Elliot Moriarty has been enamored with dance music from a very young age, gradually transitioning from DJing at local parties to global events like ADE. Undoubtedly, much of his rise can be attributed to his breezy productions on labels from The Soundgarden to Sonnguara. Consider the 2023 release “By My Side”, which reached number 1 on the Beatport Organic House chart. It’s a light and effervescent tune, brimming with optimism. That same energy is also bristling in ‘Balance’, a track he produced exclusively for this Balance Selections mix. And with the troubling times we find ourselves in, his unabashed cheerfulness is a breath of fresh air. Featuring tracks from the likes of Guy J and Juan Deminicis, this is a deep yet sanguine selection that hooks you in from the start.
BALANCE SELECTIONS 275: ELLIOT MORIARTY
01. Malibu – Atlantic Drive
02. Sebastian Sellares – Uncertainty
03. Federico Campero – Absolu
04. Elliot Moriarty – Illusions
05. BiGz – Andalucia (Dave Pad Remix)
06. Edu Schwartz – Quiet Inside (Madraas Remix)
07. BP – Suppose We Are
08. Agustin Pengov – Rain
09. Elliot Moriarty – Balance (produced exclusively for this mix)
10. Monojoke – Tantanbo (Mauro Augugliaro Remix)
11. Juan Deminicis – Cycles (Second Sine Remix)
12. Elliot Moriarty – Perceptions
13. Guy J – Lamur (AM Mix)
BALANCE SELECTIONS Q+A
Name: Elliot Moriarty
Location: London, UK
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Labels affiliated with: When We Dip – The Soundgarden – Songuara – Zenebona – Forestrip Music – Where The Shadow Ends – The Purr – Seamless Recordings – Flug Lub – Keyfound Records – Lovezone Records – Suprematic Sounds – Hidden Vibes – Three Records (UK) – Sirin Music – UV – Intu Music – Cafe De Anatolia – Stellar Fountain – Krafted Digital – For Senses – Celestial Recordings – Plaisirs Sonores Records – Katchuli – L O S T
My last 3 releases:
What music did you listen to as a child?
Growing up, I’d hear music of all different styles. It wouldn’t be unusual (excuse the Tom Jones pun!) to hear he likes of Bob Marley to Phil Collins, to Simply Red or Adamski; all great artists in their own right, that helped start to fuel my musical appetite.
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
My passion and sheer devotion to music have grown immensely over the years; I cannot imagine my life without music. At 9 years old, I found myself drawn to electronic and dance-oriented sounds, frequently listening to Pete Tong’s Essential Selection on BBC Radio 1. Broadcasts of live events by DJs such as Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine captivated me, making it clear that this was the world I wanted to be part of. The sound of whistles blown in time with the beats and the crowd’s cheers at each drop had me hooked! By the time I was 10, I realized I needed turntables to begin my journey. I persistently asked my parents for some, and thankfully, on my 11th birthday, they obliged.
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
The first time I saw a DJ in a club was at the legendary London venue Turnmills. I was 17, and when a colleague mentioned that her uncle was playing there and asked if I wanted to go, I jumped at the chance. It turned out her uncle was Tony McGuinness from Above & Beyond! The club was everything I had imagined and more. I remember Tony delivering a euphoric set that perfectly combined lights, lasers, a pumping sound system, and an energized crowd. During that time, I also saw Nick Warren perform. His style, which I now recognize as Progressive House, intrigued me. It was layered with tribal elements, percussive sounds, driving basslines, and enchanting melodies—I loved it! I have been a fan of Nick’s ever since and have been fortunate enough to release music on his label, The Soundgarden.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
I try to take inspiration from all aspects of life. I could be walking down the street and hear a busker playing the guitar and I’ll think to myself “that would make a nice little loop”, so I’ll make a note on my phone, as a reminder for when I’m back in the studio. Sometimes nothing may come from it, but it will help guide me in a different direction to create something else. Film scores I am also a big fan of; soothing strings, tinkling piano sounds, often accompanied with long bass notes are a winner in my opinion. Often there might be nothing going on in a scene, but the music will tell the story entirely. This is something I try to impose in my style and sound.
