Control Room has swiftly risen to prominence in the electronic dance music world, blending high-energy bass house with the emotional depth of melodic house. The duo’s journey is fueled by their small-town upbringing, where they learned values like respect, accountability, and giving back—principles that they now incorporate into their music and approach to the EDM community. In an exclusive interview, ControlRoom shares how their roots, work ethic, and influences drive their sound and success.
Small-Town Influences in a Global Arena
Hailing from small communities, the duo reflects fondly on how their upbringing shaped their outlook. “We feel like the small communities we grew up in have taught us a lot about respect, accountability, and ‘giving back’,” they explain. These values are central to their mission within the EDM scene, where they strive to bring a sense of community to every track and performance.
Interestingly, their early exposure to country music and classic rock has left a lasting mark. “We both grew up listening to country music
and classic rock. We want to eventually tie that into our artistry in an interesting way,” they reveal. While this influence is subtle now, it shines through in unexpected edits of songs like Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” offering fans a glimpse of their versatility and nods to their musical roots.
Balancing Bass and Emotion
Control Room’s music stands out for its mix of raw energy and emotional resonance. Describing their creative process, they share, “It all begins with trying to write a strong starting idea that has some emotion to it. From there, we try to maintain that emotional core while adding all the high-energy and aggressive style we love to play and love to listen to.” This balance allows them to craft tracks that hit hard on the dance floor but also leave a lasting impression.
Their relentless work ethic is integral to their approach. With backgrounds in shift work, long days in the studio feel natural. “A day can start at 7 am, and you’ll hear the bass going until it’s dark again,” they laugh. “Knowing that we have limited free time, we try not to waste it!” This commitment to making every studio session count has helped them create music that resonates and sticks with fans.
Inspired by the Greats
Influenced by major players in the dance music scene, Control Room often looks to artists like Habstrakt and Bijou when producing their own music. “When we write music, sometimes we’ll ask ourselves if it’s something we could see them playing out in one of their sets,” they say. This mindset pushes them to create tracks with high impact, imagining the energy of a packed dance floor and the crowd’s response.
A recent highlight for the duo was seeing Wax Motif play their edit of “Summertime Blues” at Hard Summer. “We didn’t send it to him or anything, so we were ecstatic to see it made its way to his USB! Shoutout Wax for the support!” they exclaim. Moments like these are a testament to the dedication they pour into every release and the excitement of watching their work resonate with top DJs.
Navigating Creative Differences
Despite their close partnership, creative differences are inevitable. “We both have similar yet very different tastes,” they admit. But instead of letting this become a hurdle, they’ve learned to see it as a strength. “We often disagree with small things in our songs, but we have found a way to always communicate our honest thoughts to each other and work really hard to meet in the middle.” This mutual respect allows them to fuse their individual styles into a cohesive Control Room sound.
Shaping Tracks Through Live Performance
Control Room’s music is heavily influenced by their live performances. Testing new material in front of an audience helps them gauge what works and what doesn’t. “Playing a song live and measuring the reaction—either a positive or negative one—provides us with the most honest feedback we could ask for to make adjustments accordingly,” they say. A recent show with Habstrakt was especially memorable: “We played a song we weren’t sure about, and it went off! Needless to say, we won’t be making big changes to it!”
Looking Ahead: Dreams and Goals
Even with all their recent achievements, Control Room has plenty of aspirations left. “Shambhala is on the top of the list for us,” they share excitedly. Known as their “home festival,” Shambhala holds special significance, and performing there would be a major milestone. For now, fans can look forward to a busy schedule of Western Canada shows and new releases as the duo continues to evolve their sound.
In true Control Room fashion, they remain focused on their core mission: working hard, staying grounded, and continually pushing the limits of their music. With an ethos rooted in small-town values and a dedication to big-stage energy, Control Room is here to stay, making waves on the global dance music scene.