We caught up with Danish DJ and producer Martin Jensen who teamed up with social media sensation and entrepreneur Sommer Ray on an electrifying EDM hit titled āNo Sleepā. The single was released on 15 November, and fuses Martinās experience in electronic music with Sommerās love for country soundscapes.
The track captures the essence of not wanting the night to end, something most of us can relate to. In the interview, we chat about the creative process behind the single, how the collaboration came about and whatās next for Martin Jensen.
Stream Martin Jensen, Sommer Ray ā āNo Sleepā while reading the interview below:
Can you share the creative process behind āNo Sleepā?
Iāve been working in a lot of writing camps this year, Iām always wanting to expand on the music I create and songwriting is a big part of that for me. We wanted to create a track together that was, at its core, uplifting and relatable but also brought together both of our sounds. I wanted the track to have a pop-leaning sound but also include a feel-good house vibe, and through the piano build-up before the chorus and slight country feel, we also added in a horn section to really shine. āNo Sleepā was super fun to create and Iām super happy with all the love the fans have been showing!
How did this collaboration with Sommer Ray come about?
Sommer Ray is an amazing star that is making moves with her music, I knew her work from social media and collaborating with strong, female artists ā as a fan of pop and electronic music ā is something I love to do.
When you compose and produce tracks, do you make music for yourself or do you make it with others in mind?
It is always a bit of both; I always like to add a house-meets-pop stamp on my tracks that would sound amazing both on a club soundsystem, or for listeners at home to enjoy ā and I think āNo Sleepā is the perfect example of that, relatable yet fun!
Did you experiment with any new techniques, hardware or software with this track?
We didnāt reinvent the wheel with new techniques or fresh hardware, but working with an artist like Sommer that I havenāt collaborated with before, always will bring out new sides to both of us. I think that is where the originality lies and I hope the fans feel that, too!
What inspires you outside of music?
My loved ones and family, the music and forward-thinking ideas of my peers and collaborators, the places I travel to ā inspiration comes from a number of avenues for me.
Are there any emerging artists on your radar?
Iām actually working with a host of emerging artists for a special project out next year! I canāt say too much right now but working with new artists is always a source of inspiration to me ā 2025 is going to be bigger and better and my collaborations and projects in the pipeline will reflect where I am at as an artist. The power of collaboration is so special to me and to do that with fresh talent is always so much fun!
Whatās one song that never fails to get you in a good mood, no matter what?
Iām a big Taylor Swift fan, which is something that people may find surprising, so I would say a number of her tracks inspire and uplift me.
How has your sound evolved in recent years?
I think itās for sure got a lot more personal. In the beginning of my career, it was difficult to be able to be as creative or self-assured. Labels and some earlier fans were always waiting for the next āSolo Danceā or radio āhitā, and that wasnāt something that I wanted to chase. My music and creative output has to come from a place of the heart and true inspiration, even if that is not what is always expected of me. I hope that in recent years and moving forwards, my fans can see the emotion and directions that Iām heading in even if they arenāt what is conventionally expected, and that is why I feel like Iām in the best phase of my career right now.
What can we expect from your upcoming releases?
I have a new release coming with 22Bullets via Smash The House this December, āPharmacyā that is a lot more club-ready than my recent releases with a faster tempo, exaggerated and speeding vocals and a bombastic, tech-style beat. It has some urban flavours and pushes up the BPMās with layers of this glitching synth and bass that we hope gets everyone dancing! As well as that, I have a host of new releases in the new year including a track on One Seven coming this January, āDeeper Loveā, alongside The Stickmen Project and Matt Steffanina that is anthemic with an interesting interpolation audiences might recognise to create some big sing-a-long moments. The vocal has this attitude-driven, femme fatale vibe but still is uplifting with a sound that works for both radio and the clubs ā I canāt wait to show you all what I have been working on and thank you for all your support!
Source: YourEDM
