Caleb Laurenson and Danny P on ‘Telling Me’, Creative Chemistry and Finding Their Own Sound
For Caleb Laurenson and Danny P, some of their most successful music has come from bringing two different approaches to house music into the same studio. The Liverpool and Dublin producers have spent years developing a partnership that combines euphoric melodies with tougher, garage-influenced grooves, creating a sound neither makes quite the same way independently.
Their latest two-track EP on ABODE Records, featuring ‘Telling Me’ and ‘Kick That Bass’, brings those contrasting instincts together. It also closes a significant year for the pair, following collaborations that have generated millions of streams, releases connected to Defected and AlunaGeorge, and performances at venues including Chinois Ibiza and Manchester's Joshua Brooks.
The partnership began during a studio session in Dublin, although neither initially expected it to develop into a regular collaboration.
“I met up with Luke Kearns to make some tracks, Danny came with him to get into production and just watch the session. He ended up diving fully into making his own stuff and we kept making music together all the time.” Caleb recalls.
For Danny, the relationship developed through conversations and remote production sessions.
“Myself and Caleb met up for the first time in Dublin Ireland in a studio through a mutual friend, we kept in contact and would jump on discord to help each-other produce and just basic catch-ups.”
Their individual musical identities have become central to the partnership. Caleb gravitates towards emotional melodies and euphoric arrangements, while Danny brings a stronger emphasis on garage rhythms and harder-edged club sounds.
“Caleb is a lot more euphoric in his own productions and when I make songs I like to bring elements of grit and garage to my work so when we sit down on call or studio both worlds click so well!” Danny explains.
That contrast is particularly apparent across the new EP.
‘Telling Me’ is built around soaring synthesisers, expressive vocals and a sense of anticipation designed to create a defining moment during a DJ set. ‘Kick That Bass’, meanwhile, strips the formula back to darker basslines and direct dancefloor pressure.
“We wanted to really focus on the euphoria but something that still hit in a club, I think ‘Telling Me’ hits this perfectly. ‘Kick That Bass’ was a very club heavy focused track too, trying to make something a bit meaner and darker for the B-Side.” says Caleb.
Danny describes ‘Telling Me’ as a record intended to change the energy of a room.
“For ‘Telling Me’ we wanted a moment track for the middle of the sets that set a statement from the minutes of warmup prior we made the track with a lot of elements people would be familiar in our productions chords, plucks, synths etc.”
The track draws on influences including Robbie Doherty, Kettama and Chris Stussy, artists whose productions have helped shape Caleb's appreciation for the emotional possibilities of underground house.
“It just gives me a certain vibe when listening to their music that appeals to me. So I really wanted to focus on the emotion and euphoria with this one.”
Achieving that balance requires considerable attention to production detail, particularly when combining dense melodic elements with powerful low-end frequencies.
“I think getting that perfect balance between euphoric and hitting hard on the dance floor is a tough task you don’t want sounds to clash or sound to busy, but it all comes down to processing your sounds right to blend into each-other smoothly and keep similar aspects of each element.” Danny explains.
‘Kick That Bass’ explores the opposite end of their shared musical spectrum. Built around an early bassline and drop idea, the track developed into a darker, more direct production that has already attracted support from Joseph Capriati, Chris Stussy, SOSA and Chloé Caillet.
For Danny, hearing established artists play their records remains a particularly rewarding part of their progress.
“Mental and still doesn’t get old seeing people you listen to or go to see for their track selections pick your own production for their sets and get the approval off them!”
Their collaboration has also developed alongside significant changes in their individual careers.
Caleb began producing at 13, initially exploring more commercial electronic music before discovering the creative possibilities of underground house.
“I feel like I just felt like it was rinse & repeat with the more commercial music I was making, no creativity anymore. When I first heard music like the tracks I’m making now, it felt like it had opened up another world of music to me, like I could be creative again.”
Danny's musical identity, meanwhile, remains closely connected to Dublin's increasingly influential electronic music community.
“Obskur and Kettama have shown me love with my productions and it’s something a young me would have never thought of happening their massive inspirations for me, house music over here is massive and definitely needs more light on the talent over this side.”
That sense of community has accompanied a particularly productive year for the pair.
Alongside their ABODE release, their work has included ‘Best Be Believing’ with AlunaGeorge and a remix of Nick Curly's ‘Underground’ for Defected Records.
Reinterpreting such an established track brought its own creative pressures.
“Both records have had such a big break before our remixes that we didn’t want to ruin the originals. But ‘Underground’ felt more challenging to me as we didn’t take as much from the original & the Dennis Ferrer remix. So the pressure felt stronger when showing it to the world.” Caleb explains.
Danny felt that responsibility particularly strongly because of his personal connection to the original.
“I personally think ‘Underground’ was a intimidating one as we both grew up with the record we wanted to do the right job on it and keep its same quality and energy on the dance floor.”
Their expanding touring schedules have provided another source of creative inspiration, exposing them to the different demands of clubs and audiences.
For Caleb, performing at Joshua Brooks and Chinois Ibiza highlighted how dramatically the character of a venue can influence the music he wants to make.
“Playing in Joshua Brooks shows the gritty and UK side of house music and inspires you in a completely different way than Chinois in Ibiza does.”
Danny also points to the importance of understanding the crowd rather than relying entirely on production technique.
“It all comes down to reading the crowd knowing your next track and not spinning anything and everything.”
Despite the growing attention surrounding their releases, both producers remain focused on maintaining the creative instincts that brought them together.
“I think it’s all about staying true to yourself, making music that you want the world to hear, and not getting caught in a box because you feel the pressure too much.” says Caleb.
Looking towards 2027, their ambitions are closely connected to preserving what makes the collaboration distinctive.
“I think we want to definitely keep the Caleb Laurenson & Danny P sound going in 2027, but keeping it more exclusive. It’s very special how much love and support we get when we collaborate, so we want to keep it special.”
Danny, meanwhile, is already looking forward to a busy year of new music and performances, having recently experienced the satisfaction of headlining a sold-out show at Dublin's Block, a venue he previously attended as a raver.
“For myself it would have to be headlining block in my hometown selling out a venue so near and dear to my heart that I have been attending as a raver and now seeing people jumping, dancing arm in arm with their friends to your productions you made in your bedroom is a feeling I still can’t describe.”
With further collaborations and shows already planned, both artists appear determined to build on their momentum without losing the musical chemistry that made their partnership work.
“2027 is already locked and loaded with plenty of shows and newly finished collaborations that people are going to love we know it, we’re definitely going full throttle next year!” Danny concludes.
Caleb Laurenson and Danny P's ‘Telling Me’ EP, featuring ‘Kick That Bass’, is released through ABODE Records.
