MikeR has been steadily shaping a sound rooted in melody, emotional tension, and forward momentum. Based in Munich, the DJ and producer moves between Progressive House and Melodic Techno, blending uplifting chord structures, expansive arrangements, and club-focused energy into a style that balances introspection with dancefloor impact.
Photo credit: MikeR – Official
Drawing influence from early Trance alongside contemporary melodic electronic music, his productions are driven by atmosphere as much as groove, reflecting a clear focus on emotional storytelling through sound.
While much of his work has centered around melodic club music, his latest single ‘Barbariga’ sees him exploring a more personal and collaborative direction. Inspired by a family holiday in Croatia and created alongside his daughter, the track introduces Afro House influences into his sonic palette while maintaining the melodic identity that defines his productions. The result is a warmer, more relaxed atmosphere that still carries the emotional depth and melodic focus present throughout his catalog.
In this conversation, MikeR reflects on the creative process behind ‘Barbariga’, working closely with family, experimenting beyond genre boundaries, and the importance of authenticity in his evolving artistic journey.
EG: Hi MikeR, welcome to EG. How are you today?
MikeR: I am very good, thank you. I am happy spring is in full swing in Europe. I’m looking forward to being outside vibing and dancing to great music.
EG: Can you tell us about ‘Barbariga’? Where did the initial spark or inspiration come from?
MikeR: The inspiration came from my daughter, who shares my passion for music. She said: “Dad you have to do an Afro house track for a change”. I like Afro House, especially for the golden hour on the beach or with a sunset on the terrace, but it is quite different from my usual sound. So, initially, I was hesitant.
Then we were on holiday in Croatia, so I thought, let’s get inspired by these early summer vibes, and I asked her to work with me on the track, as she’d just started her own artist project a few months earlier. That’s why the track is called ‘Barbariga,’ it’s a place in Croatia, near a beach club that now features on the cover art.
EG: Looking back at the early stages of the project, what feels most different compared to the finished result?
MikeR: The initial sound was a bit plain and lacked a bit of musical salt and pepper. So, we put in some volume, filter, and pitch automation, and some surprising animal-like sounds and calls that were also a bit inspired by my melodic techno works in the past. We also made the arrangement a bit more interesting with more going on towards the drop, so you really feel the energy build towards release.
EG: Can you talk us through the collaboration process on this one? How did it come together?
MikeR: I created an initial idea of the song with the drums, main chords, and melody, and showed it to my daughter. She liked the idea and vibe. Then we iterated on it, bouncing ideas on how to make it better and sitting side by side in the studio, tweaking the sound and arrangement to make it fit the vibe we were looking for. Ultimately, it was our joint ideas, with me trying to translate them into sound.
I also explained to her how I produce in Logic Pro and work with the different synths and samples. We created a few more songs, where she increasingly took over production and arrangement, while I focused more on the mixing and mastering part. So, there might be further Housewyve x MikeR Afro House collabs to come!
“Doing this as a father-daughter project was the most meaningful part of it. It is great to see how she shares my passion for music and brings new fresh ideas”
EG: What does authenticity mean to you at this point in your creative journey?
MikeR: For me, it is key, given the volume of new music released every day. I want my music to reflect authentic experiences that I’ve had in places, at events, and the emotions I felt. I also want to arrive at an authentic and recognizable sound, where someone says, hey that sounds like a MikeR track, it has got his DNA. That was also important for ‘Barbariga’.
While my core focus is progressive house, part of being my authentic self is being open to musical experimentation and not wanting to get too boxed in. That is ultimately why my daughter ended up convincing me to do this Afro House song together.
EG: This release explores a slightly different direction from your usual sound. Where do you feel your signature, as MikeR, still comes through most strongly?
MikeR: My signature sound is highly melodic and uplifting, and at times carries melodic techno elements. All of that you also find in ‘Barbariga’: the uplifting chords, the overall melodic focus, and selected edgier sounds. But, of course, with a slower pace at 124 BPM and a bit less energy in the drop, so it is more vibey than impactful.
EG: Was there a defining moment when you knew the project was ready to be shared with the world?
MikeR: I played it on different occasions in the warm-up part of my longer sets, and it worked really well, up to the point of someone asking what the song is. My daughter also kept saying she really likes it, and her friends as well.
The defining moment was on a skiing trip in February, where we talked about how spring would be coming soon, and you would be vibing on the terrace again. She said, “Maybe that is a good time to release it.” It felt like the right moment at the beginning of the spring season.
EG: What did this production teach you about yourself, either creatively or personally?
MikeR: It reminded me how much energy comes from working with someone who sees music differently. My daughter has a genuinely fresh perspective on what she wants to hear, and fitting that together with my ideas pushed the track somewhere I would not have gone alone. The process itself was as rewarding as the result.
“I want my music to reflect authentic experiences that I’ve had in places, at events, and the emotions I felt”
EG: Beyond the music itself, what ended up being the most meaningful part of the whole experience?
MikeR: Doing this as a father-daughter project was the most meaningful part of it. It is great to see how she shares my passion for music and brings new, fresh ideas. Spending time together, creating new music jointly, and sharing it with the world was a really cool experience.
EG: Finally, what’s next for MikeR? What should listeners be keeping an eye (and ear) out for?
MikeR: Next up are a few more progressive house releases. The next one is about the biggest passion I have, next to music and being with my family, which is flying small planes. I had been thinking about making a song about it for quite a while, and now it is ready. Then, potentially some more collabs with my daughter and the Housewyve project. And more upcoming gigs, now that the summer season is getting going.
MikeR’s ‘Barbariga’ is out now. Stream and download your copy here.
Follow MikeR: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
