London-based underground talent Tian Karl returns to the fore in 2024 with the emergence of his new label 'TRUST ISSUES', a slew of new singles and his forthcoming album 'THINGS TO SAY ABOUT WORDS', set for release in early 2025. Giving the first insight into a body of works that has been in the making since 2015, 'Flint' eases us back into the trademark sound that saw Tian sign music to the likes of Defected, Black Butter Records, Nervous, InMotion, Avotre and many more in years past.

Undeniably danceable, 'FLINT' is flooded with chugging grooves, hearty low-end swing, and dreamy electronic musicality from start to finish. A head-turning Minimal / Deep Tech dancefloor jam, 'FLINT' is one of several tracks on Tian's forthcoming LP that bridge the gap between the sound he's known and loved for and the newer, more experimental side of his productions, which showcase a plethora of mature and fearlessly artistic traits.

Tian Karl emerged in London’s scene in 2015 and, within a few months, had left his mark on the major imprints mentioned before such as Defected and Black Butter Records. As releases on respected labels usually do, they led him to play at iconic venues such as XOYO and Ministry Of Sound. A forced hiatus in 2018 took him out of focus for a while and changed his sound into more introspective themes while not abandoning his signature garage and Neo soul-infused dancefloor sound. “There will always be traces of house, garage, Neo soul, maybe even IDM in my sound without ever being one thing only, I guess. It’s just what happens when I make music. I don’t think about it, to be honest.” he describes his process. 

Whether you're an existing fan of Tian's work or you're late to the party, one thing is for sure: the incoming wave of releases that lead into 'THINGS TO SAY ABOUT WORDS' play perfectly into the hands of anyone with an eclectic palette and an appreciation for artists who dare to be musically vulnerable in search of a newfound reputation for pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance music and rigid underground nuances.

Today Tian Karl is here with 6AM talking about his new label TRUST ISSUES, influences, and his upcoming album!

 

Hi Tian Karl! Thanks so much for talking to 6AM. You've been on an impressive journey since emerging on the scene in 2015, with releases on Defected, Black Butter, and more. After your hiatus in 2018, how has your sound evolved, and what can listeners expect from your return to music?

My sound definitely changed. I’m not exclusively interested in club oriented tracks anymore and opened up my palette towards more experimental sounds. I tried to incorporate more classic ways of working as well. Particularly recording performances through gear. The colours and nuances you can get with gear is incredible. It’s a bit like DJing. Combining the bits and pieces creates your sound/set. Way more fun than clicking all day.

Tian, you've just launched your own label, TRUST ISSUES. What does that name mean to you, and how do you hope it resonates with the underground scene?

I just like the sentiment behind the name, although it has a negative connotation. Mostly because you can easily flip it into a positive just by putting out Issue001, Issue002 etc. As an artist you want to gain your audiences' trust. That’s what it’s all about, not the clicks and likes. I want people to trust the music. Not my online persona. And that’s a long term goal behind the platform. A loyal community outside of the algorithm, with direct contact.

 

Your new single 'Flint', to release on TRUST ISSUES blends chugging grooves, minimal vibes, and deep tech influences. What was the inspiration behind this track, and how does it reflect the direction you’re taking with your forthcoming album?

Flint is meant to be the bracket that ties in the sound of my past releases with what the concept of the album is. It’s one of the very few club-oriented tracks on the album without losing the thread of the overall concept. But it’s definitely the track that represents one of the meanings of the album title: a subtle reference to loop based music. It’s a chuggy, fun track. 

 

You’ve mentioned that house, garage, and Neo soul influences always find their way into your tracks without you really planning it. What’s your creative process like—do you go into the studio with a vision, or do you prefer to let the music take shape naturally?

It’s a bit of both. I need to have some sort of mood/idea of the track before I start working. I don’t just throw in sounds and hope for a vibe. The vibe is there before I start. But particular musical elements are always made on the spot. I want to capture a moment. I don’t enjoy programming stuff very much. And then I record it through some toys and obsess on details for way too long until I consider it done. There’s no better moment than an idea appearing out of nowhere or the track suddenly making sense. 

 

With your album 'THINGS TO SAY ABOUT WORDS' set to drop in 2025, what can you tell us about the themes or stories you’re exploring in this project? What do you hope listeners will take away from this body of work?

Apart from the subtle reference to loop-based music in the title, it’s also a very personal storytelling concept to tell a story without lyrics. Working on it also helped me get back on track after my forced (health-related) hiatus. Roughly speaking, it’s about being stuck in a situation where nothing helps but accepting. But there are more angles to it, and I wanted to make it an emotional and personal record, not a functional one. There are lots of breadcrumbs hidden in the tracks that cross-reference each other. I don’t want to give away too much, as it takes away the point of listening to a long-form record—at least for me. I want to dive in and figure it out for myself. I can only hope I’ve come up with something that listeners can relate to from their perspective. It’s not just about mine.

 

Looking forward to the release and thanks so much for talking with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m super excited to release music again and can’t wait to play again. First stop: Berlin in October. Also, it’s really good to see that there are still blogs out there and that people read them. Takes a lot more attention and appreciation. And as I already said, I love attention to detail. 

Connect with Tian Karl: Soundcloud | Spotify | Instagram | Youtube