Candidly sharing his comments on social media, Skrillex today said the music industry is “almost impossible” to understand and announced plans to go independent next year.
Atlantic Records has been home to many of Skrillex's influential releases, such as Scary monsters and nice goblins and last year's explosive double album release, Fire Search and Don't get too close. While the partnership has spawned some of the biggest projects in modern electronic music, Skrillex has now revealed that he intends to part ways with the label and become an independent artist next year.
Skrillex took to X to share a rare and candid thread about the impending move.
“I have never felt more inspired and in tune with my intentions as an artist,” he wrote. “As I get closer to completing my next work and my final project for Atlantic Records, I can't help but feel very existential about it.”
“I'm thrilled to be putting this out there and focusing on more releases in 25 as an 'independent' artist,” he added. “But 'independent' is a very strange term because I still depend on my team and all the other creatives and executors to do what I do.”
I have never felt more inspired and in tune with my intentions as an artist. Now that I'm about to finish my next job and my final project for Atlantic Records, I can't help but feel very existential about it.
-Skrillex (@Skrillex) November 18, 2024
I’m excited to get this out and focus on more releases in 25 as an “independent” artist. But “independent” is a very strange term because I still depend on my team and all the other creatives and executors to do what I do.
-Skrillex (@Skrillex) November 18, 2024
Later in the thread, Skrillex talks about the dangers of today's music industry, which he says is highly political and intentionally difficult by design. The electronic music veteran also acknowledged the difficulties new artists face.
“It's a dangerous job to be a young artist,” he said.
But now I can rethink/revise how structures are designed. I want to find ways to simplify decimating music and art. I see many artists in constant panic.
-Skrillex (@Skrillex) November 18, 2024
The industry is like politics, it is designed to be almost impossible, as I understand it. I have seen so many artists get caught up in the illusion and deception of the business. It's a dangerous job to be a young artist.
-Skrillex (@Skrillex) November 18, 2024
As of this writing, Skrillex has not announced a release date for his latest album with Atlantic Records or his independent releases.
Follow Skrillex:
UNKNOWN: x.com/skrillex
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Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@skrillex
Facebook: facebook.com/skrillex
Spotify: tinyurl.com/naka2dyv
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