Rob Steven: "Music is not just what I play, it’s what I live and share"

DJ and producer Rob Steven began his musical journey at just 16, sparked by a deep love for ’90s dance music — from European Trance to UK Hardhouse. After honing his skills behind the decks, he relocated to Bournemouth, where his technical prowess and infectious energy quickly earned him residencies at some of the city’s top underground events. While Trance first ignited his passion, Rob’s sound has since evolved toward the richer, more intelligent grooves of Techno. He’s graced main stages at venues like The Winchester, Halo, and the O2, sharing lineups with renowned artists such as Christian Varela, Nick Muir, and Gary Beck. Now, with 15 years of production experience under his belt, Rob Steven crafts a powerful yet refined style that reflects both dedication and influence.

The title "Just Another House Track" feels quite ironic—what message or concept were you aiming to convey with this EP?

Ha, yeah the title was in reference to the overall vibe of that iconic house sound. A lot of really popular Old school House tracks have that in your face Chord/hook/melody that really sets the tone and vibe and this release’s no different from those tracks from times past, hence the title. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel with this release; it's more of a homage to an iconic sound that has somewhat been replaced in most part with a more rolling,  trancey , almost psychedelic style of Techno in today’s scene.

You started out loving ’90s dance music, moving from Trance to deeper Techno grooves. How does this evolution reflect in your current sound?

I think what makes some producers really stand out is having that unique sound that only they can portray when it comes to their tracks. This is mainly due to their personal journey when it comes to music throughout their life that has really inspired them and ultimately made them want to pursue a career in music in the first place. This is very apparent in their compositions and gives them a unique, recognisable identity. I’m no different when it comes to this, you can hear my influences of early dance music in my productions. 

You’ve shared stages with artists like Christian Varela and Gary Beck—any memorable experiences or advice from them that inspired you along the way

Honestly what makes the Techno scene such a pleasure to be involved in is how humble and generous people are and how forthcoming they’re with sharing advice and industry knowledge. 

I’m very fortunate to have worked closely with Christian in organising and running events in my hometown, so as you can imagine I got to see a peek behind the curtain as it were to see what goes on behind the scenes of a fully accomplished artist. That experience alone in my eyes was invaluable and there have been many more throughout my Dj career. As far as memorable experiences go, there’s been so many it’s hard to pick, but playing alongside Christian, Gary Beck and Jon Rundell for my leaving party at Halo in Bournemouth before I moved abroad to live in Thailand has to be up there with the best of them.

What were the biggest challenges transitioning from DJing to producing your own music, and how did you overcome them?

Ha, that’s a great question. For me there really wasn’t any specific challenge. It was just a natural progression for me. The thing is If you really love the music you play and the scene that you’re involved in, eventually you want to not just play other peoples music but really contribute to the scene that you love and share that passion through your own tracks.   

After 15 years producing music, what do you see for the future? Are there new genres or collaborations you’re excited to explore next?

I see a really bright future and as long as people enjoy listening to my music as much as I enjoy making it, I’ll keep going. As far as collab’s and new genres, absolutely yeah. I never pigeonhole myself when it comes to music, obviously having produced for 15 years on and off, I’ve experimented with lots of different styles and genres along the way. I think it’s important to work with other artists who produce genres you’re not so familiar with as it gives you a different perspective in terms of the writing process and you learn new skills that you can then incorporate into your own music. Which in turn adds a certain uniqueness and depth to your music and ultimately helps you stand out as an artist.

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