Romanian DJ and producer POLTOM believes the future of melodic techno isn't built on bigger drops — it's built on rhythm.

Thousands of people can dance to the same track for completely different reasons.

Some wait for the melody.

Others live for the drop.

POLTOM is chasing something much simpler — and much harder to achieve. He wants your body to move before your mind has time to think.

While melodic techno has become increasingly cinematic and festival-driven, the Romanian DJ and producer has quietly built his own philosophy around groove. His music blends emotional atmospheres with hypnotic percussion and rhythmic structures inspired by psytrance, creating tracks that feel less like a performance and more like an instinctive reaction.

That vision has already taken him to some of Romania's biggest stages, including multiple appearances at UNTOLD Festival, Neversea, Massif Festival, Kapital Festival and international performances at UNTOLD Dubai.

Romania has become one of Europe's most respected electronic music scenes, but POLTOM believes its greatest strength comes from an unexpected place.

"Romania has always been slightly behind global music trends. Surprisingly, that's an advantage."

Instead of immediately following international movements, Romanian producers have the opportunity to observe where electronic music is heading before it reaches their local scene. That distance encourages artists to interpret trends rather than simply imitate them.

History has shaped that mindset too. During the communist era, discovering international music required persistence, curiosity and community. According to POLTOM, that culture of searching for something different still defines many Romanian electronic artists today.

That curiosity extends into his creative process.

Rather than focusing on massive drops or increasingly complex sound design, POLTOM has become fascinated by rhythm itself.

"The first thing I'd hope is that people simply can't stand still."

He explains that the brain naturally follows stable elements like the kick and snare. But when syncopated percussion and unexpected rhythmic movement appear between those familiar points, people stop analysing and start dancing.

Inspired by Arabic music and jazz, he has spent years translating those rhythmic ideas into melodic techno. The goal isn't to overwhelm the listener.

It's to create movement.

Like many producers, POLTOM experimented with different genres before finding melodic techno. What makes his journey unique is that he committed to the sound long before it became one of the biggest genres in electronic music.

"I had the chance to grow alongside the genre itself while developing my own sound."

Watching other artists find success in more commercially popular styles never convinced him to change direction.

"I can't imagine myself standing on a big festival stage playing music that doesn't genuinely represent who I am."

For POLTOM, trends are temporary.

Identity lasts longer.

That same philosophy shapes the way he approaches live performances.

"People don't remember perfect technique. They remember unforgettable experiences."

Festival crowds rarely leave talking about flawless transitions or technical precision. They remember how a set made them feel.

Looking ahead, success isn't measured by bigger festivals or streaming numbers.

"The biggest achievement would be building an audience that comes to my shows because they genuinely connect with my music and my energy."

In an industry that moves faster every year, POLTOM is choosing a different path — one built on patience, authenticity and rhythm. And perhaps that's exactly why his music feels so timeless.

FUTUREMAG REFLECTION

Looking back at UNTOLD 2026, artists like POLTOM remind us that electronic music isn't only evolving through technology or bigger productions. It's evolving through people who continue to trust their own identity.

Sometimes the strongest connection on a dancefloor doesn't begin with the drop.

It begins with rhythm.

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POLTOM
ROMANIA

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