A supreme storyteller through the sonic means of feel-good dance music, Ed Raissi is a promising record producer and live DJ emerging from Miami’s vibrant scene. Drawing on experiences of day-to-day life and favoring a classic house groove, Ed’s music aims to inspire and elevate. Not only an artist himself, but Ed also established his own record label, Eminent Sessions, home to his biggest hit to date, the 2022 release “Forever,” which is verging on the one million milestones in just a matter of months.
1. Tell us about your background, where are you from, and how has this influenced your music?
Growing up in Morocco, my family was all about music, and they really got me into it too. I’ve always been interested in musical instruments ever since I can remember. Whenever I saw one, I just had to play it! That love for music stuck with me and inspired me to follow my dreams.
From an early age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a musician and record producer. I always knew that the United States was where the best music was coming from, and it played a massive role in my decision to move abroad and chase my dreams here.
2. When did you first start creating music? What advice would you give to your younger self in the early learning stages?
I’ve been writing music on my guitar since I was eight years old. When I was 12, I discovered Logic Pro, a music production software, which opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. Playing guitar, bass, drums, and piano made it very easy for me to start producing Logic Pro. Eventually, I became interested in sound and decided to get into audio and mastering engineering. This allowed me to take my sounds to their fullest potential. If I could give advice to my younger self, I would tell myself to believe in my abilities and to keep digging deeper into my craft.
3. What’s the inspiration behind your record label Eminent Sessions Records? And what are your goals with this project?
A couple of years ago, I teamed up with Bruno Gondel to find Eminent Sessions Records. Since then, I’ve released all my records on our label. The best part about it is the freedom it gives me to create and release my authentic and real music without having to conform to what a record label tells me to do. Nowadays, anyone can promote and market themselves as independent artists, thanks to all the tools and resources available. You just need to be resourceful and do some digging.
Record labels usually don’t take risks on someone with a unique sound. They always push their artists to create what’s already working, which takes away from the artist’s musical identity. As far as the music itself goes, the simplest thing to forget is that music is all about creating things you think are beautiful. That is when you sit in the studio as a record producer, and you’re creating. You have to learn to be certain about what you like, not what you think sounds good to someone else. You have to learn your own heart and your own mind about sound. So, whatever you think is beautiful, that’s what’s beautiful. You have to pursue that road and never forget that there is an audience for everyone.
4. When you’re preparing for live DJ sets or creating a new mix for Eminent Sessions mixes, where do you look for new music? Who are some artists that you’re currently listening to?
It depends, but usually, I like to do a lot of mashups and edits to make the tracks fit my personal taste. I get most of my tracks from places like 1001 Tracklists or from DJ promos. Right now, I’m listening to some sick tracks from Kream, KX5, Monocule, and JYYE.
5. What is the most challenging thing you have overcome in your life?
The toughest challenges I’ve faced in my life were moving to the US all by myself and starting from scratch with no connections and breaking into the competitive music industry as a record producer. Nowadays, with everyone wanting to become a music producer, I had to work really hard to stand out from the crowd and showcase my unique skills and talents. It takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and perseverance to make it in this industry, and those who are truly hungry will never starve in the music industry.
6. Who inspires you musically? And why?
When it comes to house music, David Guetta is my main inspiration. He knows a tonne about music production and is really impressive at it. There are a lot of other talented producers out there, but what sets him apart is how he mixes different types of music, like pop, EDM, and hip-hop, to make unique tracks. He’s also great at working with other artists and helping them sound their best. Basically, there are many great producers in the music biz, but David Guetta’s skills and knowledge have definitely helped him become a respected and influential figure.
7. What is your greatest achievement so far as a musician?
My biggest accomplishment as a musician is simply believing in myself and continuing to pursue what I love. I feel blessed to have given myself the opportunity to follow my dreams, and that’s more meaningful to me than any awards or stream numbers. I still have a lot to learn and achieve, but I’m excited about the journey and all the possibilities ahead.
8. Your single ‘Forever’ has had a lot of momentum. Did you expect the track to do so well, and what do you think made it resonate with so many people?
My team and I thought the track would do well, but I didn’t expect it to hit a million streams so quickly. The feedback has been insane, so I’ve decided to produce another song with the same production and vocal style as “Forever.”
9. You’re planning to follow up with the single ‘Burnin’ this Spring. How does the sound compare to your previous releases? What can we expect?
Think of it as a follow-up to “Forever” with the same vibe and energy. I’m stoked to drop it and share it with everyone.
10. Summer is fast approaching, in your opinion, what tracks are essential for a feel-good summer playlist?
I’ve got a tonne of great tracks to share, you can check out my playlist on Spotify called “House Sessions” for all of my favorite feel-good summer bangers. I keep updating it with fresh new tunes, so make sure to check back often, so you don’t miss out on any of the good stuff!
11. What’s your favorite club in Miami? Do you have any DJ shows planned in town?
Honestly, I don’t really enjoy going to clubs unless I’m the one spinning behind the DJ booth. But guess what? My team and I are currently chatting with some new booking agents and we’re going to have some gig dates to announce real soon. So, keep an eye out for that!
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12. What final message would you like to leave with our audience?
I’m super grateful for all of my fans and supporters. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It means everything to me to be able to share my music with people who connect with it. Making music is my calling in life, and I feel so blessed to be able to pursue it. To all of my supporters out there, much love and thank you for believing in me. And if you’re reading this, hit me up on Instagram and send me a message! I’d love to chat with you all.