“I feel very existential”: Skrillex vows to go independent after release of next project

Skrillex has vowed to “go independent” after the release of his next music project on Atlantic, saying that the music industry is “almost impossible to understand”.

The Los Angeles-born DJ and producer opened up about cutting ties with his long-affiliated label Atlantic Records on Twitter yesterday (November 18), explaining why he’s set to go independent.

“I’ve never felt more inspired and in lockstep with my intentions as an artist,” he said, adding that he’s “nearing completion” of his next and final project for Atlantic Records.

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“I can’t help but feel very existential about it all,” he said. “I’m thrilled to get this out and to focus on more releases in [2025] as an “independent” artist. But “independent” is such a strange term because I still depend on my team as well as all the other creatives and executors to do what I do.”

Last year, Skrillex released his second and third consecutive albums almost a decade on from his debut, ‘Recess’, which landed on Atlantic Records in 2014.

The producer has long been affiliated with the US record label, releasing his first ever EP ‘Gypsyhook’ with the imprint in 2009, followed by his acclaimed EP ‘My Name Is Skrillex’ a year later.

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“Now I’m able to rethink / relook at how the structures are designed,” he explained on Twitter. “I want to find ways to simplify decimating music and art. I see lots of artist in a constant panic.”

He added that the music industry is “like politics”, and is “almost impossible” to understand. “I’ve seen so many artists get caught up in the illusion and delusion of the business,” he said. “It’s a dangerous job to be a young artist.”

No further details on the forthcoming project on Atlantic Records were revealed. Skrillex said that he’s “lucky to have lived through” his career so far, and hopes to continue the journey.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter