DJ and Producer Scott Ferguson, known as ROBOT84, has been a fixture of the underground music scene since the 1990s, evolving into production in the 2000s. With a style deeply rooted in house, disco, and Balearic influences, Scott’s work under the ROBOT84 guise continues to resonate with fans and industry heavyweights alike.

ROBOT84’s material is championed by some of the music world’s most respected names, including Jon Sa Trinxa, Danny Rampling, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, DJ Harvey, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, Heidi Lawden, Gerd Janson, Greg Wilson, Nancy Noise, Artwork, Melon Bomb, Laurent Garnier, Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay, Melvo Baptiste, and Horse Meat Disco’s Jim Stanton. His tracks have been played on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music by Annie Mac, Danny Howard, Arielle Free, Nemone, Monki and Nightmares on Wax, further solidifying his place as a key player in the scene.More recently, his Futuro Disko EP on Seamus Haji’s ReLoved label brought his music to new digital audiences, while his 2024 vinyl releases, ROBOT84 vs The Raff – Get It Right Next Time and Cosmic Accident, have been embraced by DJs worldwide.

Looking ahead to 2025, Scott has two highly anticipated vinyl releases scheduled for February: the next chapter in his much-loved Promo Series, ‘Promo Vol. 5,’ and his debut on ‘Is It Balearic’s Magic Wand’ vinyl series.

With a renewed dedication to his art, Scott is determined to make 2025 the year he gets back behind the decks, bringing his signature sound and energy to live audiences once again.  We sat down with Scott from a deep delve into his musical universe. Here’s how it went down…

WWD: Where did you grow up, and how did your environment shape your relationship with music?

I was born in Glasgow and went to school in the Scottish Borders. I’ve got three older brothers who were all into music in a big way. I grew up surrounded by their records—everything from Simple Minds and The Human League to The Jam, The Specials, and The Style Council. In the early 80s, a friend’s cousin sent up Electro and Hip Hop tapes, and my mates and I would watch a video recording of Beat Street on repeat, opening the door to a more dance-influenced sound. A big turning point was seeing Farley Jackmaster Funk perform Love Can’t Turn Around on the Solid Soul show—I was about 15. I’d never heard anything like it, but I was hooked. I left home at 18 and moved down South, mostly to go to clubs. I was a regular at The Limelight and Art in London, listening to Darren Emerson, Danny Rampling, Trevor Fung, and more. Those early days really set me on my path.

WWD: Who was the most influential person in your life growing up in terms of your musical development?

It’s hard to pin it on one person. My brothers definitely set the foundations with their target and record collections, but it was my mate, Richard Bell, who influenced me most when it came to DJing. He was already DJing and gigging locally in Windsor and Reading when we became friends. He has an incredible ear for music, I always looked up to him. A whole bunch of us spent a while staying In Reading. We went to Shave Your Tongue and saw the likes of Weatherall, Craig Walsh, Terry Farley, Slam, and Justin Robertson—those were great days. Richard’s skill and passion for music had a lasting impact. He lives in New York these days, but we’re still close.

WWD: What’s the first memory you have of making music?

My first proper studio experience was around 1992 in Scotland, and the result was terrible! I had no clue what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to learn. It was when I met Colin Gate (Deep Sensation) while I worked at Bomba Records that I started to learn more about the production process. The influence of Colin and my friend Allan Dundas, who was signed to independent record label Hubba, Hubba in Falkirk, is probably why I persevered with it! They gave me something to aspire to and helped me out a lot, I doubt I could have figured it out alone. We used an Akai sampler and an Atari computer—it was all very analogue back then. There was a lot of trial and error, and any vinyl releases I put out are possibly gathering dust in a garage somewhere.  A few tracks stood the test of time and have since appeared on digital, so they’re out there in the ether and still getting played.

WWD: When you think back to your earliest projects, what’s something you would do differently now?

Something I make sure I don’t do these days is overthink anything. It’s easier said than done, but I try to trust my judgment and just put the music out there. I wasted far too much time years ago worrying if my work was good enough and ended up missing the moment a couple of times. Now, I’m more about trusting my instincts—if it feels right to me, I go with it.

WWD: Why do you think persistence is such an important part of making it in the music industry?

I could talk about this all day! But most of all, because nothing happens overnight. The industry can be brutal, but if you love what you do, you will be driven to keep doing it. The beauty in persistence or never giving up is that sometimes the path you end up on isn’t the one you planned, but that’s where the good stuff and the ‘making it’ often happens.

WWD: What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned throughout your career?

Accepting that you never really ‘know what you’re doing’ is knowing what you’re doing! The music industry is constantly changing, and you have to be okay with that. I’ve had some good highs but times of complete stagnation with music, too. It’s just part of the process. Things change around you, you change, and life happens.

WWD: What’s a key piece of advice you would give to your younger self at the start of your journey?

Don’t be too precious. Trust your ideas, follow through, and don’t let overthinking get in the way. Just make the music you want to make and see where it takes you.

WWD: Who’s been your biggest supporter throughout your career, and what’s their impact been on your success?

There isn’t any one person, my friends and family have always been supportive. My wife has been close witness to the full Robot84 story since it was nothing but an idea and always a source of encouragement. Especially in recent years, as I’ve struggled with my health, she’s helped me greatly to keep plugging away with my music. But, I’ve been lucky to always have had support from close friends and fellow artists—Davie Miller (Finitribe), Gordon Smith (Blackbeard), Andy Williams (Yam Who?), Colin Gate (Deep Sensation), Alan Dundas (Hubba Hubba), and then DJs like Jon Sa Trinxa, Heidi Lawden, Hifi Sean, Pete Gooding, Ben Santiago, Cosmo, For Mankind, DJ Harvey and the late Alfredo playing and supporting my music is nothing but motivating. I’m very grateful to them all.

WWD: What’s one of the biggest sacrifices you’ve made to stay committed to your music?

I don’t see it as a sacrifice. Music has always been a part of my life. It’s just what I do, and I’ve always found a way to keep it going alongside everything else.

WWD: Why do you think it’s important for artists to share their struggles as much as their successes?

When I look back on my music career, it’s been a real mix of experiences. Especially in the last couple of years—I had a stroke, which has impacted my whole life and my music career. It’s not been easy, but it’s also made me look at things differently. Your struggles are part of what makes you who you are. Your music comes from within, and it’s all connected—the challenges, the growth, and the creativity that comes out of it. It would be hard not to share any of that because that’s the person behind the music. I think true connection comes with honesty, and it’s a relief not to have to put up a front.

Promo vol 5′ is available here