A.way x Thez – Heaven’s Gate (ft. Mila207) [Evolution Chamber]

Hello again to all the drum and bass fam! Today we have an interview with the artists who brought us the latest from Evolution Chamber, A.way x Thez – Heaven’s Gate (ft. Mila207) [Evolution Chamber]. What an awesome piece of music they’ve produced I have to say. The levels are always being pushed when it comes to the sound that Evolution Chamber brings as a label. A.way, Thez and Mila207 fortify this sound even more! And we get the inside info about how it all came together. Lets dive down into it!

Q: The first thing that stands out to me the most is Mila207’s beautiful voice. Were these vocals made specifically for this track?

A.way: For me, it’s still a bit of a mystery, but I think it likely comes from Mila’s genuine talent.

Thez: (laughs)  Alright, I’m going to get a bit technical here! But one thing I’ve noticed is that Mila has this really unique vocal bandwidth. It’s what sets her voice apart. You don’t often see someone balancing both singing and rapping in a way that’s not typical in the industry.

Mila207: Yeah, to be honest, I actually wrote these lyrics a while ago for a breakbeat track that we never ended up releasing. So, I thought, why not rework them a bit and try them out on a drum and bass track? Especially since I’ve been focusing more on DnB lately with my DJ/MC project.

Then Martin (A.Way) sent me another DnB track, and I recorded new vocals for it. But of course, Thez and A.Way transformed it again! (laughs) My vocals and rap went through at least three different versions before it finally became “Heaven’s Gate.”

Q: Can you walk us through the inspiration behind “Heaven’s Gate”? What themes or emotions were you aiming to capture in the track?

A.way: My inspiration for this track definitely came from Apashe’s epic style. I’ve always imagined what his tracks would sound like in drum & bass form, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Thez: Taking Martin’s vision in mind, I wanted to add elements, drawing influence from some of Noisia’s tracks like “Exodus” and “Hyenas.” Both of those have been huge inspirations for me.

Mila207: As a professionally trained opera singer (a dramatic soprano, to be specific), I wanted to really showcase the full range of my voice on this track. I love incorporating dynamic shifts in my vocal performance, especially when the lyrics are so intense. They really take me back to the emotions I was feeling when I wrote them.

At the time, I was going through a tough relationship with my child’s father. The sung part of the track reflects those raw emotions, as I tried to understand his passive aggression and how it started building up inside me. Then, as the music transitions to rap, I tap into that anger becoming this fierce woman demanding justice and satisfaction.

So, my inspiration and motivation really come from my own life. I always try to avoid being influenced by external trends or other artists. To me, art and music should come from the soul; it’s a personal expression, not something designed to fit into a mold or trend.

Q: What was the collaborative process like between the three of you? How did you balance the input of two producers and a vocalist to create a cohesive sound?

A.Way: Thank goodness for the Internet! Everything came together online. Viktor (Thez) and I were fine-tuning the track through online calls, and when Mila sent over her vocals on the first try, we instantly knew we had something special.

Thez: Yeah, Martin (A.Way) and I were mostly working together over Discord during the production. It really helped us stay aligned and keep all the ideas organised. By that point, Martin already had Mila’s vocals, so we just needed to build from there.

Mila207: (laughs) This one was super easy for me! I recorded my part, sent it over to Martin, and when I finally heard the result, I was blown away. No need for any corrections, just a “one-take job.” Honestly, the boys did all the heavy lifting and nailed it.

Q: For Mila207, how did you interpret the theme of “Heaven’s Gate” vocally? Did you experiment with different vocal styles or effects? Did having two different creative inputs affect your performance or creative choices?

Mila207: Like I mentioned earlier, the lyrics are very personal to me, so I really let my emotions guide my vocal performance. My singing is rooted in the Bel canto technique, which allows me to move fluidly through all vocal registers. For the rap, I wanted to combine elements of recitative from opera arias with a Boombap rap flow. It’s about finding a natural rhythm and accenting the lyrics in a way that feels both operatic and raw.

Having two different inputs only affected me in a good way. I actually feel like it gives me more freedom in my performance. Since I studied classical music, we were always taught to be versatile and capable of performing all kinds of styles. Opera, being the pinnacle of musical art, encompasses everything a producer or composer could work with. So yeah, it’s really a pleasure for me to blend such different styles together.

Q: The transition from long-drawn melodic and vocals into a heavier space is deceptively cohesive. How did you make this work?

A.way: For me, the biggest inspiration comes from film compositions. Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Göransson, for example. I’ve always been drawn to the way they create dynamic, sweeping passages but also balance that with subtle, beautifully crafted melodies.

Thez: I totally agree with Martin. Ludwig Göransson is a perfect example. His piece “Rainy Night in Tallinn” really resonates with the kind of dynamic work we aimed for in “Heaven’s Gate.” But it’s not just about using reference tracks. As artists, I believe we all carry a cultural code within us, something that shapes and influences how we approach our compositions from every angle.

Q: Was releasing on Evolution Chamber an achievement already in mind or was it more by surprise?

A.Way: It’s something we had planned for a while and were just waiting for the right moment to move forward. Honestly, it’s a huge honor for us to work with such a legendary label and the incredible people behind it.

