Amháin [Interview]

Hailing from Ireland but now calling Australia home, Alan Thomas Doyle aka Amhain has achieved measurable success across his career. An enthusiastic attitude towards experimentation, coupled with extraordinary creative vision has made the Sydney resident one of his country’s noteworthy talents in progressive house. Releases via Balance Music, Mango Alley, Meanwhile, Proton Music and Vapour Recordings, amongst others; sit as discography highlights, while genre tastemakers Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren have been supporters along the way. Also an accomplished DJ, Amháin has been a fixture of Australia’s burgeoning nightlife for the better part of a decade, performing at renowned festivals Rainbow Serpent and Subsonic, while also showcasing his skills abroad at American events such as Burning Man and Lightning in a Bottle.

This week finds Amháin making his Musique de Lune debut with 'Salamander', a track co-produced alongside fellow countryman Covsky and backed by remixes from Kasey Taylor and Juan Ibanez. 

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Amháin to learn more about the release of 'Salamander', 2024 highlights, Australia, DJing, and much more. Enjoy.

Hi Alan, thanks for talking to us today. Now that we’re into the second month of 2025, how has the year started for you?

Thanks for having me! The year has started off really well. I’ve been focusing on a few new projects and collaborations, and I feel energized.

Let’s look back on 2024, what gig of yours has stood out the most and why?

Looking back, the gig at Civic Underground In Sydney was definitely a highlight. It was a Meanwhile recordings showcase event and the first one in Sydney.

Now let’s look at tracks, what is a track or tracks which have come out this year that has impressed you the most and why?

That's a good question. It's early in the year, but I've been loving some music that friends here in Australia have been making. Kasey Taylors remix of mine and Covsky’s track Salamander is a weapon.” And my friend Zankee Gulati has been smashing out some gems. Not to mention GMJ & Matters recent numbers on meanwhile are remarkably good!

What is a song/track you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood? And why has it stuck with you this long?

Tricky one, haha. Childhood, hmm, I’m an '80s baby, so I still love music from that decade, especially bands like Depeche Mode, The Stone Roses & U2. I couldn’t pick just one track!

Progressive music is well known for being hugely popular in Australia and it has been for over two decades at this point. You’ve lived through a good part of it, so how has the sound and scene there changed over the years?

The Australian progressive music scene has undergone significant transformation over the years. Although I've only been in Australia for 17 years, I have a deep appreciation for its rich history and the legendary figures who laid the groundwork. Phil K, Jamie Stevens, Kasey Taylor, Danny Bonnici and Luke Chable to name a few, so many legends here. Today, I observe a dynamic blend of different subgenres within the progressive sound, giving rise to a plethora of fresh and innovative music. The enthusiasm within the community is remarkable, and it's this fervor that sustains its vitality.

How did growing up there shape you as a producer and DJ? And who from Australia did you gain inspiration from early in your career and why?

When I immigrated to Australia, I was put in touch with a Scottish promoter named Paul Strange here in Sydney . He, along with another promoter and now close friend, Ricky Cooper, opened many doors for me. Through their events, I accumulated valuable experience and always approached my warm-up sets with dedication. My decade in Sydney was a significant learning experience, both musically and personally. I found inspiration in my peers, and we all experimented with different styles of music on a weekly basis.

You were a DJ first I believe, how many years were you DJing before making your production debut in 2020? It’s a natural evolution to go from DJing to producing I suppose but what was it that led you there?

I played for a long, long time before I officially started producing in 2020. Producing didn’t come easy for me, and it was a struggle, to be honest. Since I started collecting records back in the 90s, I wanted to create my own sound and share my musical ideas. But growing up in Dublin was a bit crazy at times, and life just got in the way of music production. I kept plugging away in the studio as I got older and yes, the general evolution from DJing is music production, and here I am, 20 years later, eventually being kinda happy with my music, haha.

You’ve played some big events, Rainbow Serpent and Burning Man come to mind. What would you say have been some of your most memorable gigs over the years and why?

Rainbow Serpent Festival here in Australia was the best festival I’ve ever played at. Playing on the Market Stage before Way Out West was the highlight of my career. It’s a special place!

Another highlight was playing at Sisyphis in Berlin. That place is bonkers! Burning Man was a unique experience because of the creative freedom and the communal vibe; it was less about the performance and more about the shared experience.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for 2025 and beyond? Are there any new projects, collaborations, or styles you’re eager to explore?

