Grief is something we all wish to avoid, yet at some point we all have to face. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one or the quiet realization that things will never look the same, grief has a way of pulling you into a space where there is no clear path forward. But when you’re surrounded by darkness, the only way out is to look for the light, and sometimes that means moving through the wilderness one step at a time.
For the melodic bass producer MitiS, that journey through the darkness first began in the studio, where a period of profound loss would become the catalyst to his next EP, transforming his grief into moments of catharsis, healing, and hope through sound.
While MitiS has long been known for his emotionally charged songwriting, Through The Dark sees the Philly-born producer pour his soul into his music in a way he never has before. Capturing the essence of deep personal loss, reflection, and the process of moving forward, MitiS not only delivers a healing sonic experience but reminds us that we must face the darkness in order to reach the light.
At the center of it all stands his late father, whom MitiS dedicated Through The Dark to, not just to honor his memory, but to let his legacy live on through his music.
“My dad was my closest friend, best man at my wedding, and all,” MitiS shared in an interview with The Daily Frequency. “He was always my biggest supporter by far. Thousands of piano lessons, thousands of dollars of equipment to get me started in EDM. There wasn’t a single person my dad knew who didn’t know what I was doing in my life. He taught me the importance of being there for the ones you love, no matter what, and always expressing yourself in what you love.”
That foundation carries directly into the heart of Through The Dark. The title itself isn’t abstract or symbolic for the sake of it; it reflects a process he had to live through in real time.
“The title (Through The Dark) truly does represent the process of healing. The biggest thing I’d say for me is the feelings and real emotions I felt while writing it. I did go through the dark during that time, and this EP helped the process of healing, and it still does.”
Part of that process meant reconnecting with the instrument that started his musical journey in the first place. Trained as a classical pianist at an early age, the piano became the basis for the sound that would later make MitiS one of the most beloved producers in melodic bass.
Returning to the piano not only allowed him to reconnect with his roots but gave him a more immediate way to translate his emotions without overthinking it through production.
“I bought a piano around the summer of last year, and it’s been amazing to be able to play every day, not on a MIDI keyboard. It flows so much smoother and is just overall easier to get emotion out.”
That revitalized connection to his music, and the freedom to let those emotions out, ended up pulling him out of a creative slump he had been stuck in since his father’s passing and the release of his last album, UNITY.
“After UNITY, and everything that was going on during that time, it became extremely difficult to write more than a song at a time, my heart just wasn’t in it. Working on Through The Dark completely revitalized my love for writing music again. I feel rejuvenated from it and am already working on the next body of work because of how much it helped. It absolutely is freeing.”
That shift extended beyond music. Loss reframed what mattered, not just creatively, but personally.
“I think, as with any loss of someone you love, it makes you appreciate life more and the things we have around us. I’d say it made me more grateful for what I have and made family even more important.”
While the EP is deeply personal, it’s not meant to stay confined to his own experience. The intention is for listeners to find themselves somewhere inside it, especially in moments that feel difficult to navigate.
“I think it’s safe to say everyone has gone through some sort of loss, or pain like that. So with Through The Dark, I wanted listeners to feel that it will be OK, and a time will come when it doesn’t hurt as badly as it once did. That it gets easier with time, and to face it head on and know there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.”
In the end, it all comes back to his father, not just the loss, but the way he lived, treating everyone the same, leading with love, and showing up for the people around him. When asked what lesson he took from him and hoped to spread into the world, his answer was simple.
“To treat everyone as equals and with love, regardless of money, fame, job, etc.”
