We sat down with the authors of a golden record recently. As I listened to their stories, the phrase “in my head” kept resonating, capturing the essence of their creative process.
Out today is what’s sure to become one of the most energetic tracks of the season. DJ & producer Trenches and lyricist, vocalist and coach Lovlee have joined forces for a gigantic track ‘In My Head‘, released on Franky Wah’s label, SHÈN Recordings, alongside Trenches’ B-side ‘Clarity’, featuring the vocals of Liah Barrett. The song portrays a tasteful hybrid between Progressive House and somewhat of a Minimal Techno sound for quite the killer result.
Lovlee’s warm and dominant voice takes centre stage in this record, comfortably sitting amidst an instrumental arrangement that contains only the necessary elements, each with a specific role: the plucky bassline, short leads, stabs, snappy percussion, and a beefy kick to seal the deal. It’s a must-listen, take it from me.
And ‘In My Head’ gave us the chance to speak with the authors behind it. From how it came to be, to the sound choices, to the half-sung-half-spoken vocals, to both artists’ careers, we’ve covered it all in what you’re about to read. So sit back, and find out what Trenches and Lovlee have to say about their latest, scorching new record.
The Interview
Huge congrats on the release of ‘In My Head’. Can you share the story behind the track? How did it come about?
Trenches: If we go back a few years to 2016–2020, there was this Deep House sound that was very soulful — I’ve always been a huge fan of it. Hot Since 82 was a big influence on this track, and I wanted to recapture that kind of music. Most of my best ideas come to me around 2 a.m. — I’m a night owl, and that’s when I’m in the zone. I laid down the drums and melody, and it all started coming together. But I knew I needed a custom vocal with intention and a real message.
I’d known Lovlee for a while — we’d kept in touch here and there — and I felt she could bring that soulful Deep House vocal I was after. I reached out, she loved the track immediately, and from there everything flowed very quickly.
Amazing. Now, with the vocals — were you both involved in creating them, or was that solely Lovlee?
Trenches: I wrote the instrumental and gave her full creative freedom. I didn’t want to limit her in any way. I shared a few references, and she instantly connected with the Jem Cooke type of vibe. Hot Since 82’s track Buggin’ was a particular influence here.
And Lovlee, how did the lyrical theme come to you?
Lovlee: Honestly, it just flowed. I’ve always wanted to do a Jem Cooke–style song, but no one had ever sent me the right track. When this one came, it felt like perfect timing in both my writing and my career. I wanted something catchy, something people could enjoy in a club or anywhere really — sweet and sexy, but not over the top. It hit the sweet spot.
Were there any unconventional or unusual production techniques used on this track?
Trenches: Not particularly weird, but I’m a big fan of vintage synths and the Arturia line of analog emulations. They have a lot of 80s-style drums, which I worked a lot of those retro samples into the drum pattern. Everything else was analog-emulated “in the box.” No spoons against glasses this time.
Lovlee: [laughs] Glad to hear it.
Trenches: Not for this track at least. But I have done it before — I once turned a blender into a Reese bass.
That’s wild. Now, the vocal delivery in In My Head is half-sung, half-spoken — a really striking combo. Where did that idea come from?
Lovlee: I’ve recently been exploring spoken word. When I was recording, I just imagined saying the words directly to someone, and it felt natural. I liked how it sounded, so I kept it. It gave the song this airy, intimate quality, like speaking to someone in a sexy tone. Normally in Tech House, producers want the vocal stripped back, but this track felt like the perfect opportunity to blend both singing and spoken word.
Trenches: I loved it. Spoken word can be really powerful if it fits the vibe, and she nailed it. There’s an honesty that comes across when you put yourself in that mindset in front of the mic.
The track also seems to blur genre lines. It works in a Progressive set at peak time, but it could also fit earlier in a Tech House set.
Trenches: Exactly. That was intentional.
How does it feel to be releasing on Franky Wah’s label, SHÉN?
Trenches: Honestly, it’s something I’ve been manifesting for years. I first connected with Franky when he started coming to New York. I saw him at his first SHÉN show at Knockdown Center — an iconic venue. From that night, I was hooked. He’s been the most influential figure in shaping my sound.
I worked to build that relationship — connecting on social media, meeting him at shows, even sneaking into his dressing room at Brooklyn Mirage at 5 a.m. [laughs]. Luckily, he took it well. I told him right there that I wanted to open for him in New York one day, and he loved the energy. Since then, he’s been open to hearing my demos, and now it’s all come together. It’s a full-circle moment. Extremely grateful for Franky’s support and his trust on bringing me into the SHÈN family.
That’s an incredible story. Manifesting is powerful when you pair it with action.
Trenches: Exactly. And it’s a hot button word that can be interpreted differently by many, but for me Manifestation is 20% vision and 80% execution.
What’s one thing you admire about each other — either musically or personally?
Lovlee: [to Trenches] I admire how clear your vision was, and how relentless you were in chasing it. That kind of drive is rare. You pushed until it happened, and I love what that energy brought out of me on this track. I’ve always wanted to step into a Jem Cooke–inspired lane, and this collaboration really helped me do that.
Trenches: Thank you, that means a lot. For me, it’s your balance of professionalism and creativity. You clearly take the business seriously, but you don’t let that overshadow your artistry. You carry yourself with both strategy and playfulness, and that’s rare. This track worked so well because of your openness and creative flow.
Lovlee: Doing music full-time, you really have to juggle both sides — business and art. It can be overwhelming, but finding that middle ground is key.
Trenches: Absolutely. We both wear a lot of hats, and switching between them isn’t always easy. But when it’s time to create, you have to let go and just enjoy the process.
Lovlee: Exactly. I’m looking forward to taking a break this weekend, though — just for a reset.
Do you have any upcoming projects following In My Head?
Lovlee: Marc actually just sent me another track yesterday.
Trenches: Yes, the success of this one has really motivated me. I’ve been busy moving and buying a house, but I’m finally back in flow. I really see my collaboration with Lovlee as just the beginning. I’d love for us to create a very cohesive catalogue of music.
Lovlee: I’d love that too. I really enjoy working with the same people — it keeps the vibe consistent, and once you know the chemistry works, the process is so much smoother.
Final question: If someone in our audience looks up to you and your careers, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them to achieve their wildest dreams?
Trenches: Work ethic is everything. There’s the well-known “10,000 hour rule” — once you put in those hours into your craft, you become undeniable. With producing, that means being relentless, refusing to quit, and always improving. That persistence has been the foundation of the success I’ve had so far.
Lovlee: I’d echo that, and add consistency. Find your niche and do what you truly love. I’ve experimented with many genres, but I treat them as different emotions — all authentic to me. When you create from that place, you’ll attract your people. Some of my biggest songs are ones I wasn’t even confident about at first, but they were true to me, and people connected with them.
Beautifully said. Chasing trends won’t make you stand out — originality and authenticity will. Thank you both so much for sharing your story.
Final Words
Thank you so much Marc and Lauren, for sitting down and having this lovely conversation with us (no pun intended, I swear). ‘In My Head‘ is out now, and you can listen to it as part of the entire In My Head EP using the Spotify embed you’ll find below. And, as always, be sure to follow our page to stay up to date on the latest news and views regarding our beloved Dance music industry.