REVOL: "We create a sound that connects globally"
- May 21
- 7 min read
REVOL is a Budapest-based electronic music project formed by Ukrainian musicians and producers MIRA and ILLI. Founded in 2018, the duo has gained international recognition for their powerful live performances across Europe and Asia, delivering a refined blend of professionalism and artistic intensity.
Their sound merges live vocals, hypnotic percussion, euphoric synth layers, original loops, and FX textures, creating immersive and emotionally driven sets. Known for their strong improvisational approach, REVOL transforms each performance into a unique live remix, making electronic beats feel organic, dynamic, and full of life.
Blending influences from multiple genres and live instrumentation, REVOL crafts a distinctive and emotive sound that moves between melodic techno, indie dance, progressive house, and afro house.
"Shout" is your latest single. What was the emotional inspiration behind the track, and what message did you want to convey to your fans?
"Shout" started from a simple curiosity. We’ve always loved the original, but we wondered how it would sound with a female vocal.
We began playing a live version of it during our shows, just testing the idea. Later, we posted a video, and unexpectedly it started gaining strong traction on TikTok and Instagram, reaching over a million views and generating a lot of reactions.
After that, we received a lot of feedback and direct requests to release the track — people wanted to hear it on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, especially across Europe.
That’s when we decided to turn it into a full release and refine the production.
In a way, this track wasn’t just created by us — it grew naturally through the connection with the audience.
Your music blends melodic techno, progressive, and indie dance. How do you approach the creative process when merging these genres into a single track?
We really love progressive house, melodic techno and indie dance, but the starting point is never the genre — it’s always the idea of the track.
We don’t try to follow a specific formula, even though we respect the structure and rules of each style. For us, the goal is to create something that feels both melodic and emotional, but at the same time still works on the dancefloor.
We’re always looking for that balance — a track that is not limited to just one context. It should work in a club, at a festival, but also when you listen to it in your headphones or in the car.
So instead of blending genres deliberately, we focus on the feeling. If the track connects both emotionally and physically, then it naturally finds its place somewhere between those styles.
Your live shows are known for being immersive and cinematic. What stage or tech elements are essential to transform an electronic performance into a full visual experience?
We come from a background in rock, jazz and pop music, so for us an electronic set has always felt more like a live concert than a traditional DJ performance.
That’s why live elements are essential for us. We use vocals, synths and electronic drums not just as additions, but as tools to make the music feel alive and dynamic.
The key is improvisation. With live instruments, we can reshape tracks in real time depending on the energy in the room. No performance is ever exactly the same — there’s always a human element inside the electronic groove.
This is what transforms the show into something more immersive. People don’t just hear the music — they feel that it’s happening right now, in that exact moment.
You’ve received support from artists like Armin van Buuren and David Guetta. Were there any lessons or advice from them that influenced the making of "Shout"?
Artists like Armin van Buuren and David Guetta have been true icons for us since a very young age. Their music has always had this rare ability to connect emotionally with millions of people, and that’s something we’ve always admired.
Of course, having references like that is important — not to copy, but to understand the level of impact music can have.
At the same time, our sound is shaped by a wider spectrum of influences — not only electronic artists, but also musicians and vocalists we grew up with. All of that passes through our own perspective and becomes something personal.
With "Shout", it wasn’t about taking something specific from any artist. It was more about translating that understanding of emotional connection into our own language — keeping the track direct, expressive and honest.
Your music is heavily vocal-driven. How do you decide on the themes or stories you want to tell through your vocals?
For us, vocals are a key element. In most cases, vocal tracks connect with people faster and on a deeper level than purely instrumental ones.
Our process can start in different ways. Sometimes it begins with a groove, a bassline or a melodic idea, and then we build the vocal on top of it. We usually start with the melody first — often using what we call "bird language", shaping the vocal flow and emotion before thinking about the actual words.
