn’t influence my creative work anymore.
Lastly—what does success look like for you now, this far into the project?
For me, success is the feedback from listeners — whether something in my music resonated with them on a deeper level. Overall, I believe that’s the most important part of a musician’s career.
