Exclusive Interview with Alexis Knox on Her New Collaboration ‘Here 4 U’, with Zac Samuel on Perfect Havoc.
A rising star on the London-based house label, Perfect Havoc, Alexis Knox’s foray into production has been having quite the effect. Her debut single ‘Higher’ claimed #3 on the iTunes Dance Chart, while ‘Sober’ scored key Spotify playlist support in New Music Friday UK and New Dance Revolution.
The UK talent is renowned for her floor-filling DJ sets, spinning in an assortment of places from her residency at Heaven London to the vibrant scenes of Ibiza at Eden, even acting as the tour DJ for Charli XCX and spinning to crowds at Fashion Week.
She’s now teamed up with Zac Samuel on the release of HERE 4 U. A rave house cut that blends nostalgic 90s clubland with modern production techniques to create a track that bridges past and present dance music trends.
We caught up with Alexis Knox to discuss the creative process behind this collaboration, her journey so far, and her relationship between music and style aesthetics.
You’ve been DJing for over a decade – what first sparked your interest in electronic music and becoming a DJ?
I’ve always had a love for dance music – My first dance floor memory was being about five years old dancing with a couple of grannies at a hotel holiday disco to Black Box’s ‘Ride on Time’. I was dancing for them, and they were clapping me along. It must have been some kind of wild party with those ladies because, from that moment, I was hooked!
I never set out to ‘be a DJ’; I was a party girl through and through, everything from the RnB room at my local high street club to DnB Raves in abandoned mansions. When I moved to London, I found myself at home in the queer party community, and it was my friend DJ & Producer KDA that gave me my first gig…I used to ‘do the door’ at Jodie Harsh’s prestigious Soho club night called ‘Circus’ and host celebs like Alexander McQueen and Amy Winehouse.
Doing the door of the club was an amazing time and a sought-after role as the queue to get in the club would go around the block, and Jodie had bestowed me the honour of selecting who could and could not enter! When I finished on the door, naturally, I’d head straight to the dancefloor where Kris Di Angelis, aka KDA, was DJing, and the dancefloor was heaving!
I had the cheek to keep telling Kris what to play next, and so one week he said, ‘You know what? You’re DJing next week” Kris put me on the set after his, closing the night when everyone was too drunk to even notice – or care – that I hadn’t learnt to mix yet! The dancefloor stayed packed till closing, and the rest is history!
You’ve played at iconic venues and events, including Ministry of Sound, Eden Ibiza, and ADE. What have been some of your most memorable gigs or experiences as a DJ?
I had a teary moment when I DJ’d sunset at the legendary Café Del Mar in Ibiza. It was just magic, much more serene than my usual DJ sets, but it gave me a chance to play a lot of the more chilled and ambient dance music that I listen to personally. The sky was completely clear of any clouds and the sunset was perfect.
In addition to DJing, you also produce music. What was the transition like from being a DJ to becoming a producer? What has that creative process been like for you over the last few years?
I like to be quite transparent about how I produce and the teams I work with. In lockdown, I studied production online at Point Blank Music School; the course was great, but getting me to sit still at a laptop for any stretch of time is near impossible! I got into DJing because of my love of life, people, and being out and about in highly stimulating environments. So now, on studio days, I always work with other amazing producer engineers who don’t mind me bouncing off the walls, spilling my ideas in an array of colourful descriptions.
Your most recent release, ‘Here 4 U’, with Zac Samuel on Perfect Havoc, has been making a lot of noise – pun intended. What can you tell us about the release and the experience that has enveloped it so far?
Yes, creating the track has been a great experience. I’ve collaborated with Producer Alan Leporte for years now—I can’t imagine the amount of hours we’ve spent sat in his studio! We both share a love of early rave anthems and jungle, as well as 90s and 00s hip hop and RnB. Our studio sessions are spent playing with ideas, fusing those elements into modern classic dance anthems.
I’d been a fan and had regularly played out Zac’s tracks, especially rinsing his track ‘Be your baby’, So had always wanted to colab with him. I’m really into the big dance floor sound that both our influences have created.
