A Bright Future Remixing Ciara, Slumberjack And Theophilus London

"Near the end of high school, I got into the whole idea of mash-ups and just dance music in general – kinda electronic stuff."

Born in Connecticut, at four Marenyi moved to North Carolina. “When I was four or five years old, I started playing instruments — I played piano and guitar growing up. Honestly, most of what I listened to growing up was indie music and rock music — like a lot of old American rock bands. Near the end of high school, I got into the whole idea of mash-ups and just dance music in general – kinda electronic stuff.” He’d discover not only his Chapel Hill homeboy Robinson, but also Zedd. Marenyi was attracted to “hard electro” as well as progressive house, favouring EDM that’s “super-high energy”, but simultaneously melodic. These days Marenyi combines those qualities in his own output (check out his eerie electro-trance Elm St), admitting that sonically he’s “all over the place”. “I’m not really trying to think too much about the genre I’m making or specific influence when I write stuff.”

Marenyi relocated to LA two years ago on completing a degree in Finance. He’d attend a production school, “immediately” befriending Slander’s Derek Andersen there. Marenyi and Slander disseminated a viral ‘trapover’ of Showtek’s We Like To Party — and, lately, the Nuclear Bonds EP. Meanwhile, Marenyi hooked up with Californian house legend Richard Vission and they aired the “groovy house jam” Walking On Sunshine (featuring Jackie Boyz) via Ultra Records. “I interned for him for three months – and then we just decided to work together. So I’m sort of an engineer with him when we write pop music — and then we do house tracks together just for fun.”

Since that Ciara triumph, Marenyi’s remix services have been in demand by the likes of Kanye West associate Theophilus London. He’s even tweaked Perth’s Slumberjack. Recently, he’s remixed Major Lazer’s Lean On (with DJ Snake and singer MØ) plus The Prodigy’s Rhythm Bomb (Flux Pavilion), the latter due out while he’s in Oz. “It should be awesome — I’m really excited for that.”

Following his Oz run Marenyi’s hitting Lollapalooza. “Travelling’s one of my favourite things.” Marenyi “eventually” aspires to assemble an album. “Super-long-term” he’d love to collaborate with his “idols”, especially Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, “I don’t think I have too specific a master plan yet,” Marenyi laughs. “At least — I’m still developing it myself!”