2025 is looking promising. I have some upcoming collaborations with Covsky, Joe Miller, Ricky Ryan, aka Freedo Mosho & I’m also working on a few with Fraiser Rix. These collaborations help me push my sound further and evolve into a better artist. Not to mention I have a solo 3-track EP coming out on Roger Martinez’s label, Higher States, which is a huge ambition unlocked.

You have a new single ‘Salamander’ recorded alongside fellow countryman Covsky out now via Musique de Lune, tell us a bit about the track and what sort of vibe you guys were going for on it.

Absolutely! I'm thrilled that this piece has found a wonderful place on MDL. The response has been incredible up to this point. The creation of this track came together quite swiftly. Covsky shared a fantastic concept and the groundwork for the song. I was captivated by the plucks he incorporated, which made it effortless for me to complete my part. We didn't discuss any specific genre, and as a result, we blended our styles, resulting in a dreamy emotional journey with 'Salamander.'

I think this is your first collaboration with Covsky, please tell us how you guys met and how the ‘Salamander’ project came to be.

This marks our second EP, though we’ve been collaborating on music for over a year now. We have another EP set to release soon on Dawn Till Dusk, a side label of Balance Music. Interestingly, we completed that project before the Salamander EP, but we faced some delays with another label that held things up. Covsky is slightly younger than I am, and I fondly recall him coming out to see me play in Sydney a few times. His authentic enthusiasm for the tracks I played was truly heartwarming. Those who show that level of interest are definitely the ones to keep an eye on. Working with Sam felt like a natural progression, as I genuinely admire his music.

There are two well crafted remixes from Kasey Taylor and Juan Ibanez as well, how involved in the remixer selection process were you? And why were Kasey and Juan good choices to re-imagine ‘Salamander’?

I imagined Kasey completely transforming the track, and I had complete faith he would come through, so the decision was clear! Kasey is a pioneer in progressive sound, and I've been a huge admirer of his work for many years. Sam also suggested Juan, which was an excellent pick as well.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘Salamander’?

Absolutely, I work in Ableton Live along with a few synthesizers, including a Mini Freak, a Prophet 12, and some Moog equipment. However, I primarily rely on my computer since the software synthesizers available now are truly amazing. For the main chords in my track, I utilized an older plugin named String Machine, while I used the Prophet 12 for the bass line. I've also incorporated Serum which is one of my go to synths.

Why was Musique de Lune a good home for ‘Salamander’?

In my opinion, MDL serves as a versatile label, acting as a bridge between various musical styles. It perfectly encapsulates the essence of progression, much like the track "Salamander."

Shifting to DJing for a moment, you are a regular across Australia’s nightlife and have also played abroad in Germany, the USA and more, so please tell us your approach to DJing and how you approach programming your sets.

In the past, I would go all out when getting ready for gigs, spend too much time in planning sets, which ended up adding unnecessary stress to the process, haha. Nowadays, I've discovered what works best for me: improvisation and ditching the set list. I focus on being adaptable and prepared for any scenario. It's essential to have a deep understanding of my tracks.

What were some of the main challenges and goals when starting out as a DJ and how have they changed over time?

When I first started my musical journey, it was during the vinyl record days. My biggest struggle was the tedious task of hunting down the music I wanted. It often felt like a long and winding road, ‘ not to mention the price of a record. But in saying that there was nothing better and I absolutely loved collecting and playing them out. The goal was not to train wreck two records haha!!! Now, obviously, everything has changed; with just a single click, we’re on!

How important is it for you to have gigs to be able to test your own unreleased music?

What truly matters is selecting the perfect music for the moment. If one of my songs happens to fit that bill, it's a bonus, but it's not a priority for me.
Current Top five tracks in your sets?

HAFT - Rosewood (meanwhile)
Patch Park - Hips & Dips (Zankee Gulati remix) (Vapour)
Rah Duh - Ganymede ( Higher States)
Sasha - Bloodlock (Dj Ruby remix)
GMJ & Matter - Conduits (meanwhile)

If you are not DJing, producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

at the beach with my family.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

Sahar Z 10-12am
Ricky Ryan 12-2am
GMJ & Matter 2-4am
Roger Martinez 4-6am
Guy J - sunrise set

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related)

I could never make it past that thought haha.

What’s something people do not know about you?
I’m a carpenter
What can we look forward to from you in 2025? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

Next few months there will be plenty of releases coming out. Lots of collaborations too. I’m planning to get back to Europe for ADE this year and hopefully see you all there ;)

Thanks so much for having us on your label.

'Salamander' is available now via Musique de Lune: https://tinyurl.com/yeyrvu7n