We caught up with Alexion and JD Farrell who released their new collaborative single ‘Illusive Thoughts’ via Paul van Dyk’s imprint VANDIT Alternative.
Alexion is one of the youngest melodic techno producers and DJs to emerge from the Nashville and Atlanta EDM scenes. He’s received support from the likes of Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero and Hardwell to name just a few. JD Farrell is a writer, producer and musician whose been making waves since 2021 with features on Nora en Pure’s, Purified Records. In the interview we chat to the charismatic pair about the inspiration behind their single ‘Illusive Thoughts’, how they differentiate themselves from other artists, and what they have in the pipeline. Plus, they’ve created an exclusive YourEDM mix below!
Hey Alexion and JD Farrell, thank you for taking the time to chat with YourEDM. We’re so happy to have you! 
Could you tell us what is your earliest musical memory?
Our earliest musical memories date back to playing recorder and singing chorus performances in elementary school. JD once played Paul McCartney in a Beatles play in 5th grade with an inflatable guitar; nailed the ground slide and the audience of 20 parents were enthralled, been onward and upward ever since!
When you compose and produce tracks, do you make music for yourself or do you make it with others in mind?
Both. The design and mix phases are certainly influenced by songs and sounds we like, and the act of producing is therapeutic and releasing. Collaborating with one another has also been a great experience as we have a lot of common ground and shared interests, and we complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses well.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Illusive thoughts’?
We’ve really been inspired by a lot of other emerging artists in the scene as well as our individual and collective evolution. We started with a dark rolling midbass and some banging drums that get you on your feet, but made sure to cap things off with a sexy feminine vocal that entices you to risk it for the biscuit and keeps you on the dance floor. The end goal was to provoke the listener into putting aside their doubts and just going for it.
Stream Alexion, JD Farrell – ‘Illusive Thoughts’ below:
Did your creative process change at all with this collaboration?
We’ve been in the studio together for over a year now, so we’ve gotten pretty in tune with one another’s sound design and process. If anything’s worth noting, we’ve both improved our processes through collaboration, and highly recommend to other upcoming artists to find like minded artists to work with. The collaborative process is pivotal to becoming a better writer, producer, master, and good steward to the community overall.
What is your favourite part of the creative/production process?
JD’s a nerd for melodies, theory, mixing and sound designing, whereas Jack (Alexion) is brilliant with ideas and composition. It really is a Yin Yang type bond between us in the studio that fits like a glove.
How do you separate yourself from other artists and producers right now?
We both have different backgrounds and styles, so blending genres in unexpected ways, like mixing electronic with acoustic elements or using unconventional sampling techniques. We aim to create music that feels fresh and doesn’t fit neatly into one category. Our focus is also on pushing boundaries and experimenting with new sounds, which helps us create our individuality.
Which piece of hardware or software would you consider the most essential in your setup, and that you would be a little lost without?
For both of us, the most essential piece of software is Ableton. It’s the cornerstone of our design process and allows us to bring our concepts to life. On the hardware side, we would have to say JD’s Moog Sub37. We use the same deep bass preset for most of our subs from it, and it gives us more precision in our sound design. It has a much warmer feel and sound overall than any digital instrument or VST we’ve heard.
Which is the one piece of software or hardware you’re still looking to add to your collection?
There’s always new plug-ins we’re testing out every week it feels like, especially now in the era of AI. Lately we’ve been diving deeper into Ozone for mastering and EQ. We’ve used a multitude of other plugins in the past, but the AI-driven mastering assistant and control tools have helped us learn to polish tracks at a pro level without having to lean into third-party mastering as much.
What’s the weirdest or most amazing reaction you’ve had to your music?
A friend came up to us one time after a set together and told us he could totally hear our music playing on the big screen by Hans Zimmer. It was funny, but also really exciting to think that our music could transport people into such a larger-than-life scenario. Thank you, Anthony!
What inspires you outside of music?
Outside of music, we’re inspired by God, family, friends, and genuinely the people we meet and the connections we make with them. Whether it’s through prayer, conversation, working with other creatives, or just sharing experiences, our connections provide plenty of inspiration. Our collective ambition to expand our networks ultimately led us to one another and to one of our best tracks yet, and we’re just getting started!
What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?
Right now, we’re in the earlier stages of a few other exciting projects. While there’s no specific release dates yet, we’re both experimenting with new sounds and concepts. We’re focused on exploring and blending different genres while pushing our creative boundaries. We’re also laying the groundwork for a few more collaborations together that we’re really excited about, and we’re hoping to have something ready to share in the next few months. Follow us both on all social and streaming platforms for upcoming shows, updates, and releases: @jdfarrellmusic and @alexionmusic
Stream the exclusive YourEDM mix by Alexion and JD Farrell below:
Tracklist:
Follow Alexion:
Spotify – Instagram – YouTube – Soundcloud – Apple Music – Beatport
Follow JD Farrell:
Spotify – Instagram – YouTube – Soundcloud – Apple Music – Beatport