Music is a feeling, and if people feel my music and enjoy it, then I’ve done something right. There is so much good music out there at the moment. It seems to be happening more and more that I am invited to a new promo list from a label I’m not quite familiar with, and they feature some incredible artists – I love coming across gems like that! Some of the artists that do often feature in my sets in no particular order, are Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Lost Desert, Gorge, Molac, Gustin, Madraas, Gorje Hewek, Dave Pad, John Digweed, Rigooni, Peter Makto and many more!
What was the last album that you downloaded/purchased?
The last album I brought was probably Global Underground’s GU10 a few years back. I don’t tend to buy full albums a great deal, but this one is sublime. Each track has been carefully selected, and is excellently mixed. It’s one I don’t get bored listening to.
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
My production set up is quite simple, I think. I have an iMac running Ableton, some plug ins such as Korg and Pigments, with a midi keyboard. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have a huge studio with lots of hardware, synths etc, but I think I’d probably find it a bit overwhelming. The set up I have allows me to lay ideas down quickly, and I much prefer to try and push what I have to work with. Starting on vinyl all them years ago certainly taught me a lot, but my current DJ setup is also pretty straight forward; consisting of Pioneer CDJ’s and DJM Mixer. I tend to stay in the mix for long periods of time, so the use of loops is heavily used in my sets. With the ability to set loops easily on the fly, it allows me to keep the groove flowing, and blend melodic elements together.
What releases do you have on the horizon?
2024 is looking very exciting! So far, releases lined up include a track (with remixes) entitled “Particles” on Bodai’s AMITABHA, a special release forthcoming in which I’ve teamed up with Ibiza-based vocalist BLONDEWEARINGBLACK, and EP’s on Personal Belongings, What Happens, Nordic Voyage and Noble Spirit’s, Dialtone. I’m also really happy to be returning with a new release on Gustin’s Intu Music imprint – a label that is going from strength to strength.
With the recent launch of my own label ( L O S T ), not only does it allow me to get more of my own music out, but more importantly, it means that I can shine a light on artists that I admire. Keep an eye out on releases from Rich Towers, Tom Minton, Lenz (DE), as well as future EP’s from myself with remixes by Andy Kidd and Emotional Tourist.
Where can we hear you perform?
Bookings this year include gigs in Denmark, Portugal and Ibiza. I do often play here in the UK too; it seems that more and more people here are listening my sound which is amazing! I am also thrilled to be making my debut in Chicago, USA.
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I’m always looking for music to incorporate into my sets, whether that be brand new stuff or a release from years ago. Getting this mix ready for this was no different, but I wanted to make it just that extra bit special! I wanted to try and put something together that flows organically, and takes the listener on a journey. I’ve included a couple of my own unreleased tracks, along with that I produced exclusively for this mix, so have appropriately called it “Balance”. I hope you like it!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
The top track in my DJ set currently is:
At the moment I am loving “Suppose We Are” by BP. It’s a really cool track and feel like it’s one of those tracks that can make its way into sets from all different types of DJ’s.
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
I would probably have to say “There’s Always Light” on The Soundgarden. I like to think this track tells a story and has different elements in it that sum up my style and sound.
If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:
I have loved this track for as long as I can remember, and with it being the theme track to my favourite movie Heat, that’s a great added bonus!
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
It’s not a new by any means, and I have seen it many times before but the last move I saw was Goodfella’s. A true classic in my opinion and one I’ll probably end up seeing again soon.
My favourite TV show:
Can I have 3?!?!? Ray Donovan, True Detective, Succession.
My favourite holiday destination/hotel:
My wife and I went to Antigua a few years back and we loved it. I remember turning up to the hotel that was on the beach, thinking “this place looks like something out of movie”.
