THE HAUNTING OF SEVERIN SU & JULIAN KOERNDL

An exquisite pairing, Severin Su & Julian Koerndl tap with enviable ease into the more emotional side of electronic music. Sophisticated, intricate, yet accessible, their union brings forth a fresh take where complex drum programming meets soaring synthetics that come alive in dazzling sonic puzzles.

This time around, Su & Koerndl come together to deliver W’s inaugural release, their two-track EP, Haunted. Inviting us to an evocative realm where lost souls come to feel alive once more, Haunted is more than a luscious outing from the pair, and signals quite a declaration of intent from the ICONYC-affiliated imprint.

Hi, Severin! Hello, Julian! It’s a pleasure to link up. How are you doing? How is this new year treating you so far? Thank you for joining us today.

Julian: Thanks for having us! The year is already filled with amazing music that we are excited to share. It’s the second year of releasing music to the public and we can’t wait to show our artistic vision to the world!

Severin: Hey! Thanks again. The year has started strong, and we’re feeling excited about everything that’s unfolding.

Well, let us kick this one off…Congratulations on the release of your new W Berlin record, Haunted. We can imagine the excitement must be high! So, how are you feeling about this one? Has the anticipation been high for you?

Severin: Absolutely! This release feels special because it came together so naturally. From producing the tracks to setting up the release with the guys from W—everything just fell into place. But of course, there’s always that moment of anticipation before a track is out in the world, like butterflies in your stomach, one might say. You wonder how people will connect with it, and if they’ll feel what we felt when making it.

Julian: With Haunted, we tried to produce a real heartmelter. A Track that was designed to mirror a set of feelings that we all went through and probably all have to go through again and again. We are very proud that we combined both our key elements into a sonic potpourri. It was the first track we ever did that really speaks to people that aren’t involved with electronic music. Of course, we can’t wait for this track to kiss ears and dance floors around the world.

Now, let’s dive straight into the record. As the name suggests, there seems to be a lingering sense of balance between nostalgia and a glimmer of “hopefulness” in “Haunted” as a single. A tightrope act between dark and light, if you will. Was this your intention from the offset? Did you have a clear horizon before you started this one?

Severin: The basic idea of the track, with vocals, drums, and harmonies, lay around on my computer for quite some time. When I first showed it to Julian, there was an instant smile on his face. We immediately sat down to work on it. It was one of those tracks that instantly sparked the process without much questioning—we knew we had to finish it. As Julian mentioned before, the goal was to make something that would speak to people emotionally, whether they are at home, in a club, or even if they aren’t into electronic music at all. To make something universal, so to speak. The idea was also to subtly blend genres—lush vocals, emotional pads, and a mid-2000s-inspired main melody.

Julian: From the beginning, it was clear for us to make a record that shows both of our personalities. Severin’s insane drum programming combined with my signature pad sound. We wanted to show the beauty of melancholy, the beautiful sadness, so to speak. Our mission was to sculpt the feeling of missing somebody that you can’t get back into a composition that reflects the celebration of looking back in happiness to the memories we had with this person. Those memories nobody can take away from you. In this case, it was really adding my sparkling pads on Severin’s drums and then the so called “clear horizon” was visible to us.

Then, the second cut, “Calling For You”, showcases a different side to this project with a very engaging dynamic that puts the notion of “tension” as a centerpiece with unstable gated acidic sequences and its finale. There’s almost like a thing of alchemy to it. What was the idea and process behind “Calling For You”?

Severin: The starting process was more or less the same as with “Haunted”. “Calling For You” is more restless, more urgent. Where “Haunted” lingers and embraces, this one keeps pushing forward. In my mind, it’s that feeling of reaching for something just out of grasp—maybe a person, maybe a moment, or maybe, an answer. The goal was to make a track that marches forward, not really looking back—possibly only leaving a blank spot and a question mark.

Julian: To me, “Calling For You” is a feeling. A feeling most artists will have experienced in their lives. It’s the “call to greatness”, the call to extraordinary artistry, but to achieve this goal you have to go through a lot of darkness, resistance, and pain. But this call is what keeps you going and alive because you know you will thrive one day.

