Press Photos Courtesy of David Higgs
Audien (@audien) returns with “Sacrifice,” a new collaboration with Sam Harper, whose voice many listeners will recognize from James Hype’s “Waterfalls.” The release leans into the emotional and euphoric side of Audien’s sound, pairing large-scale melodic production with a vocal that gives the record its center. It feels built for live moments, playlist reach, and the kind of festival setting where his music has always translated well.
What makes “Sacrifice” feel important is how clearly it reflects where Audien is focused right now. The track does not chase a new identity. It sharpens the one he has built over time, with melody, emotion, and scale sitting at the front of the record. That gives the single a direct line back to the qualities that made his catalog connect in the first place, while still feeling current in its arrangement and delivery.
In the conversation below, Audien talks about what “Sacrifice” represents, how live testing shapes his release decisions, and how he keeps his listening habits intentional in an era shaped by algorithms and constant discovery. His answers point back to a simple throughline: melody still leads, emotion still guides the process, and live response remains one of the clearest ways to know when a record is ready.
Interview With Audien
“Sacrifice” just came out and feels like a defining moment in your current sound. What did you want this record to represent for you?
It really represents where I’m at creatively right now. I wanted something that felt emotional and euphoric, but still had weight to it. It’s a record that feels honest to the core of my sound, but also a step forward in terms of scale and energy.
The track really leans into your emotional, euphoric lane. How would you describe the evolution of your sound leading into this release?
I think it’s been a gradual refinement. I’ve always leaned into melody and emotion, but now I’m focused on making those moments feel bigger and more impactful, both in the studio and live. It’s less about changing the sound and more about elevating it.
What does intentional discovery look like for you today when so much music is being released?
It’s really about filtering. There’s so much out there now that you can’t take it all in, so I try to focus on what actually moves me or feels different. If something sticks with me after a first listen, that’s usually a sign.
When using personalized platforms, how do you stay intentional about the recommendations you receive and the musical diet you consume?
I try to use them more as a starting point than a final destination. They’re helpful, but I don’t want my taste to be fully shaped by an algorithm, so I’ll usually dig deeper from anything that catches my ear.
Has an algorithm ever meaningfully expanded your ear or taste as a DJ?
Yeah, definitely. It’s surfaced records or artists I probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise. But I still think the best discoveries usually come from digging or from people you trust.
What feels distinct about discovering music through communities compared to digital suggestions on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists and other similar algorithms?
Community feels more personal. There’s context behind it, whether it’s another artist, a fan, or someone in the scene sharing something they believe in. It just hits differently than something being recommended to you based on data.
How do you periodically refresh your listening habits?
I’ll step away from dance music for a bit and listen to completely different genres. That usually resets things and gives me new ideas when I come back into the studio.
Have you noticed your taste evolving alongside the tools you use, or does your taste stay consistent even as discovery methods change?
I think the tools evolve faster than my taste does. At the core, I’m always drawn to melody and emotion. That doesn’t really change, even if how I find music does.
How does testing new music like “Sacrifice” in your live sets influence what you ultimately release?
It plays a big role. You can feel pretty quickly what connects with people and what doesn’t. Sometimes it’s small tweaks, sometimes it’s bigger changes, but those live reactions definitely shape the final version.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
