In the ever-evolving Vancouver electronic scene, few artists capture the raw, unfiltered energy of the dancefloor quite like WERK. A true shapeshifter behind the decks, WERK blends high-octane rave tools, footwork flair, bass-heavy grooves, and hypnotic textures into sets that feel both chaotic and meticulously crafted. Whether it’s turning heads at underground parties or lighting up festival stages, this Vancouver producer is all about creating flow, building trust, and holding space where the music takes over.
For this edition of the Vancouver Showcase, we’re thrilled to present an exclusive 30-minute mix straight from WERK’s studio, packed with originals, IDs, and collaborations that showcase their signature sound. Expect heavy-hitting club weapons, eerie night vibes, and pure dancefloor demolition.
Thanks for sitting down with FC. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into music production and DJing?
Hey, Thanks for having me!
I got started DJin’g when I was 16 after a friend from high school introduced me to me Mat The Alien’s Really Good podcast – super early Soundcloud days. I would rip tracks from blogs and try to figure out how to beat match by writing the times I wanted the drops to switch on, on a note pad. I had no idea about BPM or any of that so I just chilled on my family computer with virtual DJ learning basic stuff.. When I moved out at 19 I was already getting booked in bars and I wanted to have my own tracks to play. I learned Ableton and was releasing “music” within the first year or so.
When and where was WERK decided to be the name you move forward with?
WERK as a name spawned during that first year I started producing (2012 ish). I knew I was going to rebrand but I wanted to sit on name ideas for a while and be methodical about it. I was up all night very often because I was studying for school and learning Ableton + mixing so I liked the concept of my name being what I was doing.. working on music.
WERK IMO is a more aesthetically pleasing way of styling it as a DJ/producer name & I wanted it to be easy for google searches.
Has Vancouver always been on your radar? When did you decide to make the city home?
Yeah, I resisted for several years and stayed in Victoria after I graduated but I spent a lot of time visiting family in Vancouver when I was young so it always made sense. I was coming here for shows and it felt like a good middle ground between proximity to my family and being accessible to the what I was doing with music.
Since the city has been home. What if anything from the area has influenced your sound?
Vancouver and the surrounding areas have a diverse energy that pulls from all over and bleeds into the music scene which influences how I contextualize and present my art. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how but I love the feeling of access to nature & the city – to nightlife & opportunity. There’s a shared sense of desire among peers.
What was the music or cultural environment like in Powell River when you were younger? Were there any local scenes, radio stations, parties, or family influences that sparked your interest in electronic music? Growing up Powell River actually had a really cool scene due to the demand for things to do. My gen was looking up to people like Westerly who was spinning dubstep and running a festival called Diversity with artists like The Librarian, Mat The Alien, Jpod etc before the inception of Bass Coast. Lots of well organized bush raves and ticketed events with amazing sound systems in the craziest spots like barns and gazebos. We ran a local party in a homies basement called BASSment that used to be a coffee shop with the craziest speaker setup. One time they redid the floor and had all the guests came in and paint something to be sealed where we danced, it was beautiful. It helped build desire for something bigger than where we came from. It made us kids chase leaving the town and see a constructive outlet to burn energy.
Your sound pulls from Techno, Grime, House, Rap, and straight Rave energy. How do these seemingly different worlds come together in your productions? Is there a core thread that ties them all? I like so many different genres and always have. Before I produced I was huge into digging and that influenced my sound heavily because I wasn’t listening with producer brain/ear yet. I came up in several eras of electronic music so at the core the thing that ties them together for me is mood and energy.. I love to break rules and the idea of trying to incorporate how one genre could fit into another or messing with time signature has always been fun for me. I started out DJ’ing first and always liked DJ’s who went on a journey – in turn that has rubbed off on my production.
Looking back, how has your production style changed since you first started? What were some of the biggest technical or creative breakthroughs you’ve had?
It’s changed so much but feels like I’ve swung back full circle. My sound has evolved into a clearer reflection of what I’ve been working towards. You learn as you grow and shed what no longer suits you. Early on I was leaning more into half time bass heavy focused stuff like dubstep and trap but I’ve learned over the years how to incorporate those elements into my sets and music without it being my whole identity.
Which release or project so far feels like the biggest step forward in your artistic development, and why? (e.g., All Dogs Go To Heaven, Toxic Paradise, Club Medicine, etc.) One of the biggest break throughs I had was around 2019. I had been making music around 7 years and felt so content where I was at. The pressure to be somewhere in my career had gone away and I was reminded that I love to make music because I’m obsessed and will do it forever regardless of the outcome. Realizing that gave me permission to keep making honest art and helped me attract what I was working so hard for.
Club Medicine without a doubt. That was a huge moment of growth for me. It showed me I need to chase the fun side of producing and do what I want. I got a lot of praise and kind words from people I look up to on that project and it was the first release where I felt like I found my sound.
You describe your sets as “focused on creating flow, building trust, and holding space.” With that in mind, what can you tell us about this specific mix?
Yeah! I think creating a vibe and setting the tone is important. With this mix I wanted to tap into all the areas I’ve pulled inspiration from lately and bridge them in a way that makes sense and inspires the listener. I feel like the best way to translate a new idea is to contextualize it with things people already trust in some way so there’s a tangible example of how it works.
Where in your opinion is Footwerk and Ghettotech coming from heaviest these days?
Chicago and Detroit take that title every day of the week for me but the internet provides accessibility and exposes different genres to people all over the world so great art is coming from everywhere. Some of my favourites are HiTech, Anna Morgan, WTCHCRFT, DJ Swisha and Greazus. Spanning across Detroit, Thailand, NYC and Canada.
Thank you for your time and energy with this! What do you have coming up that people should be on the lookout for and where can they find you?
Yoooo, I appreciate it a ton. Thanks again for having me!!
Peep my new EP Inertia that just dropped with The Librarian’s label, Chapter Three and come catch my set at Bass Coast Saturday night at The Cabin 10 – 11 pm.
I’ve got a couple TBA shows for summer and an EP releasing in fall (more soon) + a few singles dropping between now and then. You can also catch me live on Bside Radio’s Twitch June 27th 12:00 – 3:00 pm for my show “2B2B”.
Follow me on IG and Soundcloud for the most updated music and content.
