From underground raves to large-scale festivals, few have had a front-row seat to the evolution of dance music quite like Thomas Turner. As the founder of Relentless Beats and EMW Presents, Turner has helped shape the electronic landscape by prioritizing community, authenticity, and innovative production. What began as a passion for progressive house music quickly turned into a career rooted in building spaces where people can connect through sound.
In this conversation, Turner reflects on his journey from fan to founder, the growth of music industry, and the ethos behind his expanding ventures. He also shares insights on the importance of supporting emerging talent, the evolution of festivals in the U.S., and a few unforgettable moments along the way.
LIANA STERN: To start, can you share a bit about your career journey and what led you to found Relentless Beats and EMW Presents?
THOMAS TURNER: I started off as a consumer of progressive house music, which has evolved a lot over time. Back then, it had a very specific sound—almost neoclassical in a way—and you really had to dig to find the right tracks. That’s what pulled me in initially, and from there I became a DJ and a full-on music enthusiast.
At the time, there wasn’t much of this kind of entertainment in my market, so I naturally stepped into the role of helping bring it there. It came full circle in a really rewarding way—I was eventually able to hire the person who first gave me an opportunity as a DJ and mentor, Steve Kushner. Now I get to work alongside people I’ve known for years, which makes it even more meaningful.
LS: What makes the Arizona dance music scene so unique compared to other places?
TT: Dance music is growing everywhere. It’s becoming a soundtrack to people’s lives globally. We produce shows in other markets too, like New York, but nothing compares to home.
What makes Arizona special is how authentic it is. We’ve always approached this as fans first. Bringing people together, creating community, and building spaces where people can share experiences. A lot of us have been doing this for years, even before it became such a large-scale industry.
The most rewarding part is seeing people who’ve been with us for 10, 15, even 20 years now coming back with their families. It’s like having 10,000 friends connected through these events. That sense of community is everything.
LS: Shifting to EMW Presents, what are your goals for the company moving forward? Any plans to expand further into the Northeast?
TT: EMW was built with the same ethos as Relentless Beats. It started by bringing together people who wanted to create something meaningful at the right time. We actually considered acquisitions early on, but it made more sense to build something from the ground up.
It’s still early. These things take 5 to 10 years to fully develop, but we’re seeing great momentum. The growth comes from working with the right people and staying true to our values. We’re not focused on taking over markets—we just want to contribute where we can genuinely help. If we expand into new places, it’ll always be because it’s the right fit with the right people.
LS: What’s one of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the dance music industry since you started?
TT: I’m always focused on moving forward, but one thing that’s stayed exciting is the role of young, independent promoters. They’re the ones discovering new music first; sharing tracks, building momentum, and helping artists break through.
So many major artists started that way, just through word of mouth and organic discovery. I want to continue supporting that space and help young promoters build sustainable businesses. That’s something I really care about over the next decade.
LS: What’s one of the most unexpected or memorable moments you’ve experienced at a show?
TT: There was this one moment where a guy was completely naked in the crowd at a show in Phoenix. The photos of people realizing what was happening are hilarious.
Afterward, his mom actually made him come into our office to apologize. It became this iconic internal story: “the naked guy who had to apologize.” Moments like that stick with you. There are so many wild memories from all the events we’ve produced. It’s honestly been an amazing journey.
LS: Do you have a favorite New Year’s Eve countdown moment from Decadence?
TT: This past Decadence with GRiZ was incredible; live instrumentation, the energy, everything about it felt special. The year before with John Summit was also amazing. When you catch an artist at the perfect moment in their career and combine that with a big production push, it creates something really memorable.
LS: Lastly, is there any experience or event that inspired how you produce your own shows today?
TT: I started as a nightlife enthusiast, going to themed events with costumes, dancers, and theatrical production. I wasn’t thinking about business. I was just blown away by the experience and the effort behind it.
That curiosity led me to learn who was producing those events, not just in the U.S. but in Europe too. Back then, large-scale festivals in America didn’t really exist the way they do now. Europe had brand partnerships and big festival infrastructure, while the U.S. was still more underground.
Over time, the industry became more commercialized, but the underground scene will always exist and that’s where innovation starts. That’s why we’re opening a new venue in downtown Phoenix called The Roosevelt. It’s designed as a listening-focused space to support emerging artists and that grassroots energy.
As Relentless Beats and EMW Presents continue to grow, Turner remains focused on what started it all: bringing people together through music.
