Tyler Brooker

Tyler Brooker steps beyond his electro-house roots with Step Aside, a feel-good collaboration with UK rapper PHAZE. In this interview, he discusses creative risks, musical chemistry, and the track’s uplifting summer message.

1. “Step Aside” blends dance-pop, reggae-inspired rhythms, and hip-hop vocals into a vibrant summer anthem. How did the collaboration come together, and what was the creative chemistry like between you both?
I started producing the track first before reaching out to PHAZE – I was inspired by the work of Major Lazer and wanted to create an uplifting and summer-ready track, so I ended up using a reggae-style beat with melodic leads and catchy sounds. But that on its own would be too empty – I knew it needed lyrics or labels wouldn’t want it, so I reached out to PHAZE after not contacting him for a few years (which he greatly appreciated), and within two weeks, the track was ready. I didn’t even need to ask for any lyric changes; it was perfect as it was. I knew that rapped lyrics would go well with the track style, and as PHAZE is from the UK, the people in the UK where I live would resonate with his style of rapping better. Once finished, I reached out to several networks, and after a week or so, Deep Elite agreed to sign it.

2. Tyler, this track marks a departure from your usual electro-house sound. What inspired you to explore a more Latin and reggae-infused direction, and what did you learn from stepping outside your comfort zone?
After my latest release “The Fruity Man” in March, I remembered I had a sample pack inspired by artist Major Lazer that I hadn’t used before, so I started experimenting with the beats and melodies, and after a day or two, I came up with a really upbeat and positive-sounding instrumental. For me, I never have any issues working on music that I’m not used to – I’ve had the opportunity to work on a lot of genres since I started producing, ranging from house and EDM, to jazz, rock, bluegrass and even classical. It gives me confidence when releasing music like this in the future, if I choose to.

3. PHAZE, your lyrics carry a positive and uplifting message. How do your influences, particularly artists like Canibus and Shan51, shape your songwriting and approach to meaningful rap?
Gradually over time the topics they rhyme about rub off and lead to further research.
Ultimately their writing techniques and subject matter have an effect on how I think, therefore reflecting in my artistry.

4. The song captures a carefree summer spirit while encouraging listeners to move forward and enjoy life. What message do you hope people take away from “Step Aside”?

Remember summertime is the season of love and joy, and regardless of the issues we all have to face in life, remember to have fun and make sure you strive to always be your best self. This song is a reminder to enjoy yourself and let go of the past and look forward to not looking back. Have fun with it and smile!

5. Having previously worked together on “Stuck in the Middle,” how has your artistic partnership evolved, and what makes this collaboration different from your past projects?
So “Stuck In The Middle” was a smaller project from a few years ago, a hip-hop grime track that I only planned on releasing onto my YouTube channel on a smaller scale. I needed a rapper, so using the platform SubmitHub, I told users that I needed a male rapper, and PHAZE was the first to get back to me. I sent him the track and let him rap whatever lyrics came to mind, and when he sent it back to me, I was extremely pleased – his voice was great, and I knew I wanted to work with him again. Fast forward a few years, and I knew his vocals would be perfect for this track. It’s rare for me to have rappers on my EDM projects (or just rappers on any of my projects), and yet I knew it was going to turn out good. I feel like PHAZE’s vocals would work on a lot of my future projects, and I’m sure he’d be happy to help out knowing that this track has been a success.

6. With “Step Aside” now released through Deep Elite, what are your goals for the track, and can fans expect more collaborations or new music from either of you in the near future?”
We’re hoping the track will be listened to by a wide audience on Spotify, but also on radio stations as now would be the perfect time for it! We’re also hoping it will get attention from various blogs and articles online. I do have quite a few projects up and coming – another artist called MatDanx has created a trance remix of my EDM track “The Fruity Man” which has been signed to LVLD Music, then after that a few more house collaborations that will be released on other labels. It’s going to be a busy year, so please make sure to keep an eye on the YouTube channel as that’s where most of my content will be!

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