HILLS Q&A: Offstage Habits and Onstage Moments

HILLS have built their momentum the hard way: consistent output, steady touring, and a clear understanding of what works on a dance floor. Formed by longtime friends Dave and TC, the duo have grown from uploading weekly remixes and edits into artists backed by some of the most recognizable names in dance music. Their catalog includes releases on Catch & Release, REALM, AETERNA, and Repopulate Mars, while their rework of Playboi Carti’s “EVIL J0RDAN” reached #1 on 1001Tracklists’ most-heard chart. Their most-streamed record to date, “Dreams” with Italian producer ANYMA, marked a turning point in pushing their sound to a wider global audience.

Behind the scenes, HILLS operate with a mix of focus and humor. They’re self-described food obsessives who plan their touring days around meals as much as soundchecks, spend downtime on the golf course, and are constantly refining details in the studio—sometimes to the point of losing unfinished tracks by forgetting to save them. Their musical roots stretch beyond house, shaped early on by hip-hop and records that stuck with them long before DJ booths and festival stages entered the picture.

In this interview, HILLS talk candidly about career highs like playing UNVRS alongside Fisher and Anyma, the pressure of turning passion into a profession, and the small habits that keep them grounded while touring nonstop. From missed opportunities and technical mistakes to family, downtime, and the realities of life on the road, the conversation offers a clear look at who they are beyond the decks—and how they’ve gotten to where they are now.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

We’re both big foodies. Every city we land in, the first thing we do is check reviews and hunt down the best spots to eat.

If you weren’t a DJ/producer, what would you be?

Honestly, Dave would probably be a chef. TC would most likely be a manager or agent.

What’s the most memorable moment of your career so far?

Playing at UNVRS with Fisher and Anyma.

Who’s inspiring you right now?

There are a lot of great artists right now. We’ve been really into underground acts like No Static, Juntaro, and Welker, along with bigger names like Mike Dean and Chris Lorenzo.

What’s your go-to pre-show snack or drink?

Go-to snacks are Sour Skittles and Jolly Ranchers. Drinks are Peroni and Coke.

How would you describe your sound in three words? Sound in three words: energetic, underground, loud.

What’s one non-music-related thing that makes you happy?

Eating good food and playing golf.

What’s a track that always brings you back to your roots?

This might sound weird, but when we first heard “Changes” by Tupac, it was the first rap song we ever listened to, and it really stuck with us at a young age.

If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

Michael Jackson.

What’s your favorite non-music hobby?

Outside of music, golf—trying to get better at it.

If you could time travel to any era of music history, when would it be?

Probably the ’80s, just to experience the hair metal era.

If you weren’t touring or in the studio, where would we find you?

At home, just relaxing.

What’s a fun fact or hidden talent that has nothing to do with music?

Golf. Slowly improving.

What’s a memory you never want to let go of?

The first big festival we ever played, where the crowd just felt endless.

When do you feel most at peace?

On stage, or when we’re with our family.

What’s something you forget, but feel better when reminded of?

How lucky we are to be able to do music for a living.

What’s something meaningful to you that might not be to others?

Family time and having real downtime.

What personal prison have you built out of fear?

Worrying too much about what other people think.

What’s something normal to you that other people find weird?

Flying to China for one night, then turning around and flying straight back to the U.S.

If you could compliment yourself, what would you say?

You’re following your passion.

From a production perspective, what’s the most expensive mistake you’ve made?

We once passed on a collaboration that went on to go platinum and rack up over a billion streams. That one hurt.

Have you ever lost music due to technology issues?

All the time. We’ll get deep in the zone, forget to save properly, clean up our computers, move samples—and suddenly things are missing because we forgot to “collect all and save.”

What makes you cringe when you listen to your early material?

Not really cringe, but it’s funny listening back to tracks we once thought were absolutely insane.

What do you obsess over most in the studio?

We focus on different things. One of us is super detail-oriented and can spend forever obsessing over a hi-hat or small details most people wouldn’t even notice.

What’s your favorite set time and duration?

Ideally around 11:30 PM to 2 AM, but it really depends on the room. In Miami we just played from 2 AM to 5 AM and it was wild—so it’s all about the vibe.

If you could erase one musical genre forever, what would it be?

That’s tough. Honestly, we love all music, so that’s hard to answer.