I House U Meets: CYRUS
Some artists are just born to stay in their own lane, doing their own thing, catching major attention as they go. One such artist is CYRUS, the man behind the intriguingly titled ‘Sunflower House’ genre. Creating a blend of Bass House, Tech House, and Techno, CYRUS has been reaching the ears of influential playlist curators over at Spotify, Spinnin’ Records, Nicky Romero, EDM.com, Beatport, and potentially the world’s most noted tastemaker, Tomorrowland One World Radio’s Austin Kramer. His sophomore release ‘El Reflejo’ gained him early success, climbing up multiple dance charts and putting his sound on the radar of music makers globally, before he absolutely stamped his mark with debut EP ‘3000 Deep’. Roaring to the #1 spot of the Top 100 UK Garage / Bassline releases, and #2 across all genres, it became quickly apparent that CYRUS was here to stay.
Since then the artist has solidified his status, hitting the million stream mark with tracks like ‘Look Into My Eyes’, ‘Talk’, ‘Paralyzed’ and ‘Burning For You’ shaping his distinct sonic identity. As he dropped his latest single ‘Worst Behavour’, IHU figured it was high time we found out more, so without further ado, meet CYRUS…
Hi Cyrus, thanks for being with us today – where in the world are you and what are you doing?
A: Hey, thanks for having me here today. I’m currently based out of Toronto, Canada, and I’m in my home studio prepping new content for my current and upcoming releases. I’m excited to chat more about my latest release and what’s been going on with the CYRUS project behind the scenes.
How has 2024 been for you so far?
A: As any artist can tell you, each year has its own ups and downs. For me specifically, the focus of 2024 has been on stepping outside of my comfort zone to grow as an artist. In the studio, that means I’ve been challenging myself to incorporate new methods and writing styles that keep things fresh while really dialing in on the overall quality of the Sunflower House sound. On the performance side of things, this meant getting into new venues and taking risks to test out new sounds and play out more original music. So far, some of the highlights of the year have been partnering with Heineken Canada to do rave take over on a Toronto TTC Streetcar, playing my first domestic headline tour event, sharing the stage with industry standard artists such as Wuki and FOVOS, and signing records with several well respected labels in the industry.
‘Worst Behaviour’ is your latest single – can you tell us about it, and what it represents for your artistic journey and development?
A: “Worst Behaviour”, to me, is a display of what the CYRUS sound is really about. From sound design and sound selection, to arrangement, mixing, and overall vibe of the tune, this song really captures the energy and core elements of the Sunflower House sound. Whether it’s the heavy bass line, deep drums, gritty leads, powerful vocal shouts, hypnotic verses, or the stuttered vocal chops, listeners can easily pick out what defines my distinct sound. 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 pieces of music that I’ve been working on. Overall, I think this release paired with the guest mix really exhibits both the uniqueness and versatility that exists within the Sunflower House sound.
You call your sound ‘Sunflower House’ – how did you arrive at that name, and what marks your sound out compared to other iterations of house music?
A: The name “Sunflower House” came from the overall vibe and brand aesthetic of the CYRUS project. Whether it’s visuals, art work, clothing, or general merch, the brand heavily leans on the use of sunflower imagery to create its visual identity. On the music side of things, the “Sunflower House” sound is one that lives within the realm of a few different four on the floor genres rather than strictly taking influence from a single genre. This blended sound primarily takes influences from Bass House, Tech House, UKG and Techno to create something new and exciting.
What artists have inspired your journey, and what did you draw from their music?
A: There have been a ton of artists that influenced my journey as CYRUS, and new inspiration is always drawn as I discover new sounds and artists. However, I’d say that at its core, the sound of the CYRUS project has been heavily influenced by artists such as Dr. Fresch, AC Slater, Tchami, Odd Mob, and Sammy Virji. I find that each of these artists have such a unique sound, energy, and mixing style that can easily be identified by listeners as their own, which is so important when it comes to overall branding. I also find that these artists excel at pushing the boundaries within their own sub genres by leveraging their own unique edge, which is a key component of longevity in the industry.
You’re getting a lot of support from the majors and bigger playlists – how significant has their support been to your own influence in the electronic scene?
A: I would definitely say that the support from some of these larger industry players and playlists have been critical to both my own growth and my influence in the electronic scene. Straight out of the gate, the initial support provided some great exposure that allowed me to put the project on display to a wider audience and land larger opportunities within the scene. In terms of influence, I think these larger opportunities give me the chance to push my underground sound to more mainstream audiences and I hope that can inspire new artists to avoid falling into the trap of fully conforming their music to one commercial sound.
What’s next for you?
A: Looking forward, fans can expect some new music on the horizon. We just filled out releases for the remainder of 2024 and are now sending out demos for 2025. I personally feel that each new tune is further defining the Sunflower House sound in a way that resonates with both casual listeners and industry professionals. Fans can also expect some new events that will be announced soon, and they can definitely count on hearing these new tunes in the sets.
CONNECT WITH CYRUS: https://linktr.ee/cyrusbangz
