Cyrus's latest track, “Worst Behaviour,” is a pulsating entry into the tech house scene, laced with the kind of festival-ready energy that instantly grabs your attention. The track opens with a catchy female vocal that sits at the centre of the mix, interspersed with commanding vocal shouts that add an assertive, almost anthemic quality to the verses. These elements weave seamlessly around a tightly gated synth line, creating a hypnotic, trance-inducing atmosphere that draws the listener in.
This release builds on Cyrus's impressive run of 2024 singles, including “Look Into My Eyes,” “Talk,” “Paralyzed,”and “Burning For You.” Each track has served as a stepping stone, refining his sonic identity while showcasing his ability to blend genres and push boundaries. "Worst Behaviour" is no exception; it captures his evolving style with a focus on high-energy drops and memorable vocal hooks.
We sat down with the tech house maestro to learn more about the new single, his journey so far and much, much more exclusively for FLEX!
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"Worst Behaviour" brings together a tech house vibe with festival-ready energy. What sparked the idea to mix in elements like the catchy female vocal and that heavy bassline drop? How do you go about choosing which elements make it into each track?
The idea to mix these elements together was sparked by the goal to create a flexible tune that can easily fit itself into multiple environments ranging from a festival or club stage to a casual listener's headphones or phone speaker. In terms of choosing elements to make it into a track, I'm a firm believer in throwing paint at the canvas and seeing what sticks. Of course it's important to have some form of core idea to work with, but I find that it's equally important to avoid putting yourself in a box that would limit creativity and reduce the overall potential of the song. A major thought I try to keep with myself when finalizing instrumentation is "what purpose in the song does this element hold?". If there is no answer, then it generally won't make it into the track.
Your recent tracks like "Look Into My Eyes," "Talk," "Paralyzed," and "Burning For You" are really starting to define your sound. How has your style evolved over time, and what can fans look forward to as you continue to shape your musical identity?
Despite my sound blending elements of multiple genres, I've found that over time a stronger identity is being formed within the production and songwriting of the music itself. Certain core elements and writing styles are starting to make their way into each song, which in turn is creating a more unified identity. Simultaneously, I've been experimenting with new sound design elements and techniques to keep things fresh and less predictable for listeners. As time moves forwards, fans can expect to hear those identifiable elements that define my Sunflower House sound blended with new writing styles and arrangements that push the boundaries of the CYRUS sound.
"Worst Behaviour" is said to be part of a bigger story you're unfolding in 2024. Can you share a bit about what this narrative is all about and how this track fits into the overall journey you're taking listeners on?
Both my releases on Purple Tea Records, "Look Into My Eyes" and "Worst Behaviour", to me are a true display of what the CYRUS sound is really about. From sound design and sound selection, to arrangement, mixing, and overall vibe of the tunes, they reflect what this project has been working towards and where it will be going with future releases. The release for this project is also paired with a guest mix that is airing on Purple Tea Records "Purple Radio Show", and will feature several other original tunes that I've been working on. Overall, I think this release paired with the guest mix really displays both the cohesiveness and the diversity that exists within the Sunflower House sound.
When "El Reflejo" climbed the charts on Beatport, it seemed like a pivotal moment for you. How did that success influence the way you approach making music, if at all, and how you see your role in the electronic music world?
I think El Reflejo was one of the first tunes I made where I really tried to dial in on the balance of creating a tune that would work well in a DJ's set but also easily fit into different styles of listener playlists. I think that's partially what drove the commercial success of the song and allowed the tune to climb the Beatport charts while also receiving some Spotify Editorial support. As a result, this has now become a foundational process that I use when I approach song writing.
In terms of my role in the electronic music world, I try to avoid taking myself too seriously and really just try to focus on making music that I think is cool and that I think would resonate with other people. Of course, we all want to see commercial success -- but we can't forget about the personal connection that people form to the sound of an artist or their brand. As the CYRUS project grows, I see myself leaning on these personal and genuine connections to form our own community within the industry itself.
With over a million streams and gigs with artists like No Mana, Curbi, and Wuki, does playing live influence what you do in the studio?
Playing live without a doubt influences what I do in the studio. Each time I play a set or even listen to a night of live music, it puts things into perspective and I get inspired by the energy in the room itself. I also find that it's a great opportunity to gauge crowd reactions to different types of tracks. Whether it's an original tune or not, making a mental note of that moment helps to build an understanding of the types of song elements that resonate with crowds and translate well into live settings.
The Sunflower House sound has really become a signature of your work. How did the concept come about, and what does it mean to you and your fans around the globe?
The Sunflower House sound and branding were created organically through some experimentation. As I documented the start of my musical journey, whether through DJ videos, sharing new music, or sharing clips of events, there were always certain styles or elements that would perform better than others. In terms of the sound itself, sharing all these clips on social media helped guide me to be sure of my next move or decision. I was able to directly see what people were resonating with and then able to use that information to make my next step accordingly. To me, the Sunflower House sound is a blend of my favorite aspects from my favorite genres. It's a representation of my own musical preferences that are unbound by standard genre norms, and I think that's something that my fans resonate with as it provides a fresh take in this overly diluted industry.
Stream "Worst Behaviour" now:
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