And this is, indeed, the first release ever in W’s catalog. How do you feel about having been selected to conduct such an honor?

Severin: We often discuss the concept of where the whole music industry is heading. A good part of the scene has become oversaturated with tracks that sound more or less the same, where experimentation is taken with a grain of salt, and where playing it safe has become an everyday reality. With this release, we tried to open up new horizons, respecting all the artists striving to break new ground while also having the courage to open new chapters. What feels a bit surreal for both of us is that the W guys had exactly the same vision in mind—boldness, quality over quantity, and openness to new ideas. That’s why it’s an honor to be the first to put these ideas to the test.

Julian: Of course, it is a great honor to be the very first release on a label run by absolute professionals. The names that are coming up on this relabel are top-level stars in this game and we are still rather small underground artists, so it’s not only an honor for us, but it also showcases that this label is not about making music for cheap thrills.

By the way, how did the Severin Su/Julian Koerndl connection come about? Was the music connection instant?

Julian: It was around 5 years ago when I had my very first live show in our hometown Graz. At that time, I had just started producing and Severin was one of the biggest DJs in our town. I really admired him. A few days after I played, he sent me a message to see if I wanted to hang out with him at his studio – I was completely starstruck. He has been like a mentor ever since and I’ve learned a lot from him. We are best friends by now.

And having collaborated a few times, what does your studio process look like by now?

Julian: Collaborating, for me, is a complete pain, but with Severin, it’s really easy since we share the same vision 90% of the time. Often times it’s like telepathy. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and help each other where we can. The biggest advantage is that we 100% accept the decisions of each other and respect each other’s opinions, even if we disagree.

Severin: Since we exchange ideas and thoughts on a rather daily basis, it feels like we are nearly always on the same page and up to date. It’s just joyful to work in a respectful way, where you have trust in each other’s decision-making. And of course, it’s nice to exchange thoughts while sitting in front of a computer with a sofa and just listen to each other work on ideas, haha. Having fun is what it’s all about, I guess.

Now, let’s get to know the people behind the sounds. Beyond music, what is one passion or cause you care deeply about, and why does it matter to you?

Severin: If I have to choose one, I would say cooking—either for my loved ones or for myself. There is no more satisfying feeling for me than seeing the people I care about with full bellies and smiles on their faces, taking into consideration that the meal I made was any good.

Julian: I am really interested in art and design. I love going to exhibitions and I’m currently working on my graphic design skills. If only I had more time I would also love to dive into 3D modeling.

Stepping outside of the studio…how do you guys envision the coming years for electronic dance music? Which new challenges do you see arising for artists?

Severin: I must say that I have concerns about the whole music industry ever since we’ve devalued music through streaming services, social media, and unfair compensation for artists. Platforms like TikTok encourage fragmented listening, and major labels exploit artists by waiting for viral moments rather than investing in their long-term careers.

When it comes to the future of electronic dance music, a big part will be shaped by advancements in AI, immersive technology, and new forms of digital interaction, but time will tell.

Julian: The best analogy for the current situation is the fashion brand Gucci: they maxed out every well-selling product with a ton of different iterations and became more and more irrelevant as other brands had a rise because instead of capitalizing one model with 20 different colorways, they did completely new products. That’s exactly what has happened for years and will carry on. You can choose money, or you can choose something meaningful. For rising artists, the biggest challenge is that making good music is maybe 20% of the whole game.

Last one and we’ll set you free…What’s next for Severin Su & Julian Koerndl in 2025? What new milestones are you looking forward to now?

Julian: Soon we have a track together on Skala’s Amaeo label, where we explore the subject of mutation.

Severin: …Also, we have planned an EP on Elif’s Marginalia imprint that hits the house-y nerve. And of course, we are really looking forward to new music by our peers!

T</01: Thank you for your time, guys! Best of luck with Haunted. Catch you soon!

Severin: Thank you for having us!

Julian: We hope to see you again soon!

Severin Su & Julian Koerndl’s Haunted EP is out now via W. Purchase your copy here.