Image credit: Christian Vaughn
Release Date: 2 May 2025
Label: Enormous Chills
Listen: Exstra – “Round & Round” feat. Frýnn
Stream/Download: Exstra – “Round & Round”
New York producer Exstra has returned with another ethereal club offering “Round & Round” on May 2nd, 2025 on the Enormous Chills imprint. The track, which premiered on CLASH Magazine and landed support from the prestigious publication YourEDM, features vocals from the enchanting singer Frýnn, known for her collaborations with titans like CamelPhat and Mathame. Exstra boasts 1.8 million streams across platforms, making waves with releases on renowned record labels like Colorize, Enormous Tunes, and Zerothree Music.
“It’s a dancefloor daydream that will have listeners in a chokehold from beginning to end.” – YourEDM
“Round & Round” follows the success of Exstra’s 2024 singles, “All I’ll Ever Know” and “Frozen” which garnered notable support from Magnetic Magazine and House Music With Love. These tracks also received airplay on Nora En Pure’s Purified Radio and were featured on AVIRA’s The Sound Gallery which aired on SiriusXM. Additionally, Exstra’s work has been supported by EDM Identity.
“The New York DJ producer invites the versatile tones of Frýnn to drive the track’s melody forwards; a luminous, haunting performance that strikes gold.” – CLASH Magazine
In February 2023, Exstra performed at the We Belong Here music festival in Miami, alongside headliners Kaskade and Lane 8. He also provided DJ support for Martin Roth the following month. In 2024, Exstra returned to the We Belong Here festival in New York City, performing alongside artists like Kaskade, Monolink, Fisher, and Stephan Bodzin.
From Valley Stream, New York and currently residing in The Big Apple, Steven Landis grew up listening to a lot of poppy electronic music in the late 90s (Robert Miles, Le Bouche, A Touch of Class, Pete Konemann, etc). His foray into the world of electronic music began slowly. He dabbled in cello in elementary school, but it didn’t stick. He then joined the school choir in middle school and was selected to join a more exclusive chorale in high school, travelling to Rome and Florence for performances and even sung in the Vatican – but it was after seeing Avicii live during his time in university that inspired him to become a DJ. He began performing as Exstra at parties and local nightclubs in Washington, DC (Shadowroom, Opera, etc.). After graduating in 2013 and moving to NYC, he played at just about every nightclub in the city between 2013 and 2020. Gaining traction, he was also booked for international gigs in Paris and Cambodia during that period. In 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns led him to pursue music production, honing his skills and landing his first record deal with Enormous Chills four months later.
“Exstra’s soft, driving, club-friendly melodic house tracks have a certain magic to them that’s hard to put your finger on but have some incredible potential that keeps me listening and relistening to his entire discography while I’ve been working.” – Magnetic Magazine
Exstra’s sonic palette blends dark analogue sounds together with beautiful organic tones to create music that keeps you hypnotised on the dance floor. Influenced by Nora En Pure, Cassian, Camelphat and Joris Voorn, his music is a mesmerising miasma of melodic and progressive house sure to ensnare fans of the above, as well as those of Sultan & Shepard, Le Youth, Tinlicker, and Eli & Fur.
“Round & Round” begins with a steady four-on-the-floor and the subtle introduction of a contrastingly light hang drum, dancing in a delicate arpeggiated eddy around the driving rhythm, remaining a constant motif throughout the rest of the song. The layers gently stack up as the song progresses, with deep, dark bass and atmospheric pads ushering in Frýnn’s celestial yet anthemic vocals. The song’s intensity ebbs and flows with intricate precision, building to a soft yet cathartic ending, leaving listeners in a hypnotised daze.
Exstra told us: “‘Round & Round’ started as a remix of a friend’s song, but it took on a life of its own, evolving into something completely original. I was feeling inspired by the darker side of melodic club music and I wanted to create a melody that first appeared as a subtle tease—played delicately on a hang drum—before transforming into something more intense with an aggressive synth lead. After I completed the instrumental, I felt like a warm, beautiful vocal would be the perfect complement. Needless to say, Frýnn’s stunning voice brought everything together effortlessly!”
“Round & Round” featuring Frýnn is our now on Enormous Chills.
For more information about Exstra, go to:
Website | Facebook | X | SoundCloud | Instagram | Spotify
You don’t know a room until you’re on the dance floor.
Throughout the day, I listen to a wide variety of music. Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into hard trance, but I always start my mornings with more downtempo, melodic sounds. Sometimes I begin the day with nonvocal ambient music to help ease into things. When I first heard “Round & Round,” I was immediately struck by the production. The track is beautifully layered and features the iconic vocals of Frýnn, a singer-songwriter you’ve definitely heard before.
The song is a magical four-minute journey through emotion, captivating you from the first beat to the final note. After this single dropped, I started exploring more of Exstra’s work and was drawn in by his consistency and the feeling each track left behind. It’s rare to find an artist who delivers that kind of emotional impact again and again.
To learn more, I reached out for an interview. I wanted to help promote not only this new release but also to spotlight an up-and-coming DJ from New York whose talent deserves attention. The single is incredible, and I truly enjoyed our time together.
So turn on “Round & Round” and enjoy this exclusive interview. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Exstra.
What inspired your latest single “Round & Round,” and how did the idea evolve from a remix to an original track?
It started as a remix for a friend’s song, but it eventually took on a life of its own. I had a vision for incorporating female vocals and thought the record could have a ton of potential. I’m really proud of how everything came together in the end!
How did you first connect with Frýnn, and what made her the right fit for this project?
