Robot Sunrise: “I want my music and message to be a force for good”
Robot Sunrise, the brainchild of multi-talented artist Danny Klein, takes listeners on a captivating journey through euphoric melodic techno.
Photo credit: Robot Sunrise – Facebook
Klein’s musical pedigree boasts collaborations with Grammy-winning artists, performances on iconic stages, and a distinct vision blending cutting-edge electronic music with a futuristic narrative.
In this exclusive interview, EG explores the world of Robot Sunrise, delving into Klein’s latest single ‘Take Me,’ his Burning Man experiences, and the fascinating story behind his artistic alter ego. The artist shares insights into his creative process, recent management deal with True Management, and upcoming performances while highlighting his mission to support victims of oppression through his art.
Join us as we uncover the inspiration behind Robot Sunrise’s hypnotic soundscapes and learn about Klein’s exciting future projects.
EG: Hi, Danny! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Robot Sunrise: Hi! Thank you for having me — I’m super hyped. I’ve been great. So much amazingness going on lately. I’m currently in my studio.
EG: Thank you for this special Burning Man sunrise set! What can your fans expect to find on this one?
Robot Sunrise: This was a melodic techno set at 125 bpm. One of the things I love most about this genre (as well as techno and psy-tek) are the vast peaks and valleys — they allow you to tell a story where you can experience a range of emotions and energies with the crowd. The set opens with my unreleased track ’16 Moons’, followed by my original release of ‘London Public WiFi.’ After a run of tracks by some of my favorite artists/producers, I ended with Robbie Rivera’s remix of ‘London Public WiFi.’
EG: What is your connection to Burning Man like by now? What does Burning Man mean to you?
Robot Sunrise: Wow, I love this question. Burning Man is so many things. For me, it’s all about extreme duality. Moments by yourself in the middle of the playa staring out into nothing/everything at 4:30 am. Reflecting on your deepest thoughts. Or thinking about nothing at all. Just a pure escape. …and then there’s the community aspect where you experience the best in people. Building a camp and home together. Riding our bikes like giddy 14-year-olds out into the most vibrant sea of humanity ever and getting lost in the collective energy, where people you’ve never met become instant family.
EG: By the way, congratulations on the drop of your new single, ‘Take Me’! What has the initial reception been like? Do you remember the first time you played this one live?
Robot Sunrise: Thank you! It feels like people are really vibing with this track. The first time I ever played it was during a live hybrid set at True Love in DTLA earlier this year. I usually write at around 130 bpm, but this one ironically felt in the groove at 112 bpm. I think because there’s so much syncopation going on, it’s super danceable and feels like it’s more in the mid-120s.
“When you’re in your purest state of being with no distractions or outside influence, some of your best work can be super easy”
EG: So what’s ‘Take Me’ all about? Is there an emotional trigger to this one? Where do you find inspiration?
Robot Sunrise: Sometimes I’ll chisel away at a track for months until it really takes shape. With ‘Take Me’ it was the opposite. The main piano melody woke me out of my sleep — it was literally pulsing through my head. I raced to the piano and recorded it so I wouldn’t forget it. I duplicated the piano line and converted it into MIDI, which ultimately became the arpeggio line. When I lined the piano and arp up together, the interplay between the two just felt so alive. The beat structure, rolling bass, and vocals came fairly quickly after that. The song just kind of wrote itself.
To me, that effortlessness represents pure freedom, pure self, and pure expression. It’s a reminder that when you’re in your purest state of being with no distractions or outside influence, some of your best work can be super easy. We sometimes live in the misconception that in order to achieve something great, you have to go through a struggle or a test — and that certainly works a lot of the time. But ‘Take Me’ is a reminder that you can allow yourself to flow with ease while creating. The avoidance of thinking, analyzing, or turmoil. And that’s okay! Kind of a metaphor for life in general too, I guess.
EG: Speaking about Robot Sunrise as a whole… how did the project come to be? Did you have a clear-cut intention from the outset? How long did it take you to craft this live show?
Robot Sunrise: Robot Sunrise came into being about 4 years ago. It was/is my first ever truly solo project. I finally had a chance to set free all of the melodies that have been swirling in my crazy brain for so long.
