by Halifax-based producer Cloverdale has been igniting dance floors and crafting high-octane bangers for over a decade. The veteran artist has a signature style that fuses his love for synthesis, infectious grooves, and bumping bass. His genre-spanning work has touched everything from house and techno to garage, breaks, 140, DnB, and beyond. He’s hot off a Juno nomination for his exceptional Channel 303 album and is currently putting the final touches on his follow-up, Channel 303 Part II, alongside an evolved live experience. With a massive year ahead, it’s due time that we connected with the Canadian legend for a guest mix + interview.
The mix is an hour of high-grade electronic excellence showcasing only his own work. Stacked with unreleased IDs, exclusive edits, and a few of his latest releases, the mix showcases his sound while also offering a preview of some of the darker bass-heavy tunes he’s been cooking up.
Our interview touches on his love for 303 synthesizers, what to expect from his live experience, the upcoming album, Vibrancy Festival, the Juno nomination, why he chose to call Halifax home, and so much more. Dive in below and be sure to catch Cloverdale’s Channel 303 Pt II show at the Marquee if you’re in Halifax on Friday, March 13.
Tell us about the mix. How did you go about putting it together? What can we expect when we press play?
The past year has been such a year of exploration for me. From diving into the world of live sets to developing an AV show, it’s been so much fun getting back to my roots, learning new things. Most importantly, this year has felt like a return to an earlier version of myself who truly embraced all genres. Especially the dark and heavy ones. From house to techno, to breaks, 140, and DNB. This mix, special for FUXWITHIT, leans more into my bassy catalog with many productions never leaving my hard drive until now. Many may stay unreleased, many will be on the upcoming Part II of my Channel 303 albums.
What brought you out to Halifax? What kept you here?
Back in 2017, I was DJing/Producing dubstep & bass music under the name AWAL. I had just spent 2 years teaching English in Korea, followed by some traveling, and then 6 months in LA. My entire time away I had been grinding away at producing, networking online, and building an audience that when it was time to come back home, I was able to secure a handful of gigs across Canada, including two in Canada. I grew up in Ottawa but spent 4 years in Fredericton, NB for University (where I started producing/DJing) so I had a bunch of East Coast connections. After some Facebook cold DMs to Kyle McCracken (now one of my close pals), he took a risk and had me come play the Marquee that March. The show was stellar however, what was even more stellar was the people I met. Many of the folks I met that night are still my best friends almost 9 years later. That summer I ended up playing 2 gigs in Halifax, alongside 5 other East Coast festivals – I really got to know the crew and the vibe out here… I was hooked.
Come September, after a summer of couch surfing, it was time to settle down. I was torn between Montreal and Halifax. Montreal had been the plan all along, however after my summer on the East Coast, Halifax was calling my name.
One day, at the end of August, my homie Jarett (who loves dance music more than anyone I know) texted me out of the blue asking if I’d be interested in moving to Halifax, and that he and 2 others were looking for a roommate to fill an apartment on Cloverdale Rd. The rest is history.
There is nothing I love more than crafting a new idea that hits just right. I’d be doing it no matter what.
What drives you to create music?
I seriously just love creating. Music just happens to be one of the many things I love to create. Not only can I get lost in the process for hours on end, creating music places me as part of a community. Many communities to be fair. The local dance music scene, my online communities, the community of my fellow producers. All of these fellow lovers of art, technology, dancing and raving. There is nothing I love more than crafting a new idea that hits just right. I’d be doing it no matter what.
Tell us a little bit about the Cloverdale live experience. How does it differ from a typical DJ set?
So much of the live show revolves around the full AV experience. My Channel 303 shows have featured 30 CRT TVs and a full lighting rig, all controlled with my synths and controllers. It’s me mangling filters, chopping samples, layering stems, and controlling the FX as we traverse the high-octane palette of sounds I’ve assembled.
Has the live experience changed the way you make music?
This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked this question and at the core… not tons… however I have learned so much about Ableton and about synthesis in the process that certainly that knowledge has impacted my traditional producing.
Blade, Daft Punk, Josh Wink’s Higher State Of Consciousness – the 303 is peak classic rave. The term 303 alone is synonymous with raving.
Where did your love for 303 synthesizers begin? How did it become such a crucial staple of your brand with Channel 303?
I mean come on… Blade, Daft Punk, Josh Wink’s Higher State Of Consciousness – the 303 is peak classic rave. The term 303 alone is synonymous with raving. Pairing that sound and legendary history with my fictional CRT-powered TV Network felt like the perfect blend of 90s analog.
It doesn’t hurt that Behringer makes a clone for under $200, and thus was the first synth I owned.
You’ve been making some darker and deeper sounds lately. Can we expect some DnB and 140 releases on the horizon?
Yes. Nothing is off the table!
How are things shaping up for Channel 303 Part II?
