Today we’d like to introduce you to Dax Hardie.
Hi Dax, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up playing drums and guitar, but I fell in love with electronic music in high school in 2010-2011ish when artists like Skrillex were starting to blow up. In 2016, while attending Arizona State University, I began DJing in my bedroom just for fun, mixing in my apartment and teaching myself the basics.
In 2019, I became close friends with a coworker named Nick. We bonded over bass music and started mixing together after work. On a whim, we entered a Goldrush Festival competition through Relentless Beats and somehow made the Top 10. We had a week’s notice to perform and needed a name fast, so over lunch, staring at a LaCroix can, we came up with “Pamplemoose.” We played at Aura on Mill Ave, our first real crowd. We didn’t win, and shortly after, the world shut down.
During the 2020 lockdowns, while also on paternity leave, I used the time to fully dive into music production and learn from scratch. By 2022, I committed to it seriously, found a mentor (shoutout Dennett), and launched my solo project, FIRST EDITION. The name ties into another passion of mine, Pokémon, and I even sold part of my card collection to buy Ableton Suite, a piece of the story most people don’t know.
Since then, I’ve developed a sound blending trap, bass, and wave. In 2024, I secured my first label releases and began playing shows supporting artists like Sippy, Whipped Cream, Imanu, Tsu Nami, Juelz, and Wink which also included my first Brownies & Lemonade show. I’ve also played major Arizona festivals like Decadence, Breakaway, and Goldrush, and made the Top 10 in the 2025 SHAQ’s Bass All Stars competition.
In 2024, Nick unfortunately passed away after battling cancer. He remains a huge inspiration behind everything I create, his impact and taste of music we shared is woven into the music I make today. And none of this would be possible without my wife, Jenna, who supported me from the very start with my apartment mixing sessions when we were dating and now coming to every show of mine, and my two kids, Owen and Ava, my main motivation for doing everything I do in life and always inspire me! Also, shoutout to all of my friends and family that have supported me and my music along the way. I couldn’t have done it without all of them!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Balancing music with a full-time career in fintech, marriage, and raising two kids has been one of the biggest challenges. I spend most nights staying up late producing after everyone went to sleep and early mornings heading into work exhausted. Progress in music can also feel slow and unpredictable, you can put months into a track and not know how it’ll land.
There were also moments of doubt. After making Top 10 in early competitions and not winning, or going through long stretches without releases or bookings, it’s easy to question whether you’re really cut out for it. The industry is competitive, and social media can make it feel like everyone else is moving faster.
At the same time, those struggles shaped me. They forced me to be disciplined, patient, and intentional about why I’m doing this. It’s never been about overnight success, it’s about building something meaningful and doing what I love!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Outside of music, I work full-time at a large fintech company where I lead a risk & compliance team. Not too many people I work with know that I produce music, but some of the ones that do have come out to some of my shows! What sets me apart is that I operate in two very different worlds at a high level. By day, I’m thinking in processes, controls, and payment frameworks. By night, I’m creating emotionally driven trap music and performing on some weekends. That duality gives me a unique perspective, both paths require discipline and the ability to work hard and build something from the ground up. I think that balance is a big part of who I am.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as alignment, building a life where my career, my creativity, and my family all grow together. It’s not just about titles, streams, or shows; Success means staying disciplined when no one’s watching and creating something that lasts. If I can pursue what I love while being fully present for my family, that’s success to me!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstedition.music/
- soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/firsteditionmusic
- Other: Tiktok, spotify and apple music under “FIRST EDITION.”
Image Credits
Personal photo by Callan Ottum (IG @Callanottum)
Family picture by Mickie Krajenke (IG @Krajenkephotography)
Picture of me DJing with videographer in background, Tanner Fillmore (IG @Tfillm)
All other photos of me DJing taken by Relentless Beats
