So stoked to have you on FP! You put a ton of hard work in. Describe the path you took to get to a point where you are releasing an EP on Firepower Records?

Thank you! I’m so stoked to be a part of the team. So the road getting here took a lot of time and focus. I sent in a couple Demos to Firepower. I used to make a completely different type of music — more of a Robostep kind of feel — and Datsik saw potential where I couldn’t. He told me to try something different but didn’t tell me exactly what to make. So I took this and tried some different styles of music, more melodic, more of a style I can reach a larger spectrum of people with. So I sent in some songs. Datsik really liked this new style I started but it still wasn’t quite there. So back to the drawing board. This is when I reached out to an already good friend of mine, Skyloud, who recently started a new alias Zetta which was Him and Deltabot. We Skyped for the entire collaboration of Ice Shield and they taught me a lot about creating this style of music I was doing but needed an extra push. So after the Flatline release of “IceShield”, I had a bigger arsenal of tools and new information about sound design and just actual production. I sent in a new Demo, and that’s when I got the green light on a 4 track EP. I was so excited about this that I finished the EP within a couple months. Every track I sent in was accepted. It was a huge change in sound from what I was originally doing, but I have to say I’m really enjoying this new style of 12th Hour! That being said this was about a year in the making, and I hope other artists keep pushing to reach their goals!

How do you see your sound evolving after this release?

So after the release I think I will continue with this style I have been doing for the past 6 months, I’m going to work on some new sound design, I think that is the biggest thing I am going to work on, evolving the 12th Hour sound even more, as well as come up with some really interesting bass patterns and longer drops. I’m really excited to see what the future of my new style will bring and I hope my fans and peers are also!

If you wanted to create the world’s worst mashup, what two songs would you put together?

The worst mash up? haha! This is a pretty unique question, I’d half to go with Iggy – “Team”, and Rebecca Black – “Friday”, I’m laughing just thinking about how this would sound. Lets go Team Friday! At least the mashup title works! I have 3 sisters, I hear a lot of music I’d never listen to on my own haha.

If the firepower crew came by for a visit to your home, what awesome dish would you insist we eat?

Definitely our Pizza. My dad owns two pizza places and that is actually my full time job, running one of the stores. So if the squad came over, I’d make, hands down the best pizza they ever had. And might as well throw in our home made pasta, cant forget the drinks too!

What’s your life philosophy in 5 words?

This is a questions I’ve never been asked but lets see if I can put this in 5 words.  Stay Humble, put in work.   Coming from a family where I had a job waiting for me and didn’t have to graduate from college to start making money for myself, I’ve never beat my chest about it.  This goes with every aspect in someones life, put in your work and stay humble on the road to success.

Your music never fails to bring the filth, but what were you going for with this EP that you didn’t do with you previous recordings?

I really tried to branch out in terms of my sound design and not just use what I was comfortable with.  I used the same patches for a few years because they ‘sounded like me’ but I really wanted to make some new stuff that sounded more modern.

Can we talk about your EP artwork? We know you worked closely with our good bud and Firepower Artist Solid Soul. What are some elements that are tucked into the piece you’d like to tell us about?

This is by far my favorite piece of artwork ever.  It fully captures me as a person and Eric did such an amazing job, I am forever grateful.  There are over 20 little easter eggs hidden in the art.  My favorites are my cat Tenders that has gone Super Saiyan and a few video game references. I don’t want to give too many away though because I’m planning on having a contest to see if anyone can find them all.

When you’re on the road, what kind of food are you looking to eat before the show? What’s your meal of choice?

I eat like absolute shit on the road and wish I didn’t haha  My go to meal would be either chicken tenders or some hot AF wings.  You can’t ever go wrong with tenders.

What’s one thing you can think of that defines your childhood?

Definitely Nintendo games.  I used to play this one level on Donkey Kong over and over just to listen to the music that was playing.  I think that was my initial spark of interest in weird sounds that would later evolve into a love for dance music.

What job would you want to have if you weren’t making music?

Video game journalist or a game tester.

Pre-Order Chimes From Fairies to Fire here: bit.ly/FFTFpre

We love good EP titles at Firepower Records. Tell us a bit about the title of the EP, From Fairies to Fire.

Well the EP is very much a step in the direction of a heavier sound to what people know me for, so I wanted to refer to that in the title. I also think it represents my signature style as a producer – I love to put light and dark elements together into single tracks and so the EP is named in reference to Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” that originally inspired this style.

When it comes to producing music, do you have any work habits that you think are unusual?

I work well very late at night but I’m not sure if that’s particularly abnormal. I’ve got a feeling most producers are night owls. I go into a bit of a mode when I’m working where I shut everything out to concentrate really hard and when I stop I suddenly become exhausted like I’m having a hangover or a comedown. I guess music is my equivalent of drug use?

If a movie was made about you and your life, what famous actor would you want to play you and why?

Maybe Nicholas Hoult? He plays Beast in X-Men. I think he’d do well portray some of the weird aspects about me and he’s suitably nerdy looking.

What’s your biggest pet Peeve, the biggest thing that annoys you and why?

A lot of things annoy me! I’m actually a pretty grumpy person it turns out, although I switch between moods very quickly (a bit like my music). I’d say some of my biggest annoyances would definitely be my internet cutting out or my computer running slowly. Anything that disrupts my workflow.

What track are you jamming out to the most right now?

It’s very difficult to pick just one. I guess my Lock And Load mix should basically sum up everything I love right now but if I had to choose one track it’d have to be “Saloon” by Fox Stevenson. The catchiest Dubstep track I’ve heard in a long time!