CHANEY’s latest single “Prayer,” out now on Toolroom, finds the Swindon-born producer tapping into something instinctive and soulful. Built around a gospel vocal lifted from Willie Scott, it’s a tightly structured, groove-led cut that balances club energy with a deeper emotional undertone.
That mix isn’t new for CHANEY – recent tracks like “Out of My Depth” and “Always (Me & You)” have blended crossover appeal with sharp production – but “Prayer” feels like a return to rawer, more rhythmic ground. Over the past few years, he’s built a catalogue across Toolroom, Edible, and Insomniac, while launching his own label Chained To The Rhythm.
With a background in live music and songwriting, and a studio approach shaped as much by instinct as by DJ testing, CHANEY’s work continues to land somewhere between warehouse energy and radio-ready songwriting – always with a clear sense of identity. Here, he talks us through it.
‘Prayer’ feels like a big emotional moment. What sparked the idea for the track and what kind of mood were you going for when you started it?
I was actually making a beat on my Maschine which sparked the idea. It felt so groovy and had a really unique swing which made me move fast on this one. The vocal sample idea was really the key – it helped tying it all together!
You’ve always had that mix of rave energy and proper songwriting in your sound. Where do you think ‘Prayer’ lands on that spectrum?
Thank you! I think drum wise it’s pretty evidently made for the club but I really tried to treat the sample as an anchoring point for the structure of the whole track – which actually makes it listenable at home/out and about.
The vocal’s pretty central to ‘Prayer’ – did that come first, or was it something you added once the track was already taking shape?
It actually came secondary to the whole Maschine project I started – but I worked it all in very quickly. The drums and groove felt so raw I really imagined having some kind of gospel-based vocal which I found the perfect energy in this Willie Scott track. It’s definitely more of a feeling than anything else.
You’ve been working with Toolroom for a while now. What’s that relationship like and how involved are they creatively?
Toolroom are great and most of the team have become trusted friends in the industry – they always work hard on every fine detail too!
You’ve released on some very different labels over the past few years. Do you write with a label in mind or just finish the track and figure out where it fits best?
Sometimes I have a specific sound in mind – but actually I prefer not to make music specifically for certain labels because I find it stunts creativity. It’s usually best for me to make the best song I possibly can without any constraints – and then figure out labels afterwards.
Tracks like ‘Out of My Depth’ and ‘Always (Me & You)’ had a bit more crossover appeal. Is ‘Prayer’ a conscious step back toward the club, or just where your head’s at right now?
Not at all! Honestly, I just love making bangers. I’m a massive sucker for a full vocal (coming from a song writing background) – and sometimes them records just lean more in the commercial lane, which I love. Most people that have seen me DJ will know that I play everything I love; from the deep underground to full vocal hits – and I express myself in the exact same way in the studio.
Got any more music lined up in the same vein as ‘Prayer’? Or are you exploring other sounds at the moment?
I have a LOT of music coming. I’ve got some really nice collaborations coming with some producers I’ve loved for a while – including Dombresky (coming this summer).
How much does playing a track live shape the final version you release? Has ‘Prayer’ changed much from how it started to what’s out now?
Massively – I know immediately when I play a record if it has gone down well – or if there are changes to be made for example the structure, mix or master. It’s the best and most honest way to test it!
You’ve got a background in live music and songwriting. Are those parts of your process still active or has it shifted more towards a producer-DJ workflow these days?
Definitely more towards the “producer” role – it started way back when I was recording and producing my own solo artist stuff and other bands. I really loved the production side of it and when I started experimenting making different styles of dance music – I noticed I wasn’t bad at it!
Your music taps into that sweet spot between nostalgia and something fresh. How do you stay aware of what’s going on in the scene without chasing trends?
I’m always dialled into what’s going on, always checking out new releases but also digging for older gems.
Prayer is out now on Toolroom
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