On November 7th, Sound LA will welcome TRACE for a debut that’s already buzzing with anticipation. Hailing from Uzbekistan and breaking ground as the first touring DJ to rise from the region, TRACE is fusing cultural heritage with the pulse of modern house, building a sound that feels both rooted and futuristic. His sleek, percussive productions have found a home on labels like Hot Creations, Catch & Release, Nervous Records, and Deeperfect, while his breakout hit “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” shattered records and stamped him as an undeniable force. With co-signs from giants like Chris Lake, FISHER, and The Martinez Brothers, TRACE isn’t just entering the global conversation—he’s rewriting it.
Before his electrifying Los Angeles debut, TRACE sat down with us to talk roots, rhythm, and the revolution he’s bringing to the dance floor.
Your upcoming Sound LA debut feels like a milestone not just for you, but for Uzbekistan’s place on the global music map. How does it feel to carry that kind of cultural first with you onto such a stage?
I’m really excited to play as a headliner at one of the coolest clubs in LA. It’s a big step forward for my country’s dance music scene. A lot of young producers back home have been able to see that anything is possible, through my growing career in music, if you work hard and stay focused on your goals.
Your sound has been described as sleek, percussive, and laser-focused—yet it’s rooted in your own cultural legacy. How do you weave something so personal into a genre that thrives on universality and dance-floor release?
For me, it’s about taking the rhythms, emotions, and textures that feel natural to me and letting them live inside the framework of electronic music. I want my tracks to work on any dance floor in the world, but still carry a piece of my identity, to create something that makes each song feel unique.
From Chris Lake to FISHER to The Martinez Brothers, you’ve had some massive co-signs. Do you remember the first moment you felt the global house community was truly paying attention?
The first artist that supported me was Cloonee. I signed my track ‘Taka Doom’ to his label Hellbent, and that was a big push for my career because many artists started playing it, from Solomun to Carl Cox. I got a lot of positive feedback, and I’m really grateful to Cloonee for his support.
“Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” smashed records and put your name firmly on the Beatport charts. Do you approach producing those kinds of tracks differently from the way you approach a live set, or is it the same energy funneled in different directions?
Yeah, it’s pretty much the same energy. I just trust the process and let everything come naturally. The key is to turn off logic, and turn on the heart.
As someone shaping a bold new wave from Central Asia, what do you hope audiences in LA—and beyond—take away from your sets besides just the sweat and adrenaline?
Everywhere I play, I give the crowd a piece of myself – my vision, my taste. I try to build my sets like a movie, with a beginning, a peak, and an ending, so it feels like a complete story by the time it’s over.
