Let me be your muse.
I’ll be everything you do.
Somehow, I stumbled upon Muse, a track by the young and immensely talented David Roif, known to the electronic world as Rezident. And from that moment, I was irresistibly drawn in, yearning for more. In an industry flooded with countless new releases, where much begins to feel repetitive, discovering something so fresh, raw, and alive, felt like tapping into a well of untouched inspiration.
Rezident’s music is a rare blend of the playful and the melancholic, the deep and the unspoken. His soundscapes pull you into a world of emotions and dreams, yet there’s a wildness to his compositions—something untamed that resonates deeply with my heart.
David’s artistic journey began at the age of 15, when he first started producing music. Despite his young age, he quickly carved out a distinct voice in the electronic scene, drawing inspiration from pioneering artists like Deadmau5 and Bonobo. As he says, “Often I’m inspired by things that haven’t happened yet but I’m looking forward to.” This sense of anticipation, of always being on the verge of something new, drives his creative process. His journey from the quiet streets of Karlsruhe to the vibrant city of Berlin has shaped his sound in many ways. The move exposed him to the city’s eclectic music culture, yet Berlin’s infamous gray winters often push him toward introspection. In those colder months, he dreams of other places, or perhaps a cozy retreat in a forest, chopping wood by a fireplace.
In our interview, we talk about Rezident’s creative process, the emotional depth behind his music, and his reflections on the challenges of balancing inspiration with discipline.
Photography by Francesco Rizzi
David, when I stumbled upon “Muse,” I was truly captivated and wanted to hear more of your work. Your productions are exceptional and have such a distinct signature. How did the idea for “Muse” come about?
Thank you, I appreciate it! It can be hard to find a unique sound, and I’m happy ‘Muse’ has that for you.
Like most of my other releases, it started off as an instrumental demo. I wrote the bassline and chords in my home studio, exported an mp3, and then forgot about it for a while.
One or two months later, Kate Morgan and I planned a vocal recording session here in Berlin. I made her a playlist with new demos to listen to and that’s when I found ‘Muse’ again. Kate liked it, we thought about what the song could be about, she wrote the lyrics, and we recorded it. But this release almost didn’t happen – we recorded another track first and then did Muse just as an extra since we had another hour or so of studio time left.
You started producing music at just 15 years old. I find it fascinating that someone so young could already chart such an impressive path for their life and turn their talent into something special. Where does your passion for electronic music come from?
I don’t know! It’s been exciting from the start. It always felt like something I can dive deeper into every day – into different genres, artists, events, people, writing, engineering, studio gear, tech, etc…
Your releases are incredibly deep and evoke strong emotions. Would you say that this emotional depth also reflects your personality? (smiles)
Yeah I’m pretty sensitive to the things around me. Some bits of my personality probably are reflected in the music. But I don’t think that’s all – with music or art you also get to be someone else for a while and see things from their perspective, without having to be that person in real life.
“With music or art you get to be someone else for a while and see things from their perspective, without having to be that person in real life.”
In a previous interview, you mentioned the influence of Deadmau5 and other artists like Bonobo and Bicep on your work. What other things inspire you besides music and artists?
Going for walks, sunlight, my friends, traveling, trying out new studio gear, movies, photos, etc. Often I’m inspired by things that haven’t happened yet but I’m looking forward to.
You moved to Berlin, known for its vibrant and eclectic music scene. However, you’ve also mentioned that Berlin winters can be tough and sometimes stifle creativity. Is there another place in the world where you could see yourself living right now?
Right now it’s summer and I’m very happy to be here. Some friends who live in Berlin too are visiting warmer places in winter to recharge – for example Gran Canaria for 1-2 months. That’s a way to deal with it.. I’ve been thinking about moving somewhere else and maybe someday I will! Maybe an english-speaking country.. Somewhere in the States, or Canada?
For now I don’t see myself living anywhere else. The music culture in Berlin, alongside health insurance and many other benefits of living in Germany are hard to beat. When it gets too cold and gray here, I’d love to stay in a house in the forest for a while. Chopping wood, with a fireplace and everything. I should go this winter!
You have over 500 private uploads on SoundCloud. How do you decide which tracks to develop further?
I try working on whatever I’m most excited about at the moment. Sometimes I’m getting a bit lost in all the demos but it’s nice to have them and look through when I’m looking for the missing piece of a bigger body of work.
“When I work with someone from a different background, no one knows what it’s supposed to sound like and we’re free to figure it out ourselves in the studio.”
Given your background in sports during your youth, do you see any parallels between the discipline required in athletics and the discipline needed in music production?
I think athletes need a lot more discipline. With music you can do most of the work on your office chair at home while drinking coffee. Sometimes you have to get up early or stay up late, but I don’t think it’s fair to compare that with the physical work a professional athlete goes through every day.
There are other factors like creativity or open-mindedness that could be more valuable for an artist. But of course discipline is important for musicians too. Finishing music isn’t always fun and a lot of other things (accounting, e-mails, jet-lag, lack of inspiration, …) aren’t either. Discipline can help getting through them and I’m working on that.
You’ve expressed interest in collaborating with artists who have a different yet complementary sound. Can you tell us more about what kind of collaborations you are looking for?
Overall, I’m excited to do something new and fun. When I work with very similar artists, there’s a kind of pressure of expectations – it should sound like them, but also like me, like all of our releases combined, but better. When I work with someone from a different background, no one knows what it’s supposed to sound like and we’re free to figure it out ourselves in the studio.
How important is fan feedback to you?
It’s amazing to experience positive feedback, whether it’s in a message or live at a show. Sometimes it’s the other way round and something doesn’t work out as well as expected.
Feedback can be very valuable as a guide but I don’t think it should be the only or main thing to pay attention to. I think being authentic and doing it for ‘yourself’ is a lot more important and fulfilling than trying to please as many people as possible.
What is the most important thing in life?
IDK, I’m 26, maybe ask me again in 30 years! (smiles)
Thank you for your time, and I hope to catch one of your live performances soon!
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