The pre-dawn stillness of Chicago was shattered not by the city’s awakening, but by a nascent musical idea taking shape in the back of an Uber. Luke Alexander, fresh off a festival performance, found himself in that liminal space between exhaustion and inspiration, his mind buzzing with a melody that demanded immediate attention. With no studio readily available, the moving vehicle became an impromptu creative sanctuary, a mobile sound booth offering the only opportunity to capture a fleeting moment of sonic inspiration. It was within this unexpected setting, on a journey towards the airport, that a collaboration was born, leading to the release of "7 Miles High," a track that is now making waves across the electronic music landscape.
The single, released via Enhanced, represents a compelling fusion of established artistry and emerging talent. It marks a significant moment for Luke Alexander, his first major collaboration at this caliber, built on the foundation of his experience honing his craft in the vibrant, often demanding, New York City nightlife scene. For Audien, the GRAMMY-nominated artist also known as Nate Rathbun, "7 Miles High" signifies a deliberate lean into the foundational elements of house music, a genre he has deeply influenced through his Progressive House Never Died (PHND) movement, while simultaneously demonstrating his continued evolution as an artist.
The genesis of "7 Miles High" is as organic as it is serendipitous. Alexander recounted the pivotal moment in a recent interview: "I was listening on the speakers in the Uber to this track that I had been working on for a quick second. The car was the closest thing to a studio I had that weekend. I asked Nate what he thought, and he gave great input, so I asked if he wanted to work on it with me and make it a collab." This spontaneous sharing of a work-in-progress, a raw sketch of a song, opened the door to a creative partnership that would ultimately shape the final track. Rathbun, recalling the encounter, noted, "Luke and I had talked about working on something together when the right idea came along, and luckily it landed for us super naturally in an Uber." He further elaborated on the complementary nature of their styles, stating, "I’ve always liked the energy and edge he brings to his music, and I thought combining that with my more melodic approach could lead somewhere interesting."
The Evolution of a Track: From Sketch to Euphoria
The initial iterations of "7 Miles High" were, as Alexander described, "pretty tame." However, by the time he shared it with Rathbun, it had already begun to acquire a discernible energy. The objective, as articulated by Alexander, was ambitious: "to make something modern that pushed the boundaries of what’s being done in dance-pop, while pulling from tech house, indie dance, and progressive house to create a real blend of both of our sounds." This ambition was met with a refined production process. Rathbun explained, "We kept refining it until the production felt big and euphoric while still having his signature house sound driving it."
The production process itself was a testament to their collaborative synergy. Rathbun, known for his innate ability to craft emotionally resonant melodies, found a compelling counterpoint in Alexander’s grittier, groove-centric approach. "I think our different approaches are really what shaped the record," Rathbun observed. "Luke brings a grittier edge to his production, and I naturally gravitate toward melody and emotion, so ‘7 Miles High’ became a really nice meeting point between those two worlds." Alexander echoed this sentiment, adding, "I started out in the industry as a progressive house DJ, and as a fan of Nate’s music, so I trusted that his melodic, emotional sound would complement the techier side of what I do. I also wanted to give him the freedom to really influence the record and push it further into that melodic space."
Navigating Genre Boundaries: A Modern Perspective
In an era where electronic music is increasingly fluid and less constrained by rigid genre definitions, "7 Miles High" stands as a prime example of this evolving landscape. While Alexander’s background is rooted in the club-driven house scene, and Rathbun is celebrated for his progressive house anthems, the track masterfully blends these influences without adhering strictly to any single category.
Alexander articulated a clear philosophy on genre, stating, "Genres don’t mean that much to me. The whole battle of what’s cool, what genre something belongs to, or which genre is somehow superior is corny. Make dope shit. Make people happy. Make people escape. Make people dance. If the record does all of that, who cares what you call it? Send it to ancestry.com and let them figure it out." This sentiment underscores a growing trend among contemporary artists to prioritize the emotional impact and danceability of their music over strict stylistic classifications.