I just announced the debut Channel 303 Pt II show at the Marquee here in Halifax on March 13th, and the album will be coming shortly after that. The whole reason behind doing a part II in the first place was because I felt I learned so much while doing the first iteration that I knew a second go around would be x10 bigger and better.
The inner struggle of taking a risk and potentially alienating fans, promoters, dancefloors. But I did it and it’s what gave me the confidence to say ‘fuck the rules’ to everything. I’m not pretending to be anything anymore, I’m simply just writing tunes I like, of any style, and putting them out.
You’ve been producing music for over a decade. Are there any specific “aha moments” you’ve had along the way where you felt like you levelled up or changed the way you looked at music production?
A few for sure – one when Jarett (My roommate on Cloverdale Rd) and I started Cloverdale as a duo. I had fallen in love with house and techno. Having produced bass music for years, the switch to groove-oriented stuff really had me approach both producing and mixing from a new, more delicate and intricate lens. Focusing more on finding a careful balance of punch and butter.
The second was around 2023, while I was doing my busiest touring. I was starting to mix in some faster tempos and different styles into what were, up until then, mostly tech house sets. I love house music, but being only a house music artist isn’t really who I am as a person. The inner struggle of taking a risk and potentially alienating fans, promoters, dancefloors. But I did it and it’s what gave me the confidence to say ‘fuck the rules’ to everything. To release an album in a world of singles. To take a month and build a DIY live show on a shoestring budget. To start writing more breakbeats, more techno, and more recently 140 and dnb again. I’m not pretending to be anything anymore, I’m simply just writing tunes I like, of any style, and putting them out.
What you’ve been able to do with Vibrancy Festival over the past few years is super impressive! How did the festival come to be? What did it mean to you to host it inside the fort at Citadel National Historic Site?
Vibrancy Festival has been run in collaboration with the City of Halifax since 2022. It was birthed out of a desire for a proper underground festival in the city that highlighted not only our local scene but a mix of pioneer legends (Green Velvet, Danny Tenaglia, TIGA, Special Request) some new school hitters (Walker & Royce, HNTR, J.Worra) and some top tier selectors (Avalon Emerson, Hiroko Yamamura, Justin Jay, Mija).
Hosting it in the city’s most iconic landmark is truly a dream come true (despite being a logistical nightmare). It’s such a unique space that many don’t get to experience often, and especially not dancing next to a blasting PK rig with all your homies.
Can you give us a sneak peek into what to expect from the festival in 2026?
Haha we’re not spilling any beans quite yet – however know we’re working on delivering the best year to date. It’ll be held August 14th & 15th inside the walls of the Citadel. After the success of last year, and in particular the vibes on our Saturday night, we’re going to be leaning heavy into the underground and booking a diverse line-up of acts.
Where did the idea for the CRT TVs come from? How did you go about bringing it to life?
I hate to say Instagram but…. Instagram haha… I had seen a few pages with stacks of CRT TVs and thought about how cool that would be to incorporate into a live show. Around that same time, my pal Jadey was introducing me to live sets, and once I learned the capabilities of controlling the visuals, the whole 90s-themed Channel 303 TV Network concept album all just sorta fell into place.
What makes you happy outside of music?
Friends, Climbing, Biking, Outdoors, Dogs, Pizza, Podcasts, Morning Walks, Sunshine.
Huge congratulations on the Juno nomination for Best Electronic Album! How did you feel when you first found out? What does the nomination mean to you?
Honestly, it’s something I never expected, yet it was something my mom always joked about me getting. It’s really funny it actually happened.
I found out one Tuesday morning on The Juno’s site – it honestly was kind of a shock at first. I called my parents and some close friends and had a big ole cry. This past year has been challenging in many ways, and I’ve doubted this trajectory many times. This award nomination came at a time I needed it most. I’m so grateful and am touched that my art connected so deeply.
Prepare yourself, yet also give yourself a break. Go have fun. Go learn some stuff. Stop scrolling.
Any final words of wisdom?
Love one another. AI will be our biggest hurdle. Prepare yourself, yet also give yourself a break. Go have fun. Go learn some stuff. Stop scrolling. I honestly thought exercise sucked but it’s not that bad and is actually fun. Stop over-compressing everything. Your sub doesn’t always need to be heard on your phone speaker. Pay attention to your stereo image. Stop trying to be someone you’re not, and be happy you are you. Invest in low-cost index funds.
Cloverdale FUXWITHIT Guest Mix Tracklist
Cloverdale – Inside The Radar
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale & Joel Cruz – Back to the Sound
Cloverdale – Now Hear This
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – LFTD VIP w/ Smalltown Boy
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale & D.Mo – ID
Mala & Magugu – Militant Don (Cloverdale Remix)
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – ID
Soulja Boy – Crank That (Cloverdale Remix)
Cloverdale – ID w/ Central Cee – Khabib
Cloverdale – Gettin So Hot
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – ID
Cloverdale – ID
