Artist Spotlight: Key4050
As you’ve been making music together in various forms for over 20 years, is there still something that surprises you about how the other one works in the studio?
It is less about being surprised by how the other person works and more about the respect we have for the dedication and high standards we have both maintained over the past 20 years. It is quite remarkable that we can still work together so cohesively after all this time. Many other acts fall by the wayside during that time. We are able to bring together everything we have learned from producing, performing and being on the road in trance music for the last two decades. Most importantly, we can be completely honest with each other about whether a track is genuinely good or not. When we both agree that something is right, it is usually a very good sign and, more often than not, the track goes on to be a success.
Can you tell us more about this release? How did it come to be, and what was the production process like?
“Empty Space” originally began around three years ago as a piano demo that John was working on with Paul Skelton. It never fully came to fruition at the time. The demo was sent to a few different vocalists, but it never quite captured what either side was looking for. After sitting with it for a while, John decided to send the idea to Bryan to see if they could transform it into a Key4050 track. Bryan then sent it to Bo Bruce, who we had previously worked with on “Shine A Light.” Before long, Bo had written and recorded the acoustic demo for “Empty Space” around the original piano idea from John and Paul.
From there, it came back into John’s studio, where John and Bryan completed the first Key4050 version in time to debut it at Dreamstate SoCal in 2025. Since then, we have continued to fine-tune the production while playing it at events including A State of Trance 2026 and Luminosity 2026, where it closed our set. The momentum surrounding the track has continued to build week by week, so we are delighted that it is finally being released.
What’s next for Key4050? Any other releases or exciting events coming up for the rest of 2026?
We have some major Key4050 shows coming up during the rest of the year. On 30 August, we play at Custom House Square in Belfast. On 3 October, we return to Manchester for RONG Indoor Festival, followed by Kearnage X at the Troxy in London on 7 November. We then head back to California for Dreamstate SoCal in November. Keep an eye on both John’s and Bryan’s social media, as we will soon have some exciting announcements about the next chapter of Key4050 music beginning in 2027.