Liverpool-born and now making waves across the UK and beyond, Candidate has carved out a reputation for his hip-house-infused sound and club-focused precision.
Photo credit: @sophiajcarey
With standout releases on Hottrax, Nexup, Three Six Zero, and Belief, he has steadily positioned himself within the underground circuit. His debut EP on Nexup reached Number 1 on Beatport within two days, while recent releases have surpassed 1.5 million streams, signaling a fast-growing audience.
Equally at home behind the decks, Candidate has played iconic UK venues including Lab 11, 93 Feet East, and Depot Cardiff, as well as sell-out events such as Eastenderz and Flow.
Internationally, he has delivered standout performances in Italy, including a set at After Caposile. Beyond touring and releasing, he has also shared his production knowledge through exclusive tutorials on Josh Baker’s Syntho platform and launched his own sample pack via Samplemarket.
Now, following the release of his latest collaborative single ‘Midnight Dream’ with Saigon on IN / ROTATION, Candidate continues to expand his reach while refining his artistic direction.
In this conversation, Candidate reflects on collaboration, consistency, Ibiza milestones, and what lies ahead in 2026.
EG: Hi, Candidate! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been doing?
Candidate: I’ve been really good, thank you for having me – it’s a pleasure to be involved. Hope you have been great too.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the recent release of your latest collaborative single, ‘Midnight Dream’. How are you feeling about this one? What has the reception been like so far?
Candidate: Thanks, I’ve had some really nice feedback so far. It’s a little different from some of my previous releases, so it’s been nice to show a more uplifting, housier side of my productions.
EG: ‘Midnight Dream’ sees you linking up with the UK’s Saigon. How did the relationship come about? What was the process for this track like?
Candidate: Since we share a studio in Liverpool, sometimes, if one of us is struggling to make something on their own, we’ll jump in together and start a project. We have very similar tastes in music and understand each other’s workflow really well, so some of our favourite productions have come out of these sessions. This track originally started out in a completely different direction until we sampled some uplifting keys paired with that signature 90’s style lately-bass. At this point, the track changed direction and ‘Midnight Dream’ was born, coming together quite quickly to become a quicker-paced euphoric house cut.
EG: How would you describe ‘Midnight Dream’? Is there a concept or emotional trigger driving this piece?
Candidate: I’d say it’s pretty euphoric and nostalgic, almost.
“The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and make music you genuinely like and are proud of”
EG: In your experience, what are some of the keys to leading a successful collaboration? What would you consider a “success”?
Candidate: I think when working with others, the best outcomes usually come about when you don’t put too much pressure on forcing things, and you just enjoy experimenting in the studio and bouncing ideas off one another. It’s hard to define a “successful” collaboration – obviously, you can say coming away with a finished track is a success, but even learning new ways to do things or starting some fresh ideas to go back to is also a win.
EG: By the way, ‘Midnight Dream’ sees you both joining the ranks over at IN / ROTATION, the offshoot imprint of Insomniac. Why did you guys decide to go with this particular label? What was the process of working with them like?
Candidate: I am really enjoying releasing on some USA-based labels at the moment and sharing my music with a new audience who may not have heard my productions before. It’s a pleasure to have released on the label.
EG: Now, on to a broader subject…What would you like to accomplish as an artist this year? Is there something “tangible” that you’d like to go for?
Candidate: This year, I want to build momentum – releasing more music and playing gigs that really push me forward creatively. I don’t get too hung up on specific milestones, because some of the most rewarding things I’ve done recently weren’t things I could’ve planned two years ago. For me, it’s about staying consistent, working hard, and being ready when the right opportunities appear.
EG: Now, given your experience in our scene, what are some of the biggest challenges artists will face in the near future? Is there any piece of advice you have for your colleagues in that sense?
Candidate: One thing I’ve learned is that it only takes that one track for people to start to take notice of you. With that being said, the scene is constantly and quickly changing, and new artists and trends are always emerging. Therefore, you’ve got to keep consistently working hard, but I think the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and make music you genuinely like and are proud of.
“For me, it’s about staying consistent, working hard, and being ready when the right opportunities appear”
EG: What’s next for Candidate? Where can your fans catch you next?
Candidate: I’ve got lots of exciting gigs coming up abroad. I’m very excited to be playing the ANTS Opening Party at UNVRS in May. ANTS was the first party I ever went to in Ibiza 7 years ago, so to finally be playing feels really full circle. I’ve got a few more Ibiza dates to announce for the rest of the season, which I’m super excited for, and then I’m also heading to play in Rotterdam and Malta. I’ve also got lots of UK dates lined up in Leeds, Newcastle, and London too. But aside from gigs, I’ve got lots more music coming out this year, which I can’t wait to share.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Candidate! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
Candidate: And to you, thank you for having me – it’s been great.
Candidate’s ‘Midnight Dream’ is out now on IN / ROTATION. Stream and download here.
Follow Candidate: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
