ELEKTRIK RHYNO
- Christina Setliff
- Feb 1, 2023
- 4 min read
Written and published by X
It hasn’t been 2023 for long but I can already tell that this is going to be a great year for house and techno. That being said, if you’re into house, techno and everything in between, you’ll definitely want to be on the lookout for Ryan Christianson, otherwise known as Elektrik Ryhno. Just like all of us, Elektrik Ryhno is someone who has a lot of passion and love for electronic music. “Electronic music has quite literally saved my life, and I wanted to give back to the music community for that reason” He explained. I know we can all relate to that. Music is the best healer out there.
Elektrik Rhyno has been on Beatport, breaking a top 50 and maintaining it for over a week. Currently he’s charting on Beatport once again at #12 in Hype Picks and placed for 21 days in Beatport with the trance genre . I’m extremely impressed and think it’s definitely well-deserved considering the quality. So, what does your music making process look like? Has there been any challenges? “I typically will start with a drum line, move to bass lines, then vocal work, percussions and then filter in my hats, FX etc., it’s virtually the same with my workflow each time. A difficult aspect of production was the lack of knowledge in my beginnings, it’s critical to persevere past these moments to gain knowledge and traction, I’ve been fortunate to release with 8 labels and counting, however, my music in the past has been more rudimentary in my opinion. Lately I feel I’ve grown immensely and it will show in future productions.” Ryhno Explained.
What do you believe sets you apart from other producers and DJs in the scene? How do you feel about the current industry?
I believe what sets me apart is in some ways my diversity in genres as well as creative expression from what feels good - I do not hunt particular sounds, rather I feel them. I have influences but I hardly ever look to them anymore as I feel my own creations. I hope to break out of the underground scene in the next couple years. My goals are big, like DJing at big festivals like Tomorrowland, Ultra, (etc.) As for the industry itself, I really don’t know what to say about where it’s heading. I feel as if there’s a greater focus at hands, the artists. Did you know that, currently only 17% of DJ’S make their own music? My ideas are growing daily and I believe if I follow my own path, I’ll be successful in a pure way. I do not believe in emulating another artist, I feel the best way is to stay true to my diverse sound.
Expressing yourself through music is such a beautiful thing. Being able to stay authentic while doing so is key to being your best self and is an essential element of artistry. Your art needs to come from a genuine place, because your audience can tell when something feels inauthentic. I love that Elektrik Rhyno stays true to himself and his audience. This is why he’s been able to be so successful. You can truly hear the passion through his music. This is something that everyone can learn from, even if you’re not a musician or producer, staying true to who you are and making art that makes the most sense to you is the key to success. Confidence plays a huge role in this.
Is there anything specific that inspires your music?
My music interest spans wide, yet is very concise. As I mentioned before, I always strive for diversity in my sound, what feels good, and writing the story of each track is one of the best feelings to have in my opinion. I am truly inspired from within, to make a great sounding track each time with no regard to genre placement.
Do you have any resolutions for this year?
My recent focus has been on being a DJ as well as producing music. That has been very fruitful in the DJ aspect. Being able to spin my own music and see people dance is a pure experience that I’ve recently had as I’ve been professionally DJing for 4 months in the state of Oklahoma. I’ve obtained multiple residencies in various clubs, venues and even headlining big parties. It’s all been truly amazing.
Lastly, do you have any advice for upcoming artists?
to any aspiring artist - stay motivated from within, try all techniques you can grasp and be diverse, you don’t need to know music theory to write… rather create from within. What feels good will eventually sound good. Perseverance is critical and having a professional soundboard to level your progress is also key. It took me a year of consistent music writing to land my first single with DeepNheat records.
Overall, Elektrik Rhino has proven that once again, anything is possible when you put your mind to it, and staying true to yourself is key. I’m extremely impressed with the groovy, catchy beats that he’s put out. It’s so refreshing hearing unique house and techno music. I’m glad I’ve been finding such amazing producers out there. If you want to hear more of Elektrik Rhyno, he’s releasing new music with Ribox Records from Italy on February 3rd. Until then, check out his other songs and socials down below!
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