Submarine Presents: Runna EP.
A core member of 1985 Music, the Berlin-based producer Submarine returns to the imprint with his Runna EP.
Growing up in a very musical family, music has been a constant for Submarine from early on. “Both my grandfather and my father were professional musicians, so music was present from the very beginning of my life… Some of my earliest memories are going to children’s operas to watch my grandfather perform, and later attending rock concerts with my father.” This introduction from a young age is evident that music naturally became a part of who he is.
Since his debut release Xertz on the label in 2018, Submarine has grown exponentially as a producer. This new EP outlines his range and cements his standing as a contemporary electronic music artist. Moving between soulful, rolling drum & bass and jungle, each track on the Runna EP began from a different starting point - sometimes rhythm-led, sometimes rooted in sound design or mood - but the intent of cohesion is clear. His latest body of work is proof that he continues to refine a sound that balances precision with emotion.
“Warmth and soul are non-negotiable for me. If a track sounds clean but doesn’t feel human, it’s not finished”.
Written during a rather heavy phase in his life, this EP marks a personal chapter and shift. “I struggled a lot with accessing any sense of creativity… Then there was a turning point where something shifted, and I ended up producing the four tracks very close to each other. In a way, the EP captures that transition.” The result is a body of work that feels raw and transitional, from feeling blocked and disconnected to slowly reconnecting with creativity again.
“I think this is the most honest body of work I’ve released… It captures a shift, not in a dramatic way, but in a quiet, internal one.”
Remaining authentic in an era that is very much online and dominated by metrics is a constant battle for many artists and is something that he has also had to manage during the creative process. “Honestly, it’s something I actively struggle with. There are phases where I have to fight quite hard not to let social media influence my work and my perception of what I should be making. And quite often, I don’t fully succeed." That pressure can quickly derail the creative process. “When that influence creeps in, it can push me straight into a writer’s block. Comparing, overthinking, second-guessing ideas before they’ve had a chance to develop. The moment the focus shifts from expression to expectation, creativity stalls.” Through awareness that this is all part of the process, he is able to shift perspective. “Stepping back, limiting input, and reconnecting with why I make music in the first place is usually the only way out of that loop and back to something that feels honest.”
When speaking about his creative process, each session starts differently and is intentionally fluid. “Sometimes from a rhythm, a bass texture, or simply a mood I want to explore. I avoid strict formulas, but I always focus on building a strong emotional and sonic foundation first, then move into arrangement and refinement.” Recently, he disrupted his workflow by moving from FL Studio to Ableton Live. “About five months ago I switched to break my routines. It’s still challenging to find a new go-to workflow, but that’s what makes it exciting. I’m experimenting much more than before, which was exactly the goal of the change.”
When it comes to essential tools, one plug-in stands above the rest: Serum. “It’s incredibly flexible and lets me shape sounds exactly the way I imagine them.” On the hardware side, he points to the Lyra-8 by Soma Synths. “It’s unpredictable, raw, and very alive, which pushes me into more instinctive and emotional territory when writing.”
Outside the studio, momentum keeps him grounded. Event and tour management demand focus in a different way, while training Krav Maga offers a physical counterbalance to long hours at a screen. Cooking, meanwhile, provides a sense of calm. “It’s probably the one thing that slows me down, lets me reset, and still allows for creativity without pressure.”
Looking ahead, his ambitions are clear. “My main goal is to keep evolving without losing honesty in the process. I want to push my sound further, explore new aesthetics, and take more creative risks while staying emotionally grounded in what I make.” He’s focused on sustainability, more releases, a stronger live presence, and a deeper artistic identity built with “clarity and intention rather than pressure.”
As for what he hopes listeners take from the Runna EP, “I don’t want to dictate a specific interpretation. For me, it’s more important that listeners feel something honest when they hear the EP - whatever that may be for them personally.”
“More than anything, I hope the music creates space for reflection and emotional connection rather than just functioning as background sound.”
The Runna EP is thoughtfully cohesive, tied together by a shared attitude and sonic identity. Balancing precision with warmth, the Runna EP captures an internal shift, emphasizing authenticity and music made without expectation.
The Runna EP is out now on all platforms digitally.