Vincent Argenzio, born in 1995 and known in the creative realm as DËKAY, stands as a globally acclaimed music producer and DJ hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Renowned for his boundary-defying musical prowess, DËKAY has intricately woven together elements of rap, trap, future bass, and hard dance, crafting a dynamic and energetic sonic experience.

His music resonates on a massive scale, accumulating millions of streams across various platforms and earning coveted placements on Spotify editorial playlists. DËKAY’s tracks have found their way into SiriusXM Satellite Radio rotations and achieved chart success in multiple countries, marking him as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

DËKAY’s debut EP, “Inferno,” not only held the coveted global number one position on the Soundcloud trap chart for weeks but also solidified his position as a trailblazer in the contemporary music landscape. The chart-topping success continued with “High Fashion Drugs,” a collaboration with Nessly, Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony, and 1dabanton, which made waves across multiple African nations.

In recent ventures, DËKAY has expanded his influence by collaborating as a producer with esteemed rappers such as Nessly, Father, Lil Wop, ManMan Savage, Smokepurpp, Waka Flocka Flame, and more. These collaborations promise to push the boundaries of genre, shaping the trajectory of his musical journey. DËKAY is a strongly recommended artist that should be added to other list Top List. Check out our interview with him below:

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Classic Entourage Magazine: Your music seamlessly blends rap, trap, future bass, and hard dance. How did you come to develop this unique fusion of genres, and what inspires you to experiment with such diverse musical elements?

DËKAY: Music is with you through every moment of your life. When you’re sad, happy, excited, in love, heartbroken etc. there is a song for you. I want my music to be an expression of that journey through life and all of the different emotions we feel on a daily basis. Rap, trap, future, and hard dance all exist within the same bpm range, but have wildly different energies and feelings attached to them. I like to oscillate between those genres to express different emotions and bring a listener on a journey through the track to tell a story. Together we can experience highs and lows, similar to life.

One moment there is a euphoric high and ecstasy, the next is a crushing low filled with anger and frustration that needs to be let out. Playing with genres and these different feelings lets me tell a story within the track. I like to view my rap and vocal collaborations as traditional art, telling a specific story. The tracks that do not have lyrics I view as more modern and abstract expressions. The listener can project their own experiences, memories, stories, and feelings onto the music they are hearing.

CE Mag: With millions of streams and placements on Spotify playlists, your music has garnered significant attention. How do you approach the creative process to ensure your tracks resonate with a wide audience while maintaining your distinct sound?

DËKAY: The creative process is very simple. “Does this make me feel something?” I set out to make tracks that elicit an emotional reaction, which I also consider my distinct sound. I believe this is why I resonate with my audience. We are all human, so if I have a strong emotional reaction to what I am creating, another person will most likely resonate with this intangible emotional feeling they may get from the song as well.

A lot of producers try to strictly make tracks that are designed to impress other producers. “Producing for producers” if you will. I don’t subscribe to this style. Some of the most powerful tracks in the world are a bit simple, a bit unpolished, a little bit raw. These human imperfections and the energy behind them are what makes them so popular and powerful. It is important to embrace the beauty in simplicity and imperfection in art, it is what makes the art relatable and human.

CE Mag: Your debut EP, “Inferno,” achieved the global number one position on the Soundcloud trap chart for weeks. Can you share the creative journey behind this project and the significance it holds in your career?

DËKAY: My goal was to bring a visceral experience to dance music that was a bit violent and dark. It was meant to be a journey through whatever your own personal hell was. Similar to a horror movie where a monster is a manifestation or symbol of a real-life trauma that needs to be confronted, I wanted to make a frightening and creepy audio experience that put the listener face to face with whatever was troubling them at the time.

The inferno ep for me was a large creative risk. The edm world was very focused on pristine and complex productions. To have a project that was bare bones, clipping and distorting all over the place, and having no distinct melodic elements wasn’t something that was really around and totally opposite of what was popular at that moment. I think it was a success with listeners because it was a breath of fresh air, and a complete creative left turn into uncharted territory for trap music that explored a lot of new sonic textures. The ep was also uncompromising in its approach, so the full commitment went over well with listeners who appreciated the concept and delivery.

One moment there is a euphoric high and ecstasy, the next is a crushing low filled with anger and frustration that needs to be let out. Playing with genres and these different feelings lets me tell a story within the track.

DËKAY

CE Mag: “High Fashion Drugs” with Nessly, Ally Brooke, and 1dabanton charted in multiple African nations. How did this collaboration come about, and what do you think contributed to its success on an international scale?