I contacted Frýnn shortly after she released an awesome record with Julya Karma, an NYC artist I connected with during a remote mentorship program in 2021. Shortly thereafter, Frýnn went on to release some massive records with the likes of CamelPhat and Mathame! Her warm, yet ethereal tone had this haunting beauty that matched the emotional weight of the instrumental perfectly.
Can you walk us through the production process of the track, from the hang drum motif to the final mix?
The process was a bit unique because I wrote the drones, chords, and melodies to the vocal of the song I was remixing. While it wasn’t the plan for the idea to become an original, this can be a really powerful strategy for combating writer’s block — take a vocal from a song you feel inspired by, use it to write chords and melodies, and then ditch it! After the instrumental was complete, I sent it to Frýnn and she wrote the lyrics and melody for the vocals.
“Round & Round” has been described as haunting and luminous. How do you balance dark and uplifting elements in your music?
I think that balance mirrors life, there’s always a little light in the shadows! It’s all about contrast and tension. Melancholic chords with uplifting melodies, dark aggressive sounds in contrast to more delicate and hopeful ones, etc.
What was it like premiering the track with CLASH Magazine and seeing support from outlets like YourEDM and Magnetic Magazine?
It was surreal! Having tastemakers I’ve followed for years recognize and support my music makes me feel like I’m on the right path.
You’ve released music on respected labels like Colorize, Enormous Tunes, and Zerothree. How did you land your first record deal?
I first connected with the owner of Enormous Tunes, Christian Hirt, ~5 years ago when I was looking to have my first demo mastered. He ended up signing that demo on Enormous Chills and it’s blossomed into an awesome friendship and partnership since then!
Your style is deeply melodic and atmospheric. Who are some artists that have shaped your sound the most?
Definitely artists like Nora En Pure, Lane 8, and Ben Böhmer. I’ve always been drawn to emotive, cinematic soundscapes.
You’ve said Avicii inspired you to become a DJ. What was it about that live experience that changed your perspective?
Seeing Avicii live made me realize dance music could create a shared emotional experience on a massive scale. After that night, I knew I wanted to do the same.
Before becoming Exstra, you performed in choir and even sang at the Vatican. How has that classical training influenced your music today?
Choir taught me about harmony, emotional delivery, and space. That foundation still informs how I approach production, arrangement, and mixing.
What do you remember about your first gigs in Washington, D.C. nightclubs like Shadowroom and Opera?
Total adrenaline rush! I was nervous, but the crowd’s energy made me feel alive in a way nothing else had before.
Between 2013 and 2020, you played nearly every NYC nightclub. Do any standout memories or wild stories come to mind from that era?
One of my favorite memories was opening for NERVO in the Hamptons. The room was completely packed for my entire set and Liv and Mim were dancing at one of the tables for most of it. It was great to hear they loved my set and we took a photo when they came onto the stage!
How did the COVID-19 lockdowns impact your career, and what motivated you to begin producing your own music during that time?
COVID definitely resulted in a decrease in performances, but it did give me the opportunity to seriously pursue music production for the first time. Most people that started DJing in the 2010s aspired to also produce their own music since that’s what the largest artists were doing at the time. I tried to pick it up a few times in the first ~10 years that I was DJing, but there was such a steep learning curve and I wasn’t able to commit enough time to overcome it. When COVID hit and the world came to a stop, I took a 30-day music production boot camp and left feeling like I finally had the tools to bring the ideas in my mind to life.
You’ve performed internationally in places like Paris and Cambodia. What has been your most memorable gig abroad so far?
Cambodia was really special. Playing on the beach of a remote island surrounded by music lovers from all over the world was a moment I’ll never forget.
You’ve played We Belong Here in both Miami and NYC. How does the festival vibe compare to traditional club shows?
I’ve really enjoyed the festival shows. They are definitely a bit different in that you can show up as your true self and play the set that you feel best tells your own story. Since the performances are usually shorter, I usually quickly progress to higher energy music to make a lasting impression. Traditional club shows are always a blast since you get to tell a story over many hours — you really have a chance to start out slow and warm up the room. Unless you’re the headliner, your goal is to build anticipation and excitement for the next act, and that is certainly an art in itself!
What does your current creative workflow look like in the studio? Are you more of a planner or someone who follows inspiration in the moment?
Definitely inspiration-led. I’ll often start with a melodic drone and let the track unfold naturally without forcing structure too early.
Your music often feels like it tells a story. Do visuals or scenes ever play a role when you’re composing a track?
I love the idea of writing to visuals, but I haven’t tried that yet! I do like to incorporate very subtle ambience/scenes into intros and breakdowns like rain, I find that it can really tie things together and help to tell the story you’re telling.
With over 1.8 million streams across platforms, how do you stay grounded and focused on your artistry?
I remind myself that numbers don’t define the work. It’s all about the connection with listeners, whether it’s via streaming platforms or performances.
What is something fans might be surprised to learn about you, either musically or personally?
I love movies! Maybe not that surprising though…
Who would be your dream collaboration, and what kind of track would you want to make together?
I’d love to work with Jem Cooke, she has such an emotional and powerful voice. Probably would make a melodic house or techno record!
What’s next for you as Exstra? Are there more singles, live shows, or maybe even an album on the way?
Planning on a lot of studio time through the end of the year, hoping to line up some strong releases towards the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026! Actively working on landing some bookings as well if you know anyone looking.
Thanks for doing this, man. I really enjoyed our time together. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go ahead.
For all of the producers out there — before you add more, ask: is it helping the song or hiding the problem? Thank you for having me!
