INTERVEIW: Scoobz

With his latest EP A Routine Day, Twitchin delivers a deeply personal and introspective journey rooted in the landscapes and energy of Ireland’s northwest. Blending ambient textures with a club-ready pulse, his sound carries both emotional weight and subtle propulsion. We caught up with him to explore how places like Donegal and Derry have shaped his artistic path, the quiet power of slow tempos, and the unique spirit that defines the Irish underground scene.

Your new EP ‘A Routine Day’ feels incredibly personal and place-driven. Can you talk us through the role that Donegal and now Derry have played in shaping your sound?

Answer: Yeah, A Routine Day is definitely rooted in place for me. Growing up in Donegal, there was no electronic music scene here so I wasn’t surrounded by underground club nights or other DJs & producers, I had to dig deep into the music on my own. It gave me the freedom to develop a sound without too much outside noise or influence, but it also meant carving out my own lane that shaped my approach from early on. Then going to University in Derry, getting a job there, going to Celtronic events and now playing regular sets in Sandinos brought contrast. There’s a real pulse to the city, more community, more late-night energy, more inspiration flying around. That shift added urgency and rhythm to my sound, while still holding onto the introspective side I built back home. So both places, in very different ways, helped shape what A Routine Day became.

What led you to embrace a slower tempo, especially with your “Sluggish Selections” show? Was there a particular moment or influence that catalyzed that approach?

Answer: The slower tempo just always felt natural to me. I’ve always been drawn to music that gives you space to breathe, to think, to get lost in the details. There wasn’t one big moment that sparked it, more a gradual pull in that direction from growing up listening to the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Optimo & Erol Alkan. I’d find myself gravitating toward downtempo house & disco, dubby, or ambient-influenced tracks that let the groove simmer rather than explode.

Starting Sluggish Selections was a way to lean fully into that, to celebrate the slower side of electronic music that often gets overlooked. In a scene that can sometimes be all about high BPMs and big drops, I wanted to create something that felt a bit more meditative, textured, patient and where restraint is the point. There’s something powerful in slowing things down, it opens up room for subtlety and I think that’s where a lot of soul and depth lives in music

How do you find balance between club functionality and emotional depth in your music—especially on tracks like “Arp Sailing”?

Answer: That balance is something I think about a lot, especially with tracks like Arp Sailing. For me, the emotional part always comes first, I want the music to feel like it has a soul before it has a “function.” But at the same time, I’m still a DJ, so I’m always thinking about how a track can live in a set, how it moves a room, even subtly.

With Arp Sailing, I wanted to build something that had momentum without needing to go full tilt. The arps give it a sense of motion, almost like a tide pulling you along, but the overall tempo and mood keep it grounded. It’s a track you could hear in a club set or something you could listen to on a quiet night at home and that versatility is really important to me.

The name “Twitchin” is a nod to Belfast’s legendary Twitch parties. What kind of role have nights like Twitch played in your artistic development?

Answer: Yeah, the name Twitchin is 100% a nod to the Twitch parties, they’ve been a massive influence on me and it’s where I discovered some of my favorite DJs like Avalon Emerson & Midland. Just knowing those nights existed and seeing how much care and integrity went into the bookings and the vibe, gave me a kind of blueprint for what club culture could be. It was never just about big names, it was about curation, education, and trust between the crowd and the DJs.

When I started going to those kinds of nights, it really opened up my ears. You’d hear long blends, unexpected shifts in tempo, tracks that felt like they shouldn’t work together, but somehow they did. That approach gave me inspiration to slow things down, to get weirder, to let things simmer. It made me realise there’s so much power in patience and subtlety. Twitch, and nights like it, taught me that club music doesn’t have to scream to be heard. It can be deep, challenging, emotional and still move a dancefloor. Those values definitely shaped how I DJ, and it runs through the music I make now

You’ve cited local inspirations like Jordan Nocturne and Bicep. What is it about the Irish underground that sets it apart from the rest of Europe right now?

Answer: I think what sets the Irish underground apart is how community-driven and DIY it still is, even as more artists break through internationally. People like Jordan and Bicep didn’t just pop up overnight; they built something slowly, with intention, and you can feel that foundation in how they still operate today and especially when they come back home to play sets in small capacity rooms. 

What’s mad is that, for how small the scene is, there’s so much variety and people are super supportive of each other. You’ll have heads showing up to rave parties one weekend and then listening to ambient live sets in art spaces the next. That kind of open-mindedness pushes the whole thing forward and keeps it evolving in its own way outside of trends.

Avalon Emerson gave a strong early co-sign to your track “Goth Culchies”. What did that moment mean for your confidence as a producer?

Answer: It honestly meant the world when Avalon Emerson played Goth Culchies. At the time I was still trying to figure out what my own sound was, not just technically, but also whether my sound even had a place out there. That kind of early co-sign from someone with her taste and presence really gave me a shot of confidence at the right time. So to hear it played by someone with her taste and reach on a platform as massive as BBC Radio 1 was surreal.

It didn’t suddenly change how I do things, but it did help me trust my own instincts more. Not just because she played it, but because it meant something in the track connected. You wonder if what you’re making is too weird, too niche and too far removed from the big city circuits. That moment made me realise there’s value in those differences and that maybe the oddness or weirdness in a track is exactly what gives it character.

If you could program your dream club night featuring yourself and three other artists from Ireland, who would you choose and why?

Answer: That’s a hard one to answer because there’s so much quality across the Irish scene right now, but if I had to curate a dream club night with myself and three others from Ireland, it’d be ...

Jordan Nocturne –  Jordan’s one of those DJs who just gets it. His sets are always super tight but never predictable, full of groove, weird little left turns and moments that make you stop and think “what is this tune!?” I’ve always looked up to him and how he puts real care into what he does, whether it’s his sets, label or clubnight. He’d be an ideal DJ to close out the night and get people properly locked in.

Cartin – From the Northwest like myself, and someone I’ve always rated highly. His live electronic sets in my opinion are some of the best around right now. They are packed with energy and unpredictability, a real mix of rave energy and melodic weight. He’s not afraid to take risks and that always makes his live sets exciting.

Marion Hawkes – Marion’s just got amazing taste. Her sets are always bold, unexpected, and full of character. I really admire how she’s built something meaningful around her, from running parties to creating space for women and queer artists in the North. She doesn’t follow trends, she sets her own tone.

I’d see myself taking up the warm up set — easing people in, building atmosphere, and letting the tension rise naturally. I love crafting that slow-burn energy where the floor starts to take shape and heads start to nod. 

BUY