After that, we focus on the feeling of the track. We’re not really interested in telling obvious or literal stories. Instead, we prefer lyrics that create atmosphere — something more abstract that enhances the mood and emotional impact of the music.
For us, the vocal is not separate from the track — it’s part of the sound design. It should deepen the experience and pull the listener inside the track, rather than explain it.
The pandemic changed the live music world. How did you adapt your performances, and what new dynamics did you experiment with during that time?
The pandemic was a turning point for us.
Before that, we were still exploring different directions and playing more festival-oriented music. But when everything stopped, it gave us time to rethink our sound and identity.
At the same time, the whole scene was shifting. With no festivals, people started connecting with music in a more personal way — and melodic, emotional sounds began to grow.
Another important change was the rise of visual DJ sets in unique locations. These videos created a deeper connection between music, atmosphere and visuals, and became a new way for artists to express themselves.
We also explored this format, and it influenced how we see performance today — not just as music, but as a full experience.
That’s when we found our current direction — something more melodic, immersive and emotionally driven, which defines our sound today.
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram play a big role in your reach. How do social media influence your track creation and promotion?
Social media plays a huge role today, but it doesn’t directly influence how we create music.
We don’t make tracks for TikTok or try to chase trends. Our music always comes from what we feel and want to express as artists.
At the same time, when it comes to promotion, social media is number one. Since late 2025, we’ve been consistently posting content on Instagram and TikTok, and the response has been incredible — millions of views, strong organic reach, and significant audience growth in a short time.
For us, it’s not just about promotion — it’s also a way to connect and test ideas. We often share demos or live moments and see how people react. That feedback helps us understand what resonates and sometimes even influences which tracks we finish and release first.
So we don’t let social media shape our music — but we use it as a powerful tool to amplify it and stay connected with our audience.
As a Ukrainian duo, does your cultural identity influence your music or live performances?
Our music is quite universal — we don’t rely on traditional or ethnic elements, we focus on creating a sound that connects globally.
At the same time, being Ukrainian is an important part of who we are. We’re really inspired by how strong the Ukrainian electronic scene has become, with artists like ARTBAT, Korolova and Miss Monique reaching the top level worldwide.
The past years have also been very emotional for us. We had to leave our home because of the war, and like many Ukrainians, we’re still hoping for peace as soon as possible.
At the same time, we feel strong support — not only from Ukrainians around the world, but also from the global audience. That gives us a lot of strength and motivation.
So even if our music doesn’t directly reflect our roots in a traditional way, our identity and life experience definitely shape the emotion behind what we create.
Do you have a particular approach to sound experimentation with your synths and live drums, or do you aim to maintain a melodic balance?
For us, melody always comes first. We believe people connect with music through emotion, groove and atmosphere — not complexity for the sake of complexity.
At the same time, we do experiments with sound. We explore different textures in our synths and drums, and recently we’ve been moving towards incorporating more organic elements — especially blending electronic drums with live percussion.
We’re also drawn to warm, analog-style sounds, as they bring more character and depth to the music.
Ultimately, our goal is to develop a recognizable identity — a sound that people can instantly associate with us, even without seeing the track title.
Looking ahead, what are the next challenges or projects you’d like to tackle to push live electronic music even further?
For us, the next step is to push our live performance into a full-scale show.
We’re really inspired by how artists like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Monolink, WhoMadeWho and Tinlicker have brought live electronic music into the mainstream. There’s a clear shift happening — moving from traditional DJ sets towards hybrid performances that combine live elements with electronic energy.
This is exactly the direction we believe in.
Our goal is to develop our own show with a strong identity — a unique sound, visual concept and philosophy behind it. Something that feels immersive and recognizable as its own world.
In the long term, we also want to grow this into a bigger platform — curating events and lineups with artists who share the same vision, and building our own series of shows around that concept.
Follow REVOL
Instagram / Facebook / Soundcloud / YouTube / Spotify
