At 23-years-old, Marcus Santoro is anything but new to the EDM scene. Breaking into the industry at the age of 12, Marcus Santoro has grown up and blown up in Australia’s underground circles as a progressive house, trance and electro-house music producer of note. He’s arriving alongside heavyweights such as Afrojack and Martin Garrix to debut Dubai’s premier BAO Festival with a set list of his latest mixes.
The enigmatic DJ reveals what we can expect at the Zheng He-inspired music festival, advice for emerging DJs and what he’s most looking forward to experiencing while in Dubai.
What’s your latest inspiration for mixes? Are there any new books, movies or figures driving your musical philosophies?
I get inspiration from different things. These days I’ve been reading quite a bit of poetry; I find that it helps with songwriting and just opening up your mind a bit to different things. But I can also gain inspiration from movies, for example – I recently watched the latest Queen biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and I was super inspired to write new music shortly after!
What can your fans expect at the BAO Festival?
Fans can expect many exciting new records I’ve been working on, as well as lots of new edits. The vibe is going to be full of melodies, high rave energy and constant groove. I want fans to feel like they’re part of one giant family during my set since we are all connected.
What attracted you to the BAO Festival and Dubai?
BAO is an exciting new concept, and I’m so excited to be returning to the UAE for it. Being a part of the biggest dance music festival in the Middle East is also incredible! Dubai is easily one of my favourite cities in the world, as I really feel comfortable there and that’s always a good sign.
How do you hope fans react to your set in particular?
I hope fans are super positive and receptive to the new music I have. Since I’m still an up-and-coming artist, not a lot of the people will really know my music, but that’s a great thing because it means I get to perform it for them and make some new fans! I’m excited and can’t wait.
You began producing music at the age of 12 – a relatively young age to get into EDM. From all that you’ve learned, what advice would you give emerging music producers in the UAE?
I started writing music at a time where it was still predominantly an 18+ career, but growing up with 80s disco in my home was what really allowed me to be open to the idea of what is now EDM. The best piece of advice I can give and will continue to give is that you should never give up on your goals and aspirations because anything can come true if you believe and work hard enough. I never thought coming to the UAE was possible for me, for example, but it shows I have what it takes to continue to make this happen.
Are there other Australian music producers that you think we should check out?
For sure! Australia has some extraordinary new talent. I recommend WILL K – who is probably the best Australian artist I’ve heard in a long time – Jleo, a young talent from Adelaide, and Jebu, who is always pushing boundaries with his records.
Do you have any plans for sightseeing while in Dubai? Tell us what spots are on your list.
I intend on exploring the city and getting a real feel of what it has to offer. Also, [I'm] interested in climbing the Burj Khalifa, partaking in a desert safari and many more!
Images provided by Marcus Santoro
More information and tickets on Dubai Calendar.
