Will Atkinson opens his record box to reveal 10 tracks that continue to shape his approach to high-energy electronic music. Pulling influence from Hard Trance, Techno, Hard House, and Tech Trance, these selections reflect the fast-paced, euphoric, and uncompromising sound that has become synonymous with his sets and productions. Known for refusing to be confined by genre, the Scottish producer has built a reputation by creating explosive moments on the dancefloor while balancing nostalgia with forward-thinking production. The selections also arrive alongside his latest release, ‘What Is Happening (WTF) feat V I N K’ on Filth On Acid, another peak-time weapon that reinforces his boundary-pushing approach to modern club music.
Track 1: Kamui – Electro Slut (Fe Recordings)
This track came out in 2008 and I’ve been playing it ever since. It really holds its weight against the new hyper hard techno sound. Sonically so well produced and when that main kick finally drops after the breakdown, the scenes are absolutely devastating. Every time guaranteed. Hard, textbook German engineering.
Track 2: David Forbes – Discotek (Armada Music)
This one is quite new. Davie showed me this on a writers camp we were both attending and it honestly blew my eyebrows off. I’ve been playing it ever since. Mind melting Tech Trance that chews you up and spits you back out. Essential club banger.
Track 3: Will Atkinson – Mind Body Soul
Despite coming out almost 2 years ago, I’m still playing this in most of my sets. It’s a proper nod to the sound I grew up on. Labels like Nukleuz, Tidy & Tripoli Trax. The pitch bendy riff took hours to perfect. And the original sample was from a Michael Grey record. They wanted thousands to clear it. So I drafted in LUVAIN and she nailed a new hook. Twisty hard euphoric hard house.
Track 4: DJ Elite – That Fuct Camera
If you listened to Djs like Judge Jules & Fergie back in the early 00s, you probably own a copy of this. I don’t think it was ever officially released. My copy is signed by my hero, Judge Jules himself – after waiting hours outside with my mum to meet him when he opened Orkney’s first ever nightclub in 2003. It still absolutely obliterates anywhere I play it.
Track 5: Starsplash – Nightlife
Another retrospective banger. 2004 I think? Such an incredible time for hard edged Tech/Trance. I’ve played this in Northern Ireland to Scotland, Mexico to Australia. The results are the same every time. Complete and utter bedlam. Such a mind fuck of a record. I miss this sound.
Track 6: Will Atkinson – Summer ID
Indulging in another of my own here. This is just feel good party music for festival season. Definitely shaped from that bouncy euphoric hard house era. Artists like Paul Masterson (Yomanda) and Champion Burns. Such a good vibe. I want to bring that feel good vibe back. Harder dance music feels a little too serious now.
Track 7: Funk Tribu – All Of It
Me and my mates went to Malta back in 2023 and went to Glitch Festival just as ravers. This was the tune of the holiday. It takes me back to happy memories with one of my best mates Tom who sadly passed. This was constantly playing on the JBL speaker – in the hotel room, at the beach, taxi to the rave – we couldn’t get enough of it. Best holiday ever.
Track 8: Simon Patterson – Panic Attack
Patterson has an armada of nuclear weapons but this one always really stood out for me. The structure is so interesting and the sounds are utterly mind bending. The word “journey” is such a cliche musically. This is an exception. I often play it in my longer extended sets, specifically in Argentina. It goes deep but bites like hell.
Track 9: Will Atkinson – Marching Powder
Last of the self indulgence. Peak time banger with a cheeky appreciative nod to Showtek. When I play this, the energy shifts in the room shifts to primal. One of those weird tunes where the intro drop goes harder than the main. I wrote the monologue myself – quite proud of that. Not my voice though!
Track 10: Rui Da Silva – Touch Me (Vo Gazot Remix)
I’ll probably get slated for this one. Shameless bouncy bootleg of the classic. Always a great set closer for me. It’s cheeky, it’s disrespectful. But you can’t argue with the reactions. Scenes every time. Plus the original wouldn’t fit my style of sets so this allows me to fit it in.
Will Atkinson’s ‘What Is Happening (WTF)’ is out now on Filth On Acid and available to stream and purchase here.
