Raised in a family of musicians and beginning his journey as a cellist before finding his calling in synthesizers and drum machines, the Romanian producer and DJ Cristi Cons has spent over a decade quietly building one of the most respected bodies of work in the electronic underground. From his collaborative project SIT with Vlad Caia, to the genre-bending live ensemble Amorf, and releases across celebrated imprints like Cocoon, Sushitech and Meander, Cristi has always moved at his own pace, thoughtful, purposeful and consistently compelling.
Now, he arrives at a genuinely milestone moment with his new three-track release Rhythm Of Your Heart on iconic New York house institution Nervous Records, a label whose catalogue helped shape the very foundations of house music.
The release carries real personal weight too. Written alongside his childhood friend and vocalist Leyah, it marks the first time Cristi has penned lyrics, with his daughter serving as the emotional heartbeat behind the song. The result is a warm, late-night groove that balances melody with understated club energy, backed by two stellar remixes from Archie Hamilton and Christopher Ledger, each bringing their own distinct perspective to the record.
We caught up with Cristi to talk about the story behind the track, what it means to release on Nervous, and what’s coming next including Dolby Atmos, a solo album, and much more.
Hey Cristi, great to chat with you! How is everything with you at the moment?
Hi, great chatting with you too! I’m currently focused on integrating and learning as much about mixing in Dolby Atmos as I’m planning to release my upcoming projects in this format.
How would you describe your artistic style in your own words?
Constantly evolving.
I was recently exploring the work of Claude Monet and Salvador Dalí, and how their artistic jounerys evolved across completely distinct styles throughout their lives. It reminded me how important it is to keep expanding your knowledge and creative process.
What does your typical creative process look like from idea to finished piece?
It really depends on the project.
I draw inspiration from different genres, ranging from downtempo, trip hop, disco, jazz, hip-hop so anything that sounds interesting might spark a creative idea which would eventually develop into a full song.
Who or what inspires your work the most would you say?
The people who inspire me most are those who have dedicated their lives to creativity in all its forms.
Figures like Quincy Jones, David Bowie, or Rick Rubin come to mind because of their cultural impact, but I seek inspiration in other fields like poetry, painting, or cinema to name a few.
What inspired your new track “Rhythm Of Your Heart” coming out on Nervous Records?
The track started out as a disco sketch but quickly evolved into a house one after I programmed the bass line and the 909 percussion.
Most importantly, playing with my daughter and thinking of how she makes me feel and the love I carry for her pushed me to sing lyrics for the very first time.
Once the vocal idea took shape I couldn’t stop until the track was completed. The first and obvious choice for the vocals was my childhood friend Magda (Leyah) I called her up, sent her the project and she immediately accepted to collaborate.
We finished the lyrics together in the studio, recorded all the vocal layers and background vocals, which was also a first for me. It was a completely new process and a very rewarding one.
How does it feel to release on such an esteemed house label like them, and how did it come about?
It feels quite surreal, considering the label’s history and influence.
Since my early days of digging music I discovered Mood II Swing, Todd Terry, Classic Man and other iconic producers through Nervous.
The logo became a symbol for quality house music for me so I’m deeply honored to be part of their catalogue along some of my heroes.
You’ve mentioned experimenting with different styles over the past year, what new techniques or influences made it into this record?
I try to challenge myself with every project and learn something new.
This record represents my homage to house music and the influences that shaped my taste over time.
Technique wise, it would be the extensive use of vocals which was completely new territory for me.
What music are you listening to when you’re not working on your own?
Depending on the context it can range from classical music to experimental or IDM.
The most important thing for me is the emotional message, if it resonates, it becomes a source of inspiration.
What does success look like to you as an artist?
Having the freedom to express myself creatively and the privilege to share it with as many people as possible.That to me is success.
If your art had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
Something along the lines of “Dark side of the moon” I suppose.
Every time I listen to that album it’s like watching someone’s life unfold. A constant flow of emotions that come with a reflective feeling attached to them.
What can we expect next for 2026?
I’ll be releasing the second part of my solo album, which has been a long process of self discovery. It will come out both in stereo and Dolby Atmos.
I’m also working on a trip hop record, hopefully out by the end of the year, and a collaboration with a friend and artist I deeply admire.
And finally, what is one track you always come back to?
It’s hard to choose one track, but an album I keep returning to recently is “Mezzanine” by Massive Attack.
You can grab Cristi’s new track “Rhythm Of Your Heart” here, out now on Nervous Records.
Follow via @cristicons