DËKAY: That collaboration was a wild rollercoaster. Nessly had originally done the track with Bhavi as a rap song. At the time nessly and I had been exploring merging a lot of EDM and rap elements for songs, so I used the acapella to flip it into a melodic house track. From there Ally Brooke and 1dabanton were signed on for the song for verses. I think the success can be attributed to not being afraid to embrace other musical cultures and rejecting rigidity and genre expectations. Pop EDM likes to follow a structure of verse, chorus over the build, and a drop.

By flipping expectations and having the chorus over the drop, three languages in one song, and an EDM climax that doesn’t exist until the end of the song, the track shows how people from different backgrounds, genres, and artistic approaches can all blend into a unique musical canvas, subvert expectations, and complement one another in a commercially viable manner. Listeners were able to basically take a dance trip around the world, and it was a fun way to appreciate one another.

CE Mag: Collaborating with artists like Terra Blvck, M.I.M.E, Besomorph, Stephen Geisler, Yung Bans, and 24hrs., you’ve demonstrated a versatile range. How do these collaborations come to fruition, and what do you enjoy most about working with other artists from different genres?

DËKAY: A lot of collaboration comes from exploration and appreciation of one another’s work. I am a fan and friend of everyone I collaborate with first and foremost. Every collaboration starts with being friends and exploring music together through our own perspectives and styles. I really enjoy collaborating with artists because it is interesting to see how we interpret each other’s work.

When I send music to vocalists and other producers, it is exciting and interesting to see how my music is interpreted by them, often in ways I wasn’t expecting. This is great because new doors are opened creatively and different artistic perspectives are able to be shared and merged that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I also enjoy being able to interpret and put my own feelings and experiences into the music that is sent to me to work on. Collaborating is similar to giving each other writing prompts. It is fun to give the topic and not know where the story is going to go, and vice versa.

CE Mag: As a DJ and music producer, how do you approach your live performances? What do you aim to convey to your audience through your sets, and how does the energy of a live crowd influence your performance?

DËKAY: I am a strong believer in translating the way I make music to DJ sets. We are going on an emotional musical journey together, so I will guide us through all of that. It is important to tell a story with a dj set, so continuing to go between those emotional highs and lows is a must for a great emotional response from the crowd. A really great dj also sets themself apart by having music you can only hear at their sets. I think it is important to have your own personal edits, mashups, and remixes which helps define your personal style, gives the crowd something unique and exclusive for being at your set, and gives you the tools necessary for a high-quality set with no fluff or filler.

CE Mag: Your music has been featured on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. How does it feel to have your work broadcasted on such a prominent platform, and what impact has it had on your career?

DËKAY: It was really a humbling moment to hear my music on the radio, be introduced by Diplo, and hosted by one of the most prominent tastemakers in EDM music from The Nations. That was a big motivation for me to keep pushing myself creatively because I want to continue to keep hitting those radio placements frequently. Having a co-sign like that was great for my career because it proved to artists and a&r’s that my production taste and ideas were radio friendly and commercially viable. It allowed me to have more creative freedom while working with labels and artists because it instills trust in your taste.

CE Mag: In recent collaborations, you’ve worked with rappers like Nessly, Father, Lil Wop, ManMan Savage, Smokepurpp, and Waka Flocka Flame. How do these collaborations challenge you creatively, and what do you believe each artist brings to the table in terms of shaping the final product?

DËKAY: I don’t view the collaborations as challenges but opportunities to explore new musical horizons. Every artist is similar to a color palette when creating a painting. When something is sent to me, I get a new and unique palette to work with. Every artist brings their unique perspective and color palette to the table, which ultimately makes me go in directions that I may not have considered or thought of. I don’t view this as a challenge, but rather a great way to make something new and fresh.

CE Mag: Your fan base spans across the globe. How do you connect with your fans, and what role do they play in influencing your creative decisions and musical direction?

DËKAY: I love talking with my fans online in the comments and on social media. I think it is important to be involved with your fans and build a community around your shared love in music. I think they influence me most by knowing them. By getting to know everyone on a personal level and see what is happening in their lives, I can continue to create stories within my music about our shared human experiences.

CE Mag: Looking ahead, what can fans anticipate from DËKAY in terms of upcoming projects, collaborations, or musical explorations? How do you envision your musical journey evolving in the future?

DËKAY: We have a packed year ahead. So far there are about 150 songs in the vault spread out across multiple albums, collaborations, and collaborative projects. In terms of the musical journey, I am looking to continue to break down genre barriers, blur the lines between dance and rap music, and push the envelope for unexpected collaborations.

Make sure to check DËKAY on Instagram and Sound Cloud