Rathbun, while acknowledging the enduring significance of progressive house in his artistic identity, particularly through his PHND initiative, also embraces this broader creative freedom. "Progressive house will always be a huge part of who I am as an artist," he stated. "It’s the sound I fell in love with, and PHND has given me this incredible platform to keep celebrating it, but I also never want to feel limited to making one type of music. For me, it’s about keeping that emotion and energy at the core of what I do while giving myself the freedom to explore different sounds." This dual approach allows him to honor his roots while venturing into new sonic territories, a strategy that has clearly resonated with his audience.
The Muse of New York City: An Emotional Tapestry
Luke Alexander’s artistic sensibilities are deeply intertwined with the dynamic and often contradictory spirit of New York City. He described the city as a profound source of inspiration, its mood swings directly influencing his creative output. "New York is fucking moody, dude," Alexander stated. "Some days you wake up and the city is gritty as shit and you feel like a gangster. Other days it’s aggressive, other days it’s artsy and futuristic, and then sometimes it feels like you’re living in a fucking rom-com. Sometimes it’s sad. The seasons completely change the emotion of the city, too."
This inherent emotional complexity of New York is mirrored in "7 Miles High." Alexander elaborated, "I think the record does the same thing. On the surface, it’s a happy song, but there’s this underlying moodiness to it that carries a lot more emotion. It really depends on where you’re at when you listen to it. It can feel freeing, it can feel healing, it can feel nostalgic, or it can feel sad. And then another day you put it on and it just makes you happy. I think New York has always had that same emotional ambiguity for me." This ability to evoke a spectrum of feelings, from elation to introspection, is a hallmark of music that connects deeply with listeners.
The PHND Movement and Broader Artistic Vision
Audien’s Progressive House Never Died (PHND) movement has become a significant force in the electronic music scene, providing a platform not only for his own explorations but also for fostering a community around the enduring appeal of progressive house. His recent endeavors, including three shows in New York City within a 30-hour span, underscore the vibrant energy he brings to his fanbase. Reflecting on this intense weekend, Rathbun noted, "New York was a really special weekend. Getting to play three completely different shows in less than 30 hours and see the PHND community show up throughout the weekend was incredible."
"7 Miles High," despite its more house-centric leanings, is seen as a natural extension of the PHND ethos. "‘7 Miles High’ is definitely more house-driven than what people might traditionally associate with PHND, but that’s part of the bigger picture for me," Rathbun explained. "PHND lets me continue championing progressive house while my own music can keep evolving and exploring new sounds." This demonstrates a nuanced understanding of his brand and a commitment to artistic growth.
A Milestone Collaboration and Future Prospects
For Luke Alexander, "7 Miles High" represents a significant professional milestone. "It’s definitely a milestone for me," he stated. "It’s my first collaboration at this level, but what makes it more meaningful is that it happened with someone I consider family." The existing professional relationship through shared management and agency, coupled with a genuine personal connection, created an ideal environment for this creative venture. Alexander emphasized the organic nature of the collaboration, noting, "This wasn’t some coordinated play date where everyone said, ‘You guys have the same team, go make a record.’ It was purely the right record, the right people, at the right time." The near-miss of his flight that morning serves as a stark reminder of how close this collaboration came to not happening, highlighting the delicate balance of chance and readiness in artistic creation.
The early performance data for "7 Miles High" has been exceptionally strong, indicating a swift and positive reception from the audience. Alexander observed, "I’m watching the numbers come in from the first 24 hours, and I’ve never had a record move this quickly out of the gate, so clearly we did something right." This success reinforces his forward-looking approach to music production, which prioritizes creating impactful tracks that transcend genre boundaries. "I want to keep making records that can live in different worlds without being overly concerned with where they’re supposed to fit," he concluded.
Looking ahead, the possibility of future collaborations between Alexander and Rathbun remains open. When asked about another joint project, Audien responded, "Never say never. I think we’re both really happy with how this one turned out, and we enjoyed working on the song together." Alexander, with his characteristic zest, added a playful yet telling note about his ideal creative process: "Yeah, next time we’re gonna have to go on a bender for three days and see what comes out of it." This suggests a continued exploration of their creative chemistry, driven by spontaneity and a shared passion for pushing musical boundaries. The success of "7 Miles High" is not just a testament to the artists’ individual talents but also a powerful illustration of how unexpected encounters and a shared artistic vision can culminate in music that resonates deeply and broadly.
