Legion Records Legate DAANERZ Interview

Legion Records · Azael & POIZZONED - Emotions

Interview for DAANERZ, Legion Records CEO.

Let’s start off with your background. What made you a fan of EDM and more specifically, Big Room and Progressive House?

I remember it clearly back in 2010 when I was a kid: the first EDM track I ever heard was “Sexy Chick” by David Guetta and Akon. Everyone danced to that song in school and it was clearly very famous but I didn’t want to stop exploring there. I researched more producers on my own and came across Hardwell and his track, “Encoded” which was my introduction to that progressive style. I kept following Hardwell but it was when he released “Call Me A Spaceman” in 2012 which really changed my life. Hearing that track is when I knew that Big Room would be my totem as an EDM Fan. Of course, I’ve been listening to more genres since then but none captivated me as much as progressive house and big room.

Can you give an outline on your journey from being a fan to managing a label like Legion Records as well as your other projects, Titanium Recordings and Soldier Network? 
I started making a name for myself little by little. As the years went by, I started meeting other EDM fans like me, but also some producers that were just starting out with basic productions. 

In 2018, I launched Legion Records with two friends. One handled 3D visuals and the other did the artwork. Our idea was to support small producers within our circle and gradually expand our reach. At first, Legion had a small but dedicated fanbase, and over time, it started to grow.

By the end of 2019, we hit a rough patch. Demo submissions slowed down and the releases didn’t stand out as much. Eventually, the label had to take a break. Then came the pandemic in 2020, which, ironically, became a turning point. My two original co-founders had to step away due to personal commitments, but during this time, I connected with more producers. Legion resumed releasing music, and from there, things started to take off again.

In 2021, I attempted to launch a sub-label called Titanium Recordings, but it didn’t pan out as expected. My close circle of friends was mainly focused on mainstage sounds, whereas Titanium was meant to be a fresh, more commercial brand. Then, in 2022, I launched Soldier Network, which focused on festival-style mainstage mixes of existing tracks. This project was successful, but in January 2024, we had to put it on hold due to time constraints. But who knows? Maybe we’ll revive it in the future.

So Legion continued on its trajectory, growing stronger. I must say that in 2022 we were at our peak. Our social media channels were packed with people enjoying our releases, and we launched a Discord server that quickly became very active. That community we formed is something that still makes me happy to this day.

However, by the end of 2024, I decided to take a break. Legion’s Phase 1 ended because my original team wasn’t able to dedicate as much time to it due to personal matters. But I have to give special thanks to my friends Azael, TOSAK, and OverLine who convinced me to bring Legion back. Now, we’re launching Phase 2 this March, and we’re incredibly excited to continue sharing music with our listeners who have stuck with us.​

Despite waning interest in the genre, what keeps pushing you to continue your journey as a label head and DJ advocating for these genres?
We simply have to do what we like the most. It's true, the genre is no longer supported as it used to be, much less by major record labels, who have leaned towards commercial trends and genres. Perhaps the numbers are not reflected in streams and maybe the songs don't reach many people, but there is nothing better than doing what you like the most. We have a lot of confidence in our community and we hope as always to reach many more people. 

This is also related to being a DJ. I receive promos from many DJs and producers around the world, but the truth is that I don't get any feeling from the other EDM genres. I have a lot of respect for producers who spend many hours sitting at a computer trying to make music, but it's just that I, for my radio show, am always looking for what made us happy many years ago. It's not about hate or disrespect, it's about taste.

What is the most important part about keeping your artists motivated to continue creating? How do you manage your relationship with your regular roster of artists?
I must say that the relationship the label has with the artist is very special. It may be something tiny but communication is very important. I have received comments from our artists that when they release a track on another label, the communication from both parties is null. The label doesn't respond to them, they send them the audio files or artworks too late, they send the contract 1 month after the track is accepted, etc. Legion handles all this management in a fast and fluid way, plus we all get along well in our community. Sometimes between producers they ask for feedback, they have meetings in Discord, I mean, there is a good relationship with everyone. Maybe all this provides good motivation for the artist to keep releasing tracks with us.

Looking towards your over 250 episodes of Alioth Radio, how do you go about making your regular mixes?
It's amazing, yes, since I started my radio in 2017, I never thought I would get this far, I hope I can keep putting out new episodes for many more years to come. I use FL Studio to make the mixes. I would of course like to do it on a mixer, but unfortunately I don't have the necessary equipment, so I improvise with what I have at hand. I'm not going to lie, I always hope to receive some promos from big room! But unfortunately nowadays there are no promos like that. Thank goodness I have my small community of friends that continue to bring out Big Room, so they help me to continue with the radio. 

Going forward, what do you think is the most important thing a producer can do to get ahead in this scene? 
I'll make it short, always try to do something different and stand out from the rest. You can continue to be guided and inspired by other styles, but always try to have some originality in your productions. Just to name a few guys that you should pay attention with, POIZZONED, Michael Ace, Sevenxs, R3burned, ONNT3X, D4ZX, some of them we gave a chance to when they were little known, and the others with their originality on their productions, give some different vibe to the table. Also with the help from Azael, OverLine and TOSAK, the Spanish crew, with their feedback, we're helping out producers that are trying to get signed with us. We are in constant contact with people, receiving demos, giving feedback and getting lots of interaction. Getting featured on Alioth Radio is more simple, so to speak. I'm always reviewing my promo mail and the track that gives me a strong feeling or that makes me feel like I'm at a festival, it has guaranteed support.

Alioth Radio · DAANERZ - Alioth Radio 260

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