Vel C. is a Serbian Producer and DJ working to establish himself on the scene, introducing Hard Techno as a tool for storytelling, reflection, and expression. Fusing gritty basslines with textured atmospheres, his music dives into a variety of themes, both social and personal, offering more than just high-impact club tracks.
With a string of charting releases and the launch of overHAUL – his own label and event series – Vel C. is building a community-driven platform that prioritises freedom, collaboration, and a return to rave’s inclusive roots.
In this interview, he joins us to explore the evolution of his sound, the story behind overHAUL, and how he is carving out space for authenticity and connection in today’s Electronic Music landscape.
Hi Vel C.! How are you?
Always well, pun intended.
What first led you towards Electronic Music? Were there particular substyles that resonated with you early on?
I’ve been listening to Electronic Music for the last 10 years – started with EDM, Trance and House, then Melodic Techno, Peak Time Techno and Hard Techno.
Producing-wise, I had a short venture into producing Electro Pop for fun over a decade ago. When I picked up producing 10 years later, I started with Techno in the style of Charlotte de Witte. During the time of writing my second track – “Corporate” – I discovered Alignment’s music and somehow ended up in the 150 BPM range for that song. The harder, faster, and more energetic vibe stuck with me for the rest of my songs.
Connections with the subgenres were mainly influenced by my positive rave experiences and have evolved with the different places I’ve visited and the music I’ve been exposed to.
Can you tell us a bit about your background in music? Where did you learn to produce and DJ, and how has that shaped your journey?
As a blend of artistic kid and science kid, I’ve explored many different forms of performing arts and music for fun. I used to sing in a choir, trained street style dance for eight years (Hip Hop, House), and even acted on some occasions. As my career after college progressed, I missed my creative side, and trying music production again felt like an obvious hobby – something you can do at home with just a laptop and a headset.
I started learning from YouTube tutorials. Three months in, those became overwhelming – so much information, and you’re never sure what’s reliable. As a scientist who thrives on data, facts, reasoning and rationale, I started introducing structure to my learning. I vetted resources before committing to them. A lot of innate scepticism kicked in, and it was a challenge to distil right from wrong on a subject I had no clue about. In the end, I chose the sources that felt grounded in fact and solid reasoning and focused only on those – for my own sanity.
I met a few people along the way who I reached out to for feedback and advice. The positive feedback I received on my first tracks motivated me to keep going. I took lessons to improve my sound, worked with different tutors – some resonated fully, some partially, and some not at all. Eventually, I was lucky to find a few good mentors who helped me shape my own logic and thinking around music production by giving me a peek into their own perspectives.
DJing only came after I produced my first two tracks. Initially, I wasn’t drawn to it, but it felt like a natural step. In the end, I thought it’d be nice to be back on stage – just with a different medium to tell stories: my own music.
How would you describe the emotional or conceptual core of your sound?
Most of my tracks are reflections of my own thoughts, insecurities, life experiences or simple observations. A lot of the time, it’s just an honest “therapy session” – from me to me – while writing a song in the corner of my living room. Some of my songs have explored inner doubts and insecurities, trying to resolve them. Some were meant to simply empower myself. Others are emotional reactions to specific events around me or in my home country.
Tell us about overHAUL — what inspired you to launch it as both a label and an event platform?
In essence, overHAUL wasn’t planned at all. It just happened as a way of me trying to create my own opportunities instead of constantly chasing them – so I could focus on creating music.
All the challenges I faced with my first label release pushed me to dig deeper into how to successfully release and promote music independently – I became obsessed with things like proper Meta ad setups, triggering Spotify’s algorithm, etc. Searching for the right label took so much time away from actually making music, so I decided to self-release “Golden Cage”. While looking for a distributor, I tested many by contacting their customer support to see how they’d handle common streaming issues (like bots). In the end, I found a niche distributor with a great support team – but they required me to have a label. So, I picked a name and went with it. At the time, there were no real plans to run a label.
The idea of becoming a platform for emerging artists from my country and region came naturally once I started meeting the local community. I met a few younger artists with real passion for music, community-building energy, and strong unreleased tracks.
Since I hadn’t performed much in Serbia, I shared my vision for an inclusive rave – one that wouldn’t segregate people based on ticket type (VIP, on-stage, etc.) – with the community I’d met. That resonated, so we organised the first overHAUL event. We all play different subgenres of Techno, and we saw that as a strength: it allowed us to build the energy and vibe of the night progressively.
As overHAUL evolves, how do you see its role in the wider scene – and what kind of community are you aiming to build?
Since the first event, people have expressed interest in supporting overHAUL solely because of how it made them feel. That makes me happy. I believe you can’t do much alone – you need a community to empower each other. I’m excited to welcome more artists and people who share the values and vision behind overHAUL.
The idea is to create an inclusive rave experience where everyone is equal. That’s what drew me into raving in the first place. I’ve never felt like an outcast at a rave — which I can’t say about other parts of life.
We all agree the most important thing at our events is how we curate the vibe – specifically, the order of the lineup, ensuring each artist builds on the intensity and energy of the one before. At many events today, the lineup order feels disjointed. We’re committed to crafting a smooth ride from sunset to sunrise.
In the end, how overHAUL evolves is down to everyone involved. Where it goes is still a big question mark – but with the people already on board, I’m confident it’ll grow into something meaningful.
Which artists — past or present — have been particularly inspirational or influential to your development?
My absolute favourite, and top of the list, is Alignment. I love his blend of distorted and clean — it’s just right for my taste — and the emotion in his music and production style.
I like the production styles of Byorn and Storm, and the melodies of Mr. Machine. I also appreciate the emotional layers Kuko and In Verruf bring to their work. On the Acid Techno side, I’d say Joey Risdon is an influence. Recently, I’ve been getting into a lot of Hard Psy and Psy Techno. Sara Landry, Alex Farell, Sikoti, Sopik – just to name a few –
are new inspirations.
What does “success” look like to you right now? Are there any moments or milestones so far that stand out?
Being able to do things at my own pace and under my own control – that makes me happy. Being patient with results (if they happen) and maintaining low expectations is something I see as success, personally and mentally.
The biggest milestone has to be our first overHAUL event, which drew an unexpected 600 ravers. We expected maybe 200. The feedback we’ve received after the event has been overwhelming – I see that as a huge achievement.
If someone is hearing your music for the first time, which track would you point them to as a starting point?
“Golden Cage.” It’s hard, melodic, raw, and carries an uncontrolled outburst of emotion. I wrote the hook and melody in 10 minutes. Those songs always turn out best.
Finally, what’s coming next – both for you and for overHAUL?
Fun times with the community, more raves, more original music, mutual support, and collaborative growth — hopefully.
While still early in his journey on the scene, Vel C. is striving to make his mark – both through his own releases and his overHAUL platform. With a focus on creating space for real connection, creative freedom, and a stronger sense of community, he stands out not just as a Producer and DJ but as a committed member of the genre’s culture and a supporter of its growth.
So, be sure to keep up with Vel C. and his next chapter by following him across social media today.
Vel C. Online