Sarkis Mikael is a sonic storyteller—a Los Angeles–based Armenian-American producer, DJ, and engineer whose work bridges ancient resonance with modern rhythm. Known for his emotionally rich, genre-fluid productions and deep-rooted collaborations, Sarkis shapes his sound at the intersection of cultural memory and dancefloor evolution. With releases on iconic labels like Sol Selectas and The Soundgarden, and as founder of Sound of Symmetry, his mission extends far beyond the club: it’s about transformation through sound.

We caught up with Sarkis to dive into his journey, inspirations, and the stories behind his latest projects.

What first got you into electronic music, and how did that evolve into production?

Growing up, my parents always had electronic music playing around the house, but it wasn’t until around 2008 that I really got into underground progressive music. That happened at BO18 in Beirut, where my friend Ziad Ghosn was a resident DJ. The dark room, the next-level sound system, and those deep grooves created an atmosphere that just took me somewhere else. It was something I had never felt before – completely captivating, both emotionally and physically. After that experience, I knew I wanted to understand how those sounds and grooves were made, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Your music feels like a mix of old and new. How do your Armenian roots and LA life influence your sound?

I’m constantly hit by waves of inspiration from so many different places, but it all traces back to the bands I grew up with, like Radiohead. At home, we didn’t really listen to much traditional Armenian music, though I did have a few phases between 2017 and 2020 where I explored that side more deeply. One of the biggest blessings of living in Los Angeles is being surrounded by so many cultures and different ways of thinking – it naturally finds its way into my sound

You’ve released on labels like The Soundgarden, Sol Selectas and Dreaming Awake. What draws you to these labels?

I get my inspiration from different sounds and genres across the board. Progressive has been one of my first electronic music influences, and having the pleasure of getting to know Nick Warren and Petra, I was blessed to release on their staple, The Soundgarden, which consistently delivers quality music and incredible events across the world. Sol Selectas attracts the tribal and organic influences in me, and I’ve had a lot of fun producing two tracks with its label boss, Sabo, as well as one of my most streamed tracks, Elephante – a collaboration with Epstein. Dreaming Awake is Treavor Moontribe’s label, who is also one half of Desert Dwellers. I’ve been working with him for over a year on mixing, mastering, and collaborations, and played at one of his events in Los Angeles on NYD. We just released my second EP, Rises Up, on his label after Stay. He heard those tracks at my studio and asked to sign them right away. I had been sitting on those tracks for over two years and playing them in my sets because I felt they didn’t belong to the “sound” of most labels out there now. Treavor heard the magic in them, and I’m so glad they’ve finally been put out into the world. There are lots of exciting projects coming up with Treavor that will be announced later in the year. 

You bring live instruments into your productions. What are some of your go-to traditional instruments?

My first instrument was the guitar, which I taught myself as a teenager. I played in a few rock bands growing up, so I naturally like to weave the guitar into my productions when the sound fits. A lot of times, I’ll record guitar parts and later process them so heavily that you can’t even tell the original source was a guitar. I love the process of sound designing and completely transforming familiar sounds into something new.

 

As an independent artist and label co-founder, what’s been the biggest challenge and reward of your journey?

The biggest challenge for me as an artist was navigating the Covid years. I was feeling really inspired just before it hit, with releases and bookings lined up – and then everything suddenly came to a halt. Since then, the music scene has shifted a lot –  from the sound itself to the promoters, clubs, and the energy of the crowd. It feels like a whole new landscape, and in many ways, I’ve been finding my footing again. That period, however, also brought a couple of silver linings. One of them was forming my duo project KOAST, where we explored experimental electronica. The EP we created during that time still holds a special place in my heart – t’s something I find myself revisiting often. We’ve just revived the project with a remix EP featuring five artists I deeply admire, released on Sound of Symmetry on May 30th.

Another positive shift was the time I devoted to my studio, Finaltone. I upgraded the space with high-end analog gear and really leaned into helping other artists through mixing and mastering. Being an independent artist in this industry isn’t easy, but the biggest reward is waking up each day doing what I love. There are highs and lows like in any field, but knowing I chose this path for myself – that’s the most fulfilling part of it all.

Any upcoming releases or projects that you’re excited about?

There are quite a few upcoming releases and projects I’m really excited about. I have some amazing collaborations in the works with Atish, Desert Dwellers, Dexter Crowe, Double Touch, Ghostpipes, Hrag Mikkel, Julya Karma, Marques Wyatt, St. Terrible, WEND, and many others — plus remixes for Husa & Zeyada and Simrit. It’s been a creatively rich season, and I’m looking forward to sharing all this new music soon.