Identity: Where have you built your musical identity from, and what does the name ‘Human Safari’ allow you to say or express about yourself?
My musical identity is really a combination of all the different phases of music I’ve gone through in my life so far. It probably started when I began learning the drums and became obsessed with indie bands, live instruments, and all the weird subgenres I could find. This was between the ages of 12 and 18, during most of my teenage years in the North East of the UK, where the local scene was heavily rooted in rock music.
At 18 or 19, I decided to move back to Malta and start a new chapter. That was when I discovered nightlife and electronic music. It was around the peak of the Deep House era, and Melodic Techno was only just beginning to emerge while still sitting firmly within the underground techno scene. I spent the next eight years immersed in that world.
Over time, though, I felt myself naturally moving away from it. The music I was creating no longer felt connected to the scene I was part of, so I stepped back and focused entirely on production. I wanted to develop something that felt more personal and meaningful rather than trying to fit within a particular sound or movement.
Human Safari represents that mindset. The “Human” reflects the emotional and personal element that I always try to bring into my music, while “Safari” represents the journey. Creating a sense of movement, exploration, and progression is something I constantly aim for in my productions, and that idea sits at the core of everything I make.
Sound: You’re known for blending tribal rhythms, hardgroove, and jazz elements but what’s the feeling or emotion that stays at the core of your DJ sets and productions?
In terms of DJ sets, my mindset has always been pretty simple: I play the music that I genuinely listen to myself and that makes me feel something. I believe your best sets happen when you’re playing music you truly love, because you’re sharing it from a real place rather than just trying to make something work on a dancefloor. People can feel that energy, whether they realise it or not.
What matters most to me when DJing is creating a journey. I want people to leave feeling like we’ve experienced something together that can’t really be explained afterwards. Those moments where only the people in the room know what happened, how it felt, and why it was special are what I chase every time I play.
When it comes to production, I don’t necessarily try to make tracks that fit into every set. In fact, I often aim for the opposite. I like creating music for those rare moments when the timing is right, the crowd is ready, and the DJ has the opportunity to take things somewhere unexpected. Those are usually the moments that stay with people long after the night is over.
Every track I make goes through a personal test before it’s finished. I’ll listen to it repeatedly over the course of weeks to find out whether it’s just the excitement of a new idea or whether it genuinely continues to move me in the same way it did on day one. If that feeling stays, then I know there’s something real in it.
Journey: Malta is becoming increasingly known for carving it’s own very special place in the techno scene – how has your upbringing there affected your journey and how does it feel to be showcasing that on iconic stages like Stone Techno?
Malta has been on fire over the last few years, and I think a lot of that comes down to how close-knit the scene is. There’s a genuine sense of community here, and the love people have for both the music and each other is something special. We all understand how unique what we have is, and there’s a collective effort to protect it, respect it, and help it grow. It feels less like an industry and more like a shared responsibility. Everyone plays their part in keeping the scene alive while preserving what makes it so special.
Playing at Stone Techno Festival was a genuinely emotional experience for me. I think moments like that have inspired a lot of Maltese artists to push even harder with their music, and it’s amazing to see local talent receiving more recognition than ever before. The quality of artists coming out of Malta right now is incredible, and I believe we’re only seeing the beginning of what the island can contribute to the wider electronic music community.
Most importantly, I’m incredibly grateful to every promoter, label, artist, and supporter who has believed in me along the way. Every opportunity, no matter how big or small, has played a part in this journey.
I’m living a dream that has already gone far beyond anything I imagined for myself, and for that I can only say thank you!
Scene: What mark would you like Human Safari to make on the current techno scene?
At the heart of everything I do is the desire to create genuine, high-quality music that resonates with people and reflects something I truly believe in. I’ve always felt that music should challenge both the artist and the listener, and I hope that, in some small way, my work encourages others to keep evolving, taking risks, and pushing this beautiful genre forward.
That’s really what has mattered to me from the beginning, and it’s still what drives me today. The focus has never been on anything else apart from the music itself and the feeling it creates.
Everything else that has come my way, whether it’s gigs, releases, or opportunities I never imagined possible, has honestly been an unexpected bonus. I don’t take any of it for granted. To me, those experiences are blessings that came as a result of following something I genuinely love and I’m grateful for every single one of them.
Vision: With releases on R&S and Mutual Rytm already, an unrivalled live set currently making its way through the internet and an impressive gig schedule – what’s next in your sights?
My main focus is continuing to learn and grow as a producer. I always want to keep pushing myself creatively, exploring new ideas, and finding ways to evolve both technically and artistically.
I’m also working on a couple of tours at the moment, which I’m really excited about. There’s a lot of new music on the way too, along with new live sets that I’m looking forward to sharing.
Thank you again for having me. It’s been a pleasure, and I genuinely can’t wait to play at Meat Free in Manchester. See you all soon. ❤️
