Deep Down wastes no time. Teaming up with rising talent Aden Rémei, Illyus Barrientos kicks the year off with a certified club weapon. Raw, direct, and built to ignite dancefloors on impact.
There’s no retro play here, just undiluted energy shaped for peak-time pressure and locked-in rooms.
Long known for his consistency, from standout Toolroom releases like So Serious, D.A.N.C.E., Shout, and Promise to hosting Toolroom Radio, Illyus Barrientos taps back into his most physical instincts on Deep Down. Authentic house vocals ride hypnotic, infectious grooves, striking a balance between control and grit that feels lived-in rather than polished.
In the interview below, Illyus Barrientos breaks down why Deep Down had to lead the charge, how collaboration and restraint shaped the record, and where this tougher, more focused energy sits within his evolving Toolroom journey, with more heat already lined up for the months ahead.
I learnt a long time ago, when it comes to production less is more.
Deep Down hits like a club weapon straight out the gate. Why did it feel right to open 2026 with this one?
Honestly it just felt like a statement. No easing folk in and no warm up. Straight to the point. After a bit of reflection last year I wanted to kick 2026 off with something that said.. aye I’m ’back in the club now. Deep Down had that confidence from day one.
The groove feels raw not retro. What energy were you chasing when the track first came together?
Aden & myself were not trying to nod to any era. It was more about that sweaty late night feeling when the room is locked in and nobody is overthinking it. I wanted it to feel human and a bit rough round the edges, like it could tip at any moment but never quite does.
This collaboration blends experience with a fresh angle. How did your roles naturally split in the studio?
No egos just pushing the tune where it needed to go. I think you just java to be cool with the other person’s vision for a track or a sound. You can learn so much working with someone else in the studio.
The vocal anchors the track emotionally. What were you listening for to keep it authentic and unpolished?
I was listening for character more than perfection. That’s 100% my production style in a nutshell. Little cracks and attitude in the voice that make it feel lived in. As soon as something sounds too clean it needs pulled back, it’s house music after all.
It’s a peak time record that knows when to pull back. How deliberate was that sense of restraint?
In all honesty sometimes you just flow in the studio and know immediately when something feels right. I learnt a long time ago, when it comes to production less is more. Being aware of what’s needed when but also holding back when adding more elements can be so hard, but it’s all about trusting your instincts and style.
How did you keep the groove hypnotic without letting it become mechanical?
Aden did an amazing job with this, tiny swings, little shifts and small imperfections. I get a lot of my influences from hip hop where swing is everything and as soon as I heard the initial idea from Aden, I knew this was a bit of me.
What choices did you make around kick bass and sub to make sure it hits properly on big systems?
It was all about leaving room and not placing the bassline in the same frequency as the kick . The kick had to punch without swallowing the low end and the sub needed to sit underneath rather than fight it.
How did you know when the arrangement was done club testing or pure instinct?
I think the arrangement with club records is pretty simple. I don’t overthink arrangement… keep it simple and let the dancefloor have it.
Illyus Barrientos where does Deep Down sit within your wider Toolroom journey?
It feels like a proper marker. Still rooted in the sound but maybe a touch tougher than past releases. It sums up where my head is at right now I suppose. It was also nice to do my first collab with another artist on toolroom.
With the year just starting what’s next more collaborations or pushing this sound even further?
Both. Got a nice collab coming out in February with MK and some big records coming out that all sorts of dj’s played out last year. It was nice to do the NO.ID thing in 2025, it really got my hunger back. I am loving collaborating right now so I’ll reach out to a few more mates to make some music. I’m very much in a space where I just want to make records that matter to me and I think the records coming out reflects that.
©fm