Elliot Moriarty: Progressive House, Imposter Syndrome and Finding His Place at Balance Croatia
From revisiting twenty-year-old records to rediscovering London's progressive house community, Elliot Moriarty speaks to Patchouli Deep about the music, emotions and expectations behind his Balance Croatia debut.
Some artists approach a festival set with a carefully mapped-out journey. Others prefer to let the dancefloor decide. For UK progressive house artist Elliot Moriarty, preparing for Balance Croatia has been a little of both.
Speaking with Patchouli Deep's Leonid K at the festival, Moriarty reflected on his journey to the Balance lineup, his relationship with progressive house and the unexpected pressure of playing for an audience that knows the music inside out.
A Set Almost a Year in the Making
For Moriarty, Balance Croatia wasn't simply another date in the diary.
Having received the invitation almost a year earlier, he spent months revisiting his music collection, preparing edits and exploring both new releases and forgotten records.
"I've been planning this set for a long time," he explained.
Rather than relying exclusively on contemporary productions, Moriarty wanted to reconnect with tracks that shaped his understanding of progressive house.
Some selections could be twenty years old, reworked with his own interpretation.
It's an approach that reflects something increasingly valuable in electronic music: the ability to connect different generations of sound without losing the identity of the dancefloor.
For Moriarty, a record that has remained in his memory for decades has probably earned its place there for a reason.
Between Preparation and Spontaneity
Despite months of preparation, Moriarty wasn't interested in revealing too much about the musical direction of his set.
He admitted to knowing his opening couple of tracks, something he wouldn't normally plan so precisely, but which offered a little reassurance ahead of such an important performance.
Beyond those opening moments, the possibilities remained open.
With far more music prepared than he could possibly play, the challenge was deciding which records would find their moment.
His intention was clear: expect twists and turns, familiar elements of his signature sound and perhaps a few unexpected journeys into progressive house history.
"I Have Massive Imposter Syndrome"
One of the most revealing moments of the conversation came when Leonid asked how it felt to receive the invitation to join the Balance Croatia lineup.
Moriarty's answer was surprisingly candid.
"I have massive imposter syndrome."
Despite his growing recognition and a run of impressive releases, including music on Forty Cats' PURRFECTION imprint, Moriarty described the invitation as an enormous honour.
He admitted that the experience still felt slightly surreal.
And the audience itself added another layer of pressure.
Balance Croatia attracts a particularly knowledgeable crowd, including DJs, producers and dedicated progressive house followers. For an artist performing in front of so many people who understand the genre, expectations can feel especially high.
Yet that same community is also what makes the experience meaningful.
The encouragement and positive feedback he had received gave him confidence that the connection would translate onto the dancefloor.
Is London Finding Its Progressive House Identity Again?
The conversation eventually turned towards something closer to home: London's progressive house scene.
With a strong contingent of London artists and supporters attending Balance Croatia, there was a noticeable sense of community.
Moriarty suggested that London had perhaps lost some of its direction in recent years, but he believes that is changing.
"I think we're firmly back on the map."
He pointed to artists such as Lloyd and Danny Howells, alongside a growing number of independent events and promoters, as signs of renewed momentum.
It's an interesting observation at a time when underground progressive house communities are rebuilding connections through smaller gatherings, independent labels and dedicated music events.
For Moriarty, the presence of so many familiar faces at Balance Croatia was another reminder that London's progressive community is very much alive.
Looking Forward, Looking Back
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Elliot Moriarty's approach is the balance between nostalgia and progression.
His preparation for Balance Croatia wasn't about recreating a particular era of progressive house. It was about taking the records that shaped his musical identity and finding new ways to make them relevant.
With a deep respect for the past, an instinct for the unexpected and an increasingly recognisable production sound, Moriarty represents an approach to progressive house that values musical storytelling over predictability.
And sometimes, even after years behind the decks, a little imposter syndrome is simply a reminder of how much the music still means.
Interview: Leonid K for Patchouli Deep
Artist: Elliot Moriarty
Location: Balance Croatia 2026
Editorial: Patchouli Deep
Patchouli Deep explores the artists, sounds and communities shaping underground progressive and electronic music.
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