Deciduous & Atóm (IE): Closer To The Fire
When frequent collaborators Deciduous & Atóm (IE) come together, it’s less a formula than a feeling, equal parts friendship, raw instinct, and sonic chemistry. Bound by a shared commitment to emotional honesty and fluid genre exploration, the Irish trio have quietly carved out a corner of electronic music where unpredictability isn’t just welcomed—it’s essential.
Their latest work, House on Fire, released via ICONYC’s W imprint, captures that ethos in full burn. Across two cuts, the EP channels inner turmoil, vulnerability, and resilience through a series of high-tension moments and cathartic releases. But more than a technical statement, the record marks a deeper step forward for both acts: a reflection of their collective headspace and a testament to collaboration built on trust, experimentation, and emotional risk-taking.
As they tell Type / 01, this project isn’t about chasing trends or fitting into boxes. It’s about letting the chaos in, processing it, and repurposing it into something that hits hard and stays with you.
Hi, guys! It’s a pleasure to link up. How are you doing? Where are you now? Thank you for joining us today.
We’re all good guys - thanks for having us. Life is good, we’re busy as is everyone, but enjoying life! Two of us are currently in our home country of Ireland, while one of the guys from Deciduous is out traveling around Asia.
Well, let us kick this one off…Congratulations on the release of your new W EP, House on Fire. We can imagine the excitement must be high! So, how are you feeling about this one? Has the anticipation been high for you?
Very excited! This one has been in the works for a long time, and we’re excited to have it out in the world. The feedback around the EP has been amazing so far, and the big thing for us was to create something a little different from the norm, which we feel has been achieved, so we’re delighted to have found a nice home like W that supports the vision for this EP.
Now, let’s dive straight into the record. House on Fire is quite a suggestive name, like there's almost a sense of urgency to it. How did it come about?
As an idea, it began with Atóm, and then we worked through the piece together. As we listened more to what was there, we found a real sense of purpose behind the vocals. As you said, it’s suggestive. To us House on Fire isn’t just a title, it’s a whole feeling. The name came out of this idea that sometimes things have to fall apart - or burn down, metaphorically - for something new to be built.
“House on Fire”, the first track in this EP, is a thunderous piece with a really interesting main break, where everything seems to “malfunction” for an instant before coming back together again. What did you want to transmit through this particular cut?
That’s a great observation - and exactly the kind of reaction we were hoping for. That “malfunction” moment in “House on Fire” is like the musical equivalent of a system overload. It’s meant to hit you, make you feel like something’s about to collapse, and then suddenly, everything snaps back, like the chaos just barely got reined in.
We wanted to capture that feeling of internal conflict, when you're right on the edge emotionally or mentally. It’s messy, unpredictable, but there’s also power in that instability. It's loud, raw, but there’s resilience underneath all the noise.
On the flip side, “Let It Out”, is a growing hybrid that treads a fine line between genres. Where did the inspiration for “Let It Out” come from?
“Let It Out” came from a totally different headspace - more of a release than a confrontation. After the intensity of “House on Fire”, we wanted something that felt like an exhale, but not in a passive way. It's still pulsing, still layered, but there's more openness, more fluidity in how the genres blend.
The inspiration came from that in-between state - when you’re not quite okay, but you're starting to process things, starting to speak honestly, even if it's through sound. We were listening to a lot of music that didn’t fit neatly into boxes - some leftfield electronic stuff, a bit of alt-pop, even Irish trad - and that fusion really informed the track.
It’s called “Let It Out” because that’s exactly what it is: not holding back, not overthinking - just letting the emotion bleed through, however it needed to.
This is not the first time you’ve shared a project. So, how did the connection between the three of you come about? What was it that drew you to collaborate together?
The connection between the three of us is rooted in friendship, long before it became a creative partnership. We’ve known each other for years, and a lot of that time was spent talking about music, sharing tracks, and playing each other’s stuff we were working on. No pressure, no big plan—just mutual respect and that natural chemistry you get when you really get each other.
What drew us together creatively was that we all hear music in this very fluid, evolving way. None of us is too caught up in sticking to one sound or scene. We’re more interested in how a song feels, rather than what genre it ticks off. That openness and trust are everything.
When we work together now, it still feels like friends jamming, experimenting, and pushing each other. There’s a lot of honesty in the process, but also space to just be weird, be raw, be real. We think that’s why the music tends to always end up in a new space, as we don’t put huge pressure on where it needs to go.
All three of you have a heap of collaborations to your names. So, in your view, what makes for a successful collaboration? When would you consider a collaboration a success?
A successful collaboration, for us, is less about the end product and more about the process of feeling genuine. If everyone brings their voice, feels heard, and there's trust in the room, that’s already a win.
It’s about that balance between trust and surprise- being open to each other’s instincts while still pushing boundaries. If we leave a session feeling inspired or like we discovered something new, that’s success.
At the core, a good collab feels like a conversation, not a transaction. Something none of us could’ve made alone. That’s the sweet spot.
Now, stepping outside of the studio…how do you envision the coming years for electronic dance music? Which new challenges do you see arising for artists? What’s your stance on AI at the moment?
Honestly, dance music’s at a weird crossroads right now. There’s still so much potential, but a lot of it has started to feel a bit flat, like we’re recycling the same sounds and formulas. The raw connection that made dance music so powerful in the first place - the energy between the track and the listener - feels like it’s getting lost in all the overly polished visuals and pre-packaged moments. It’s become more about the spectacle than the feeling.
Looking ahead, we’re going to need to strip it back a bit - bring the focus back to the music itself, the emotion, the human experience. That’s where the challenge lies: how do we reconnect people with the music on a visceral level, not just through a screen?
As for AI, it’s a double-edged sword. It can be a great tool, sure, but if it starts replacing the emotional core of what we do, then we’re in trouble. Music isn’t just about technical perfection. It’s about imperfection, tension, and release. That’s something AI still can’t replicate authentically. So we’re cautiously curious, but staying grounded in the human side of things.
Last one, and we’ll set you free…What’s next for Deciduous & Atóm in 2025? What new milestones are you looking forward to now?
The remainder of 2025 looks like a year of deeper exploration for both Deciduous & Atóm. We’re stepping outside of the familiar, trying to challenge ourselves sonically and creatively. There’s a lot of new material in the works, and we’re not afraid to take a few left turns with it. Expect more hybrid sounds, unexpected textures, and maybe even some cross-genre experiments that blur the lines even further.
Milestone-wise, we’re focusing less on numbers and more on impact - creating moments that feel real, whether that’s intimate releases or collaborations that actually mean something. We want to keep evolving without losing the core of what brought us here: honesty, connection, and a love for pushing boundaries.
So yeah—more risks, more heart, and hopefully more resonance with the people who’ve been with us from the start.
Thank you for your time, guys! We wish you the best of luck with House on Fire. Catch you soon!
A pleasure to chat with you guys! Thank you!
Deciduous & Atóm’s House On Fire EP is out now via W. Purchase your copy here.