Sebastian Wibe has quietly become one of the most intriguing voices in the crossover between trance and UK Garage, carving out a sound that feels entirely his own. With a string of releases on Oliver Heldens’ renowned Heldeep Records, an official remix for the man himself, and a new single “breathe (i need to)” that captures both the euphoria of the dancefloor and the vulnerability of needing to slow down, Sebastian is an artist who is fully stepping into his own and doing it on his own terms.
Coming up through the Danish electronic music scene, inspired by the artists who proved it was possible to dream big beyond the country’s borders, Sebastian has spent years honing his craft through sleepless studio nights, voice notes recorded on empty streets, and an almost obsessive dedication to his music. He talks about his creative process, late-night inspiration, the relationship that changed his career, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
Your latest release marks a continuation of your UKG sound evolution, what was the creative process like for ‘breathe (i need to)’, and how does it represent where you’re at artistically right now?
For breathe (i need to), I started out writing these melancholic chords, and from there, I got inspired to sit down and write the lyrics around the theme of taking a moment to breathe. I was in a period of my life where things were going a bit too fast, so in a way, all those feelings made their way into the record. The song marks a point for me where I feel at home in my new sound. I feel like I’ve built this little sonic universe, which I’m excited to expand on every day.
Your sound blends trance and UK Garage in a unique way, how did you land on this fusion, and has it been a natural evolution or more of an experiment?
I’ve always loved the way trance makes me feel, with the fast-paced tempo and emotional chord progressions. On the other hand, UKG, to me, is the definition of cool, with groovy basslines and dusty, crisp drums. So for me, it was, in some way, natural to end up drawing from both of these, when creating my own world. In some way, making room to shed a tear while losing it on the dancefloor.
Walk us through your production setup and process – do you spend a lot of time in the studio, prefer to work in the box or on the road?
I make my best ideas in the studio at night when the city is asleep! My studio has a window where I can see the street, and there’s something about those empty streets and soothing city lights that gives me inspiration. Also I really love recording sudden ideas as voice notes. I must look like a maniac when walking down the street going: “It needs to be this melodi, the drums should sound like this, the title should be this etc.” to future-me haha.
You’ve experienced both sides now, playing major festivals and going on tour versus being in the studio creating – which environment energises you more, and how do they feed into each other?
I’m 100% myself when I’m in the studio, and I cherish all those early mornings, going to bed while listening to a new demo I’ve made. Playing shows gives me memories I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The love I get from the people coming to see me, gives me fuel for a thousand sleepless nights in the studio.
You’ve built a strong relationship with Oliver Heldens and his label – how did that connection first develop, and what has it meant for your career to have that support?
Oliver was one of the artists who got me into electronic music, so in a way, both he and Heldeep Records have shaped me as an artist before I even dreamt of releasing with them. I had my first release on Heldeep in 2024, a tech house collaboration with R3wire. After changing my style to what it is now, we sent them a record, and Rick (A&R) believed in it. It took my career to the next level, and gave me a huge platform to shape my new sound.
Having released multiple tracks on Heldeep Records and even done an official remix for Oliver, how has working with him and his team influenced your approach to production and the industry?
Oliver and the Heldeep team always encourage me to test new things and explore my sound, while also giving great feedback, and as an artist, that’s one of the most valuable things you can get. It helped me gain an even more open-minded approach to making music. At the same time, seeing how hard both Oliver and all the amazing people at Heldeep work motivates me to keep pushing. I’m very grateful to be working with them all.
Take us back to the beginning, what drew you into dance music production, and what were those early days like trying to break through?
A friend of mine introduced me to Avicii, and from there I was sold on electronic music. I was (and still am) a big fan of Soundcloud, and I actually remember getting my first recognition from uploading progressive house remixes there. I didn’t know anything about the industry, but just couldn’t resist the urge to sit down every day to work on the next song. I was also fortunate to be producing alongside my two best friends, and we all shared the dream of breaking through, which gave us all the motivation we needed.
Coming from Denmark, how has the local dance music scene shaped you as an artist, and what’s the electronic music culture like there?
Denmark did not always have a big scene for electronic music, but there have ALWAYS been artists paving the way. Pegboard Nerds/Michael Parsberg, MORTEN, Kölsch, and Toby Green showed me that it was actually possible to make it outside our borders, and that it was okay to dream big. Now, the culture is thriving in Denmark. Trance, techno and UK Garage events are blooming everywhere, and the underground culture has broken through into the mainstream. I like that. I think this music is meant to be shared by everyone.
For producers and DJs just starting out and trying to make their mark, what’s the most important advice you’d give them based on your own experience?
Work hard. It’s as simple as that. Fall asleep over your computer, skip the 30-minute lunch break, to make a tune instead. But don’t stress about it, because it all comes naturally if you have that gut feeling. That feeling of excitement when learning a new technique, that feeling that makes you turn on the computer at 3 AM just to make one more track. If you have that, you’ll be just fine.
Lastly, I want to pass on my favorite quote from the legendary Quincy Jones: “Once a task has just begun, never leave it til it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all”.
What can we expect from you in 2026 – any exciting projects, releases or tour plans you’d like to share with us?
Much more SW music! I feel like I’m in a good place, where my sound is evolving every day, and I can’t wait to show you the new releases I’ve got lined up. This year, I’m also going to play a bunch of international shows outside of Denmark, as well as some very exciting festivals. If you’re reading this and planning to see me somewhere in the world, come through! I promise to make it worth it.