Thez: I have to say, even from when I was young and just starting out with my first production sketches, I’ve been following Rusty K and James’ label, Overtech Music. It’s been on my radar for so long! So yeah, this is a huge honor, it’s crazy to think how far things have come.

Mila207: I left this part to the boys, so when they told me it was going to be released on Evolution Chamber, I was surprised, and honored!

Q: Sometimes collaborations are a one time thing. Do you all plan to collaborate again maybe?

A.way: Who knows what the future holds? I’m pretty introverted, especially when it comes to my music and ideas. But honestly, if we were able to finish this track together, I’m confident we could do it again.

Thez: That’s a great question. For me, it’s definitely something special. As artists, we all have our personal zones and sources of inspiration, but you quickly realize who you vibe with creatively. It feels almost like a blessing when you find people you can share ideas with, work through technical challenges together, and just enjoy the process.

Mila207: Thez really summed it up perfectly! I’d absolutely love to collaborate with the guys again. Their sound and musical expression resonates with me more than anyone else I’ve worked with. I didn’t need to say a word about the production, it was just perfect as it was.

Q: I heard that A.way has relocated from Slovakia to the Czech Republic and is now living with Thez. How are you settling in? Can we expect more collaborations in the future?

A.way: Thez and I are like brothers now. Every day we’re thinking about how to take over the music scene and what new sounds we can bring to our listeners. I’ve got big goals, and I’m definitely bringing my brother and the rest of the crew with me to the top.

Thez: Exactly, we’re living together in our place in Prague, making music from morning till night (laughs). We’ve sacrificed a lot of our personal lives for the future we’re building. Right now, it’s all about “do or don’t do,” and fate will decide what tomorrow holds. Our motto is simple: “Work, Sleep, Repeat.”

And by the way, I’ve got four siblings, but Martin is the brother I’ve chosen along the way.

Q: Tell us some of your favorite tunes that helped shape your musical tastes and inspiration?

A.Way: I tend to look at the bigger picture, focusing on the overall impact of artists. Some of my favorites are San Holo, Camo & Krooked, Imanu, Soltan, What So Not, and Skrillex. Their collective output really inspires me.

Thez: I’m glad this question came up! It’s tough to name everyone who inspires me because there are so many. I sometimes joke that I’m the youngest boomer because I grew up in the millennial era, and I’ve even been called “the encyclopedia of drum and bass” (laughs). But honestly, the people around me are a huge source of inspiration—my friends from Prague, who I truly believe are some of the best producers of this generation. Shout out to Welon, Lev Pilsudski, Quok, and of course, Martin (A.way)—not to sound too cliché! (laughs)

As for my heroes, I’d say Rido, Phace, Subtension, Mefjus, Noisia, Culprate, Current Value, Rawtekk, Peshay, Kemal & Rob Data, Synergy, and of course, the labels associated with them. They’ve all played a huge role in shaping my sound.

Mila207:For me, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. I had to listen to tons of classical and early electronic music, especially within the Czech and Slovak scenes, which were mostly focused on drum and bass, free tekno, techno, breakbeat, and house. I also dabbled in jazz and improvisation when I lived in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Nowadays, I don’t listen to music casually, like at home or for background noise, because it always grabs my attention and pulls me away from whatever I’m doing. So, I only listen to music actively—in the studio, when I’m curating tracks for my DJ sets, or at concerts and parties.

That said, one person who’s really influenced me is Katie Koven, particularly with her DJ/Vocalist performances. My sound isn’t as commercial as hers; I lean more toward heavier, dramatic, and underground vibes. I’m more focused on proper DJing, and I MC, rap, and sing to create a unique and diverse experience for my fans. But Katie definitely showed me that DJing and vocal performances can come together in one project perfectly.

As for my favourite producers to include in my DJ sets, I’d say A.way (of course!), Misanthrop, Mechoz (Metro Sound System), Phibes, Feed the Fire, Kanine, Miso, Break, Gydra, QZB, Enei, True Taktics, Circadian, Dirtyphonics, Creeds, Mizo, Sota, Bloom, Luude, The Caracal Project, AL/SO & Tengu, Saint Riders, Pythius, Psynchro, and many more. I also love blending DnB with other genres like techno and psytrance.

Q: Finally, what’s next for each of you individually?

A.way: My goal is definitely to enhance my communication and work skills, perform with an artist’s flair, and continuously move closer to reaching my full potential—all while looking cool doing it.

Thez: 1. Get back in shape. 2. Work more effectively as an artist and stay present in the moment. 3. Release an EP and finally wrap up all the projects I’ve been sitting on.

Mila207: I’m all about enjoying the beauty of my drum and bass life! (laughs) Everything I do professionally revolves around DnB, and I love it that way. I run dnbwear.eu and work for the event agency Trident.sk, so I feel incredibly blessed to live this life and level up with each new project.

My motto is: “Drum and bass isn’t just music; it’s a lifestyle.”

Links

Evolution Chamber is honoured to welcome A.way & thez to the roster as they join forces with the exceptionally talented vocalist Mila207 for their explosive Czech/Slovak collaboration, “Heaven’s Gate.” Buy, stream and download this track at https://lnk.to/EVOC048!

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