Exclusive Interview with Audien on MMW, PHND and 2026 Plans

Nathaniel Rathbun, or as you all know him as Audien, continues shaping modern progressive house with unmistakable energy. The Grammy-nominated producer has built a reputation through melodic precision and powerful festival-ready soundscapes. His “Progressive House Never Dies” concept reinforces a mission to revive and evolve a beloved electronic genre. Fans recognize his signature style through uplifting builds, polished production, and memorable hooks. He consistently pushes boundaries while honoring the roots of progressive house music culture. In recent years, Audien has expanded his vision beyond releases into curated live experiences. His performances emphasize connection, nostalgia, and forward-thinking musical exploration. The movement behind his concept has gained traction among longtime listeners and new audiences alike. It reflects both a personal statement and a broader call within the electronic music community.During a recent conversation with EDMTunes, Audien opened up about his creative direction and inspirations. The Interview (Please note, the bolded text represents a question, and text are Audien’s responses) You just played Miami Music Week—how did this year’s set feel compared to your past MMW appearances? This year felt special. Seeing PHND get bigger every year and move into bigger venues has been really exciting. It makes you realize where this can go and what the future of Progressive House Never Died could look like. You’ve brought your PHND concept to MMW a few times now—how has it evolved since you first introduced it? It’s become more of a real community. The shows feel bigger, but also more intentional in the experience we’re building. For your PHND set this year, how did you approach it—were you testing new music or leaning into what the crowd already loves? A mix of both. I like brining in new ideas into sets, but still keeping those core records that people really connect with. Any of these new IDs or sounds that you played hint at where PHND is heading next? Yeah, I think you’re hearing it already. Still rooted in melody, but I’ve been turning up the energy in the sets too. Keeping that emotional core, while mixing in some bigger records that really bring the intensity up. You’ve collaborated with a lot of artists over the years – are there are any past collaborations that stand out as favorites, and any upcoming ones you’re especially excited about? I’ve been really lucky on that front. Wokring with artists like Skylar Grey, Mike Williams, Rosie Darling, Bastille, and Arty have been special in different ways. And yeah, there are definitely some exciting collaborations coming up, just not quite ready to share yet. Looking ahead at 2026 , what do you have in store – more PNHD, new collaborations, and/or any other exciting projects on the horizon? A lot more PNHD, new music and some bigger live concepts I’ve been building toward. 2026 is going to be a big year! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Audien (@audien) Audien recently joined Illenium at the Sphere and that show looked unreal. He just announced his PHND Show in NYC this summer at The Rooftop at Pier 17. These are Audien’s spring dates if you are in any of the cities, do check out the PHND Show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Audien (@audien) Stay tuned to EDMTunes as he continues to announce more of his shows for 2026. The post Exclusive Interview with Audien on MMW, PHND and 2026 Plans appeared first on EDMTunes.