Echonomist shares what keeps him grounded while building Flying Hearts

Echonomist and Jenia Tarsol have launched a new label called Flying Hearts—built on the idea that music should carry feeling, memory, and intention. Their debut release, The Harbour, reimagines a 2016 track from UK band Throws, blending live instrumentation with melodic textures, emotional pacing, and a sense of shared history.

In this interview, Echonomist talks about identity outside of music, building something real with Jenia, and what it takes to stay creative without losing yourself in the process. His answers are honest, grounded, and a perfect reflection of what Flying Hearts is trying to represent.

How do you make space for your identity outside of music?

It’s something I’ve learned to prioritize more over time. When your passion becomes your profession, it can take up all the air in the room. I also try to do things that have nothing to do with music — like spending time in nature, exercise, spend quality time with my wife or simply relax at home watching a good movie.

It’s important to remind yourself that you exist even when the music stops.

What parts of your life feed your creativity even if they’re not creative?

Routine. Silence. Walking without headphones. Conversations with people who are outside of the music scene. My friends, my family—even the weather or a nice walk—can be a constant source of inspiration. Those small, everyday moments keep me connected to real life.

Have you ever felt like your art was your entire identity?

Yeah, of course! Especially when I felt lost in other areas of life. It was a way to feel like I had value. But the danger is, if something goes wrong, like for example, a release flops or a tour falls apart, you feel like you are literally failing.

That kind of pressure can kill creativity. It took me some time, but I’ve learned to separate who I am from what I make.

What helps you stay grounded when things feel too tied to music?

Spending time with the people I love. Taking breaks from clubs and cities. Remembering that silence is just as important as sound. Also, working on the Flying Hearts label with Jenia gives me a different kind of creative focus.

It’s not just about “me” as an artist, but about building something bigger.

What’s something you do regularly that keeps you feeling whole?

Just be myself and enjoy life. Relax, take a long walk, play chess with Jenia (he always wins haha) and listen to records that have nothing to do with electronic music. Stuff that takes us completely out of the club mindset.

We’ll spend hours just digging for that one unknown artist — the kind of music that blows your mind and makes you rethink everything. It’s not about chasing trends or algorithms.

It’s about reconnecting with that pure feeling of discovery. Those moments feed us way more than any playlist ever could — and usually, they end up influencing our next creative move without us even realizing it.

How do your relationships benefit your music — and vice versa?

The best music I’ve made has come from being emotionally exposed.

That always starts with people. With Flying Hearts, working with Jenia has been a game changer. He brings the objectivity I sometimes lose. I can get too deep in the producer’s mindset, overthinking every sound. Jenia has this rare charisma — he listens like a real human, not like someone staring at a waveform. He reminds me what it feels like to just feel the music, not dissect it. Music has also been a way to express things I can’t always say. It goes both ways — the people around me shape the music, and the music reflects who I am with them.

What do you come back to when music isn’t enough?

Truth is, music’s never not enough. I’ve had moments where I felt tired or overwhelmed, but I’ve never lost faith in creating. Music has always felt divine to me — not in a dramatic or spiritual way, just in the sense that it’s pure. It’s where I go when I need clarity, when I need to feel something real. It’s not something I fall back on — it’s something I move toward.

Always.