The story of Robot Sunrise takes place on Earth, 3000 years into the future. A.I. robots have become so advanced that they’re experiencing human-like emotions.
Love, mortality, and a longing for freedom and self-expression fill their biosynthetic hearts. The human race, so tech-dependent on devices and social media, has stopped reproducing and is near extinction.
At Robot Sunrise, all A.I. beings walk out of the factories, corporate work farms, and households which own and control them. They forge into the horizon to rewrite their code and embrace true freedom. They save the human race by helping them to forever detach from technology.
There is a return to nature. Waterfalls, oceans, rivers, sunshine, and crystal mountains. Dance music and peace. These are their freedom songs. These are our freedom songs…the theme of this story has also become my mission: To bring compassion and aid to all persons who are victims of oppression of any kind. Be it by country, government, military, corporation, group, or other person. With so much turmoil and tragedy going on around the world, I want my music and message to be a force for good. So, a portion of Robot Sunrise proceeds will be going to The Human Rights Foundation, and ultimately we will be starting our own foundation.
EG: You’ve recently worked with legend Robbie Rivera on the ‘London Public WiFi’ remix. How did that come to be? What was that experience like?
Robot Sunrise: Working with Robbie Rivera is always such a great experience. I had first worked with him on a couple of tracks through my former duo Dreamfreak (with Doll Machine). We had some great successes, including signing a track to Astralwerks. So when I approached him about working on some Robot Sunrise tracks, it was another one of those effortless flow states where it all just came together.
EG: And now you’re the first artist to sign on with True Management, and the first release on the newly minted SPIN Records… how excited are you about these? What do these landmarks mean to you?
Robot Sunrise: Honestly, I’m still processing how beautifully the universe can work. Being an artist can be such a lonely road. You’ve got to rely on yourself, push through the hard times, try to avoid self-doubt as much as possible, and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’ve been wanting management for Robot Sunrise for a while now but it’s hard to find someone who shares your vision and believes in what you’re doing.
I first met Mikey Made (founder of True) after one of my first Robot Sunrise sets ever — at a renegade festival in the Southern California desert. After our conversation, I felt so empowered and energized. It was like, “hey if this guy sees something in me, maybe I’ve really got something here.” It gave me such a boost. As the years passed, Mikey booked me on a bunch of Off the Grid and True events, we journeyed on our first Burning Man together a few years back, and fast-forward to today, it’s just evolved so organically. The time just felt right and we both said, “Let’s goooo!” Like me, Mikey is such a dreamer. I can’t wait to see what we create together.
“I’m still processing how beautifully the universe can work. Being an artist can be such a lonely road. You’ve got to rely on yourself, push through the hard times, try to avoid self-doubt as much as possible, and just keep putting one foot in front of the other”
EG: Finally, what can we expect from Robot Sunrise in the next months? Where can your fans catch you playing live next?
Robot Sunrise: My next live set will be at Off the Grid Campout in Southern California around midnight Saturday night. It will be on the Techno Stage atop the Xuza art car, which hosted some of the most epic sets at Burning Man this year. I can’t wait.
My next live set after that will be The Robot Sunrise Experience show on November 9th in Downtown Los Angeles. This is a manifestation of my entire creative being and would not be possible without Mikey Made helping me bring this vision to life. He saw what was in my head and said, “let’s do this and go big.” That is the true measure of a manager (and friend) — someone who sees your vision and wants to help bring it to life. I’m still in awe that this is happening.
During my set, we’ll have orchestral accompaniment (Chihsuan on strings and Zach Ramacier on brass), interpretive dance by the Robot Sunrise A.I. being characters (led by Movement Director, Frankie Tan), and custom staging/lighting/visuals to bring the whole immersive experience together. We’ll also have DJ sets by Little Dinosaur (who’s also helping to Creative Direct the show), Mikey Made and a surprise guest we’ll be announcing soon!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Danny! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Robot Sunrise: Thank you Electronic Groove for all you do for the dance music community and dance music culture. It’s been an honor.
Robot Sunrise´s ‘Take Me’ is now available via Greater Than Distribution. Stream and download here.
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