Valentino Khan on Pushing Boundaries, Crafting Hits, and Bringing the Energy to Decadence 2024

December 31, 2024 | Pheonix, AZ

Written and Photographed by Alex Dehlavi @red_bot_

Valentino Khan is a name synonymous with energy, versatility, and boundary-pushing production. From his roots as a hip-hop producer crafting beats for industry heavyweights like T.I. and B.o.B., to becoming a global EDM sensation with tracks like “Deep Down Low” that set dancefloors ablaze, Khan embodies what it means to innovate across genres. At Decadence AZ 2024, I had the privilege to sit down with Valentino, where he shared insights into his creative process, the unpredictable journey of making a hit, and the advice he’d give to the next generation of artists. Here’s what he had to say.

Red: Starting as a hip-hop producer, collaborating with artists like T.I. and B.o.B, how has that experience influenced your approach to production compared to working as an EDM artist?


VK: I think it gave me the experience of when you’re making a track, especially with vocals, which is really a leveled-up version of production (rather than just making beats that just sit and collect dust all day) - that obviously, you have to leave space within the track for a vocal and know how to fit in. So it sort of gave me context in the sonic spectrum of how to fit a vocal within a beat and how to leave room for that.


Red: Do you feel it is especially different when an artist has a specific vision for a track versus when you get to have the freedom to create your own music?

VK: Well sure, obviously when I’m in the position where I’m the artist, it’s a heightened level of freedom. But at the same time, you know you’re constantly collaborating with other people, and there's always a conversation, and at the end of the day, I’m a guy who likes to go with the best idea in the room. Sometimes I might have the best idea in the room, and sometimes somebody else might tell me something that opens my mind and makes me see something from a different perspective. I always try to bear in mind whatever the artist has to chime in with.

Red: Deep Down Low became such a massive hit. What do you think it is about that track that ended up resonating so heavily with your fans?

VK: I don’t know, I think maybe it's the vocals - maybe it's just really catchy, when I made the track, I made it really late at night - and I just wanted to make a song that I thought some of my homies would play at after parties, and have that would be a cool track. Didn’t even think much of it, I made the beat really late at night like very half awake, but the next afternoon - I went back and re-listened to what I made, and was like “This is cool, but it needs a vocal”, and that was the first vocal idea I thought of, and so I laid it down, pitched it down, and the rest was just putting the rest of the track together. The tracks you never thought were going to blow up, are the ones that blow up, and that very much was the case for that song. I didn’t go into it like, “Let’s make a hit song”, at all, it was just like let’s make something cool. The best tracks that people make are when people aren’t overthinking things, and you’re just in the zone, and it just works out.

Red: How do you prepare mentally or creatively for major festivals whether it be Decadence, EDC, or Tomorrowland?

VK: There’s a part of it, where I’m trying to figure out what it is that I want to express for the set, then it's a matter of putting together just cool segments of your set. I like to try to tell a story through my set, and while I do play a wide variety of styles, I try to make it all blend together and have it be a seamless transition from one chapter of the book to the next. So, I try to organize my sets in that way, especially the ones that I get to really plan out and take my time to really perfect.

Red: Do you feel this process is fun or do you find it tedious at times?

VK: I think at times, when you’re tweaking the same thing over and over, and you want to get to the final result, you can get impatient with it. But I think it’s fun overall!

Red: You’ve mentioned some of your biggest musical inspirations being artists like Snoop and Biggie, though as far as electronic music, who are those inspirations to you now?

VK: When I first got into it, it was, Justice, Boys Noize, Bloody Beet Roots, and all of them - yeah they were huge inspirations because they were pushing boundaries, they were doing things that I had never heard of at the time. That was huge for me, and I try to carry that same spirit with all the music that I make, try to push boundaries and push the sound forward.

Red: Are there any special techniques or experimental sounds that you’ve been excited to work with or have been working with?


VK: I wouldn’t say there’s one in particular, I just always try to do something that is unique, and at a very bare minimum is my only take on what’s going on in the current soundscape, and on the larger side of things, try to push the sound forward, and do something new and different.

Red: You’ve produced very energetic tracks, like “Break Your Neck”, that have become anthemic to high-energy performances. Is there any secret to crafting a high-energy song?

VK: I wouldn’t say there’s a particular secret, it just really depends on what that identifying thing is that drives that track, I think for Break Your Neck, it's definitely the vocals that drive the track. I have a song that’s called Pure Energy, that very energetic song that was on my last EP, and I think it’s this kind of rave stab that drives the track. I think it really comes down to that one defining component of a track that drives it forward. 

Red: Is there ever a time that you feel you’d like to go back on an old track now with a new mindset?


VK: All the time. I typically don’t have time for it, because I have to work on new music, but there are times when I hear an old track, where I could have probably done a couple of things differently - it’s a lot of mix-down stuff, or changing drums maybe. But I think it’s important, to keep your eyes looking forward, because if I do that - rarely am I going to rerelease a song that’s already out. So I just try to keep my head down and move forward.

Red: With so many milestones in your career, and having collaborated with some of the highest-tier artists, is there a dream project or collaboration that still remains?



VK: I feel like it's way far out - Gesafflestein is one of my favorite artists, everything he does is so cool and so true to him and so unique, he's somebody that I’ve always respected. 

Red: Are there any rituals or habits that you follow to get into the zone, before a performance?

VK: I just stretch. That’s totally it, yeah.

Red: What advice would you give to any other aspiring DJ’s or producers?

VK: Be Original and Work your ass off. Nobody wants to have another copycat. Break the mold, and you’re not going to get anywhere without hard work. So you’re going to have to work your ass off, no matter what you do. 

Red: Is there a favorite ID or track you have from 2024? An anthem, or just a song that you have on replay?

VK: There’s this track, that I’ve been playing called Phone Sex which is out now, by this girl named Raven and Frankie Watch. It's a really really dope song, and I’ve been playing it a ton in my sets, every set, that track is addictive.



Red: Are there any lasting words you want to leave with your fans or those that are reading?



VK: Love y’all, appreciate the support, thank you for coming out to the shows, and thank you for sticking along for the ride with me. 

Valentino Khan’s journey is a testament to the power of originality, hard work, and adaptability in a constantly evolving music landscape. From crafting anthems that dominate festival stages to collaborating with iconic artists, he continues to leave an indelible mark on electronic music. As he reminds us, breaking the mold is the key to success, and his relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries proves why he remains one of the most exciting names in the game. Whether it’s on stage or in the studio, Khan’s dedication to delivering unforgettable experiences ensures he keeps his fans along for the thrilling ride.

Thank you again, to Valentino Kahn, his management, and Relentless Beats for the opportunity and time they so kindly provided us.

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