For those discovering you through Future Classics, how would you introduce yourself and the core identity of your sound?
Presley Gray is a collection of every version of myself and everything I feel. Music has always been deeply emotional for me, and I want my sound to reflect the full range of human emotion. People tend to describe my sound as dark, but I see it more as navigating between dark and light. I can play a nasty, dark dubstep set one night and an upbeat, club-heavy UKG set the next. I don’t believe in boxing myself into one genre to succeed as a DJ or producer. I want the freedom to explore whatever I’m feeling, experiment with different sounds, and let all those sides of myself exist within my music.
What first drew you into electronic music and behind the decks as a DJ?
I’ve been a raver for most of my adult life, and I think what first drew me to electronic music was how it made me feel. I’ve spent years immersed in different scenes, from Melbourne’s underground rave culture to the West Coast, exploring all the sounds of the human experience. Eventually, I wanted to be more than just the person on the dance floor. I wanted to share the music that moved me and create those same feelings for other people. Getting behind the decks became an extension of that- a deep need to express myself, connect with people, and take them on a journey through music.
Selection plays a massive role in your sets—it’s clear from your SoundCloud that serious time goes into crate-digging. How often are you hunting for new music?
I used to be hunting down tunes daily- now that I am producing I have less time to crate dig-but I would say I’m looking at least weekly. I am always listening to music at the gym or in the car so I find a lot of stuff during those times.
When managing your collection, do you keep a meticulously organized track library, or is your process more instinctive when deciding what makes the final rotation?
If you speak to any of my friends they will tell you I’m the furthest thing from meticulously organized. My process is absolutely instinctive- I have a lot of tracks and go in and out of playing them. Sometimes you won’t play something for months and then play it and remember how sick it is and it goes back into the regular rotation.
With music so accessible today, do you think the primary role of a DJ is increasingly becoming that of a curator, or has that responsibility stayed the same at its core?
I think anyone can be a DJ these days because of how accessible it’s become, but not everyone can be a true selecta. There’s a difference between playing music and knowing exactly what to play, when to play it, and how to read a room. Being able to match the vibe of whatever show you’re playing while still staying true to yourself is a skill that takes time to develop. I also think it’s become harder to hold a dancefloor’s attention with how short everyone’s attention spans seem to be now. For me, it’s about finding that balance between playing what people want to hear and introducing them to new things. You want people to connect with your set, but you also want to give them something they wouldn’t expect.
Let’s shift to the studio side—how long have you been producing behind the scenes before putting out public releases?
I’ve only been producing for about 10 months, so I’m still very much learning and figuring things out as I go. I’ve got a longggg way to go, but that’s honestly one of the things I love about it. There’s so much to learn and so many sounds I want to experiment with. I’m still early in my journey, and I’m excited to see how my sound develops as I get more time in the studio.
Was there always a deliberate timeline to start producing, and what made right now the right moment to officially begin sharing original work on SoundCloud?
There was never really a deliberate timeline. I’ve always dreamed of producing and had so many ideas for the kind of music I wanted to make. I think now felt like the right time to share because I’d been sitting on these tracks for awhile, and at some point I had to stop keeping them to myself. Putting my own music out there felt a lot more vulnerable than I expected. These tracks are a little piece of me, and letting people hear something so personal was super intimidating. It took a lot of encouragement and positive reinforcement from my mates to get me comfortable enough to even share them on SoundCloud.
How does living and producing in Vancouver influence your creative process and the specific frequencies or moods you lean into?
Phew – The Vancouver scene has been one of the biggest blessings to me as an artist. The sheer amount of talent here is so inspiring, and being surrounded by other creatives has filled my cup more than anything. I’ve been exposed to so many sounds, genres, and vibes that I don’t think I would have discovered if I didn’t live here. That constant exposure has pushed me to explore outside my comfort zone and approach music with a more open mind. Being part of this community has shown me how much there is to explore, and I think that freedom to experiment is a huge part of my identity as an artist.
Have you been testing your unreleased tracks live during sets, and has a specific crowd reaction ever signaled that a track was ready for prime time?
I’ve played my track second setting a few times- still waiting for a crowd reaction that makes
me go yep this is it.
You’ve already stepped into collaborative work—are there other Vancouver-based producers you’re currently connected with or would love to link up with in the studio?
I have a lot of really talented producer friends but have only worked with one so far. Konka, MKU, Social Club, Castimir, & Ponda to name a few locals that I really look up to in terms of production and would love to collaborate with any of them.
What’s on the horizon for Presley Gray—are we looking at upcoming label releases, collaborative projects, or more vault drops on SoundCloud?
There’s a lot I want to explore right now. I’ve been working on new music and pushing myself creatively, and I’m excited to start putting more of that out into the world. I definitely want to do more collaborations and keep releasing music.I’m trying to get better at letting go of tracks instead of sitting on them forever. I’m really just focused on evolving my sound, putting out music that feels true to me, and continuing to play shows. Hoping to get a festival slot under my belt in 2027.
Where can people catch you live next, and where should they follow you online to stay locked into your latest releases?
My next show is at Luna Sound Studio on Oct 30. It’s a Halloween party- ill be going b2b with my friend Eiko.
My instagram is @presleygray
Soundcloud – Presley Gray
Vancouver Showcase Tracklist:
Zero – You’re The One (Original Mix)
Stylust, JLEON, Abstrakt Sonance – Stay Close
Garrett Fields – Steady Now
Criso, Crastinate – Dialed
STRATAGY x DUB PHIZIX CARBON FOOTPRINT (BLURRD VZN Flip)
ghost lotus – Yonkers
Inzo – Young Majestic (HUBNAUT FLIP)
Mirage Music, Strange Thing – Badman
11Th Hour – Vicious (Original Mix)
Sixes – ID
Ticket – Wobbler
DJ Hybrid – On The Bounce (140 VIP Mix)
Packet Loss (Stem Master) – Draped Up
En:vy – Imminent
Criso, PAV4N, Rakjay – Strictly Business
Merricat Black – Tricky Bizzness
ATYYA – How We Hit It
Daggz – Archons