Your debut single, “Higher”, hit #3 on the iTunes Dance Chart. What was it like to see your first original release achieve that kind of success?
That was 100% down to my amazing friends and followers. I’d kept it pretty quiet that I had been going into the studio and getting into production, so when I made the demo and Perfect Havoc wanted to sign it I was buzzing and couldn’t wait to shout it from the roof tops!
Everyone was so excited for me and so keen to hear what I’d been rustling up on the d-lo; the support on downloading the track was unreal. I absolutely love connecting on socials as it is so hard to stay in touch with everyone as much as I’d love to irl, so I try to keep my socials as personable as possible, almost as if I was sending a whatsapp video directly to my friends, because I really love and enjoy engaging with everyone on my insta @alexisknox and tiktok @itsalexisknox.
You’ve also worked as an editor at NOTION magazine, curating content for artists like The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, and Sigma. How has that editorial background influenced your approach to music and DJing?
It’s been amazing to work so closely with artists when they are having pivotal moments in their career, such as Miley Cyrus at the time of Bangers, Charli XCX releasing her first album, and Craig David making his comeback. Being so close to an artist and their team has offered me such valuable insights about where to spend not only physical energy but, most importantly, emotional energy.
It’s definitely helped me have a healthy idea of how success is best measured, as no matter how large an artist can be, the word ‘success’ can seem fleeting and fickle. With that in mind, I take each day with the mentality that if I can put my head on the pillow at night, and I’ve taken at least one step towards my dreams, and not been a dick to anyone in order to do that, then that’s a successful day! Life is all about one day at a time.
Your style and fashion sense have always been a big part of your brand. How do you see the relationship between music, style, and visual aesthetics?
I’ve always approached my DJing with an artist mentality where everything from my demeaner behind the decks to my outfit can be as influential on a crowd as the tunes I’m selecting.
I like the idea of putting on a show, so that means taking into consideration not only what the crowd is hearing but seeing as well.
I will counteract this, and I learnt this from Colin Lester, Craig David’s manager. When it comes to a music artist’s career, the first and foremost priority is music. Colin would always say, ‘Let the music speak’. It’s important not to fall into the style over substance category; Bowie and Gaga are all icons first and foremost because of the legacy of their music and how it resonates with various generations; a strong aesthetic is another way to help shout about that brilliant music.
Who are some of the artists, DJs, or producers you admire or have influenced your sound and style?
I’ve grown up consuming a real array of artists, from enjoying Madonna’s ever-evolving controversial aesthetic and sounds to Pharrell and his work with The Neptunes and observing its impact on the fashion industry. At school, ironically, music and fashion were two of my worst subjects!
My degree is in illustration, specializing in creating characters and fantasy worlds, so that’s an energy I enjoy taking into the world. Andy Warhol and his factory and the community of artists and eccentrics have always excited me and felt very like how London was when I moved there in 2006. I’d love to enter a time/environment where that level of artistry was back into nightlife and club culture.
Beyond DJing and producing, do you have any other creative outlets or passion projects you’re working on?
I feel like owning a tiktok account has become as consuming as my art degree was! But its exciting! I’ve always played with my socials sharing my adventures and experiences in my own excentric way, so I’m enjoying exploring how to capture that for a tiktok audience – it’s a challenge but a fun one!
Where do you see yourself and your music career going in the next 5-10 years? What goals or milestones are you working towards?
My dream is to be on line-ups alongside artists such as FISHER, Jax Jones, Wuki, Riton, and Dom Dolla, DJs that are as expressive in their style and personality behind the decks as their music is. I’d love to be a household name known for being a female DJ artist who can be respected even though I’m not DJing out and taking myself overly seriously – I want to make the party, not kill it!
The reason I got into DJing was because of a love of life and partying, so it’s all about sharing that fun, happy energy with as many people as possible. I love making music, and the fact it can impact people’s daily lives is mind-blowing. The power of digital is huge, and I’m really looking to reach as many people as possible, be it online or to larger festival crowds.
Zac Samuel x Alexis Knox ‘HERE 4 U’ is out now on Perfect Havoc.
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