richie
(@crucifiesyourmind)
Hi, my name is Richard. But most know me by Crucified. I’ve been a DJ/ Producer for the last 5 years. But besides that, I’ve always been into music. I remember buying my first song off ITunes at the time: Technologic by Daft Punk.
Introduce yourself. How long have you been a DJ?
You dropped two EPs last month — can you describe their genres, vibes, and overall feel?
So both EPs have very different sounds and vibes overall. “Full Tilt Boogie” gives you an Immersive Summer type Experience with hypnotic grooves and emotional undertones while “VIBE CHECK” is more of a HIGH ENERGY driving feel.
How would you describe the vibe of each EP in just three words?
Emotional, Gritty and Minimal and Wild, Punchy and Relentless.
I wanted each EP to have its own identity. On My Mind is deeper and more emotional, while Vibe Check is wild and chaotic. If I combined them, that contrast might get lost. Releasing them side by side let me tell two sides of the same story — like light and shadow — and gave each vibe room to breathe.
What inspired releasing them side by side instead of as one project?
Was there a personal experience or specific moment in your life that shaped either EP’s sound or message?
I happened to be let go from a job I was at for a bit, and I didn’t really know what to do after that. I told myself if I’m going to make it, I’ll have to sit down and let my emotions come through in the music I’m making. Djing had sort of become more of a hobby, and nothing I was making was really sticking, so I sat down a couple of restless nights and just created. This is what came out.
Which track across the two EPs challenged you the most creatively — and how did you overcome that block?
“Let Yourself” definitely pushed me creatively. I wanted it to be hypnotic and emotional, but still danceable. Striking that balance took time — the first few versions felt either too soft or too rigid. I overcame the block by stripping it down to its core groove and rebuilding it slowly, layer by layer, until it felt alive. Sometimes less really is more.
Yeah, on Full Tilt Boogie I started messing with instruments and weird percussive stabs that I wouldn’t normally use. I wanted it to feel a little unhinged, like it was barely holding itself together but still grooving. On On My Mind, I explored more subtle ambient textures — not something I usually lean into — but it gave it that moody, reflective space I was going for. On Both EP’s I really went for a more minimal sound I normally do. Often I make things more loud and heavy. But this just felt right at the time.
Were there any sounds, samples, or production styles you experimented with that were totally new for you?
What track are you most excited to play live — and what kind of energy do you picture in the crowd when it drops?
Full Tilt Boogie is the one. That track just hits different in a live setting. I picture the lights going off, strobes flashing, everyone in full send mode. It’s raw, chaotic energy — the kind of moment that makes people scream without realizing it. It’s built for the climax of the night in a 3-4AM Setting.
photo: @patrickholmeshollywood
I love playing in gritty, intimate spots — places like LA or Las Vegas, or some of those undergrounds in AZ and San Fran .There's just something real about being eye level with the crowd, all sweating together. But I’d love to play Worldwide or something international — maybe Berlin, Tokyo, or Even closer like Chicago. Just wild crowds who are there for the music, not the clout.
Where do you love to perform, and where do you wish to perform?
I want people to lose themselves — whether it’s for five minutes or an entire set. The goal is to pull you out of your head and into your body. It’s hypnotic on purpose. If it helps you feel something, move through something, or just zone out and dance, then it’s done its job.
What do you want your listeners to take away from your music?
What can we expect from you in the future?
More heat. Ive got another EP out in July on Dynamic Musik, plus some collaborations with a few collectives I really respect. I’m leveling up the live experience also dropping some new Edits. And definitely more Hypnotic Dance Club events. This is just the warm-up.
photo: Jesse Vazquez @jv_studios_