AFTERUS: The Rapidly Rising Duo - Exclusive Interview
- Reason II Rise
- Mar 20
- 6 min read
AFTERUS is a true force to be reckoned with in the electronic music scene. Their passion, dedication, and unique approach to production make them a standout duo in the industry. As the flagship artists carrying the banner for Reason II Rise: Realms, they continue to push the boundaries of their sound while staying true to their artistic vision.
With an impressive lineup of releases and a clear vision for their future, it's evident that AFTERUS is just getting started. Their commitment to quality, consistency, and storytelling through music is inspiring, and their journey proves that persistence and passion can turn dreams into reality. The Toronto-based duo has been shaking up the scene with their unique sound and unwavering dedication to the craft.
We sat down with them to dive deeper into their journey, creative process, and what lies ahead.
Tell us about yourself and how you got into music?
"From an early age, our parents always encouraged music. Our late father loved opera and often reminded us that good music tells stories worth listening to, time and time again. He loved it so much that he would play opera loud on Sunday mornings for the entire family to enjoy. We grew up playing the piano from the age of four and experimented with other instruments in our teenage years.
Our older brother purchased a Korg M1 around the time we started high school, and we followed in his footsteps in music production. He created many high-quality covers and originals on that incredible workstation, and some of his melodies have found their way into AFTERUS productions. Our first experience using a DAW was with Cubase, and making electronic music became our after-school hobby. Robert went on to produce his high school's athletics anthem, while Valerio shared his love of electronic music by performing at house parties and creating original content for websites.
It wasn’t until 2012, after experiencing Lollapalooza in Chicago, that we decided to take the next step. As soon as we returned home, we purchased Ableton LIVE and began our ‘professional’ musical journey. While we dabbled in production in the years that followed, we signed our first record in October 2020. The last four years have been an amazing ride."
"Consistency, passion, and heart - these are the keys to turning dreams into reality." - AFTERUS
AFTERUS - SPARTA GRAB YOUR COPY REASON II RISE: REALMS
Who are your biggest musical influences?
"Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Eric Prydz, Robert Miles and the amazing videogame OST's of our youth."
What is your creative process like?
"We often begin with a melody and build our tracks from there. We typically build our full drop to start, and then strip away elements for the breaks, intro and outro."
What is your favorite track that you've produced and why?
"Our favourite track is probably 'I'm Enough' because we really had to match the incredible power of vocalist Maxine throughout production. Having worked with her vocal on a previous remix, it was an absolute no-brainer to take Raz Nitzan's offer of writing a new original with Maxine. We feel that 'I'm Enough' has some of our very best sound design."
What do you hope to achieve with your music?
"Our ultimate dream as electronic artists is to one day have an AFTERUS track played by our idol Armin van Buuren on ASOT. Another aspiration is to perform at a major festival and of course have our music enjoyed by as many fans as possible."
What sets your music apart from others in the same genre?
"First, we are from Toronto, Canada where trance music is not among the most popular genres. Although this isn't ideal, we have already become one of the country's most productive electronic music groups, and for that, it's all worth it."
How do you handle creative blocks or challenges in the production process?
"We usually take some time to listen and enjoy electronic music from our favourite artists, both past and present when we face production challenges. Long drives with quality trance is usually the remedy."
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of being a professional musician?
"We really haven't had much trouble balancing our day jobs, exercise and of course our passion for music over the last 4 years."
What are your upcoming releases? April 4 - Dreamwalking (Interplay)
April 25 - My Mind
(Enormous Chills)
Jun 13 - In The Clouds
(Find Your Harmony)
Jun 20 - Fly Away
(Enormous Chills)
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
"Do what you love. Be consistent. Never stop. Everything matters. The music is your driving force - always. That is important. Don't consume yourself with endless tutorials or all of this 'perfect snare' nonsense. Armin van Burren once said "if it sounds good, it is good." Start with creating from the heart, and then stick with it. It's also worth mentioning that 'being consistent' means consistently finishing tracks, pitching them, signing them, and promoting them! All of this matters. We have found enormous success following the above-mentioned principles, and we hope you can too."
What is your favorite venue or festival that you've performed at and why?
"We haven't performed live anywhere yet... That's our next step."
What is your favorite piece of equipment or software that you use in your production process?
"Ableton LIVE + AKAI MPK49 Keyboard + Controller"
What is your favorite sub-genre of trance?
"Progressive Trance"
What is your favorite plugin for sound design? "Nexus 4, Spire"
Can you give readers a tip for the studio?
"Your studio can be anywhere at any time! Make your workflow portable."
Which vocalist would you love to work with?
"That Girl"
Which artist would you love to collaborate with?
"Darren Porter"
What do you think makes Reason II Rise music unique?
"Reason II Rise is building a community of both established and rising artists, like us. We have learned first-hand just how integral the artist-label relationship is, and unfortunately some labels don't offer much post-release support, which is a shame. From the outside, we could clearly see that Darren Porter and his team were changing the label game, and naturally, we wanted to become a part of this. Needless to say, we are thrilled to have signed with them and look forward to more involvement with the R2R team in the future."
What are you most excited about releasing your music on Reason II Rise?
"The quality. Period. The live demo and performance shows, the social media presence, and of course the incredible roster of artists are key reasons why we had to find a way onto the label."
What initially drew you to sign with Reason II Rise Music?
"When we saw R2R signing 'exclusive' and 'non-exclusive' artists to the label, as well as performing together in live shows, we realized that our next step in this industry was with them. That's the kind of impact R2R has had on newer artists like us."
How has your experience been working with the Reason II Rise Music team so far?
"Simply outstanding! We've connected a lot with Natasha (Pinkque), and besides being a fantastic artist and label persona, she's a wonderful human being too. Once again, 'humanizing' the artist-label relationship is at the forefront on R2R."
Who do you think has a big future in Trance Music?
"We think that artists like Daxson, A.r.d.i, Miyuki, Pinkque, That Girl, and Jesabel among others are rising talents at various stages in their artist growth."
What have been your releases in 2025 thus far? Jan 15 - Dark (Reason II Rise: Realms)
Jan 31 - Let It All Burn Down (Enormous Tunes)
Feb 7 - Through The Storm (Blue Dot Trance)
Feb 19 - Flight Of Imagination (Reason II Rise: Realms)
Mar 7 - Falling
(Find Your Harmony)
AFTERUS is a duo on a meteoric rise, carving out their own lane in the trance scene with their unique sound, relentless work ethic, and unwavering passion for music. From their early days experimenting with production to becoming a reckoning force in the industry, their journey to dedication and perseverance is inspiring.
With a string of standout releases and a vision to bring their music to the biggest stages, AFTERUS is proving that they are here to stay. As they continue to push the envelope, collaborate with incredible artists, and strive for their dreams, the future looks incredibly bright for this dynamic duo.
AFTERUS is on the fast track to becoming one of the most influential names in modern trance.
At Reason II Rise, we are beyond excited to have AFTERUS as part of our ever-growing family. Their relentless passion, innovative approach to trance, and dedication to pushing boundaries make them a true powerhouse in the scene. Their ability to craft music that is both emotionally profound and unique sets them apart, and we couldn’t be prouder to support their journey.
As they continue to rise, releasing groundbreaking tracks and shaping the sound of modern trance, we know their impact on the industry will only grow stronger. Their commitment to artistic evolution perfectly reflects the spirit of Reason II Rise - always pushing forward, always reaching higher. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for AFTERUS, and we’ll be with them every step of the way.
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