Australian based Scottish producer and DJ Doug Loch dives deep into his darker and more dramatic sonic palette with the release of his latest single ‘Dark Storm’, a powerful blend of progressive house and melodic techno that showcases both musical finesse and emotional intensity.
The main riff—written spontaneously during a late-night class at Sydney’s Liveschool—anchors Dark Storm with a bold chordal transition that moves from minor to major and back again, creating a moody yet uplifting atmosphere.
He says: “The chords just came to me through my fingers. I knew immediately I had something special.”
Built around this spontaneous moment of inspiration, the track features a distinctive staccato arpeggiated piano and even incorporates a field recording of a breaking wave, captured on Loch’s phone and layered as a swooshing crescendo into the drop. The result is a texturally rich, dancefloor-ready release that bears his signature equal emphasis on melody and rhythm.
To accompany the release, Dark Storm includes a remix by none other than Danny Bonnici, a legend of the Australian electronic music scene. The remix has already gained traction internationally, having been played by Hernan Cattaneo in front of a massive crowd, with live footage shared on Doug’s Instagram.
Doug describes Dark Storm as “my most important release so far. It leans into my darker, more dramatic side. It’s also the most out-and-out dancefloor-focused track I’ve made—but don’t expect to hear it in a warm-up set.”
With a wide range of influences including New Order, Chicane, Way Out West, Rodriguez Jr., Tim Green and Justice, Loch’s style sits somewhere between genre definitions. He says “it’s just melodic dance music”, blending elements of deep, organic and progressive house plus breaks into a sound that’s entirely his own.
The single is the latest release from his People Like Us Music label, a platform Doug founded in 2024 to showcase his music and create a community-driven Sydney party series, featuring live vocalists and up and coming DJs. With bookings this year including Give! Festival in the UK and a room takeover at a Claptone-headlined Sydney event in November, Doug Loch is poised for a breakout moment on the international electronic music scene.
