The link between rave culture and wellness isn’t assumed to be a positive one–but Vancouver-born DJ and electronic/dance music producer Taelor Deitcher, better known by his stage name Felix Cartal, is on a mission to change that. On Friday, Deitcher releases his fifth album i, sabotage–and instead of taking the usual pre-save campaign route, he’s spent the past month counting down to launch day by running 10 km every day.
“I have a distaste for people who just say ‘pre-save my album,’” Deitcher told Canadian Running. “I wanted a unique way to market it–a countdown that would be inherently good for me and keep me dialled in.”
The 38-year-old artist has been DJing since 2007 and released his first EP, Skeleton, in 2009, after signing with Dim Mak Records. “The theme of my album is fighting against the voice in your head that makes you doubt stuff,” Deitcher said. “Running is similar to that–there are days where you need a schedule to get out. Working in a studio is similar–if it’s decided for you, then you’ll do it.”
Over the years, Deitcher has watched the electronic music scene evolve, but the stigma around the non-traditional job remained the same. “The assumption is that everyone is a drug addict or a degenerate partier–and there are elements of that,” he said. “But I’m sure lawyers do the same stuff.”
But as the industry matured, DJing turned into a massive business where it’s not sustainable to be hungover every day. “The ‘never sleep’ grind culture was really the thing back then,” Deitcher said. “Now, sleeping well, looking good and caring about yourself–that’s what’s in.” Other artists, like Diplo and Travis Barker, are also helping bridge the gap between rave culture and health, both launching their own run clubs.
Deitcher adds that dance music is a natural fit for endurance sports and group workout classes–fast-paced pump-up tunes, giving you the perfect playlist to feel motivated and work hard.
10 km a day, featuring guest stars
Deitcher’s goal was to log 300 km over the month–about 10 km a day–but his mileage fluctuated depending on his company. After a show in Niagara Falls, he convinced Lights (whose full name is Lights Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan), a longtime collaborator, to join him for a run. The two share a track, feel less, on his new album.
Max Kerman, the lead singer for the Canadian rock band Arkells, also joined Deitcher for a run in Toronto, while Deitcher’s mom, sister and friends have also tagged along. The artist has documented it all on Instagram, interviewing his “guest stars” and sharing clips from the road.
For Deitcher, the challenge really set in at the halfway point. “My body hurts more when I’m not running,” he said. “I’m sore when I wake up, but then I start running and it’s fine.” He’s found running first thing in the morning sets him up best for the day–even after late-night shows–but occasionally, he’s gone out after dark. On Sept. 24, he was joined by 50 runners, and during a community run, Deitcher offered a sneak peek of his new album, blasted on speakers.
A competitive person by nature, Deitcher usually judges his efforts by heart rate. “My easy pace varies from 5:15 to 5:50 per kilometre,” he said. “But my heart rate running at the same pace has dropped at least 10 BPM since I started.”
A history with running
Running isn’t new to Deitcher–it’s just been on and off. “I fell off during COVID,” he said. “I felt crappy coming out of the pandemic, so I booked my first half-marathon–the 2023 Vancouver BMO Half.” He clocked 1:54:46, then followed it up with a consistent training plan and the Vancouver BMO Marathon the following year–but it wasn’t just any marathon-debut experience.
“That race was crazy,” he said. “I received an offer to perform at the 2024 Calgary International Beerfest the night before the race.” And, instead of choosing one or the other, Deitcher did both; he performed until 2 a.m., slept for just two hours and hopped a one-and-a-half-hour flight back to Vancouver. He completed the marathon in 4:00:39–just 39 seconds off his goal time.
“That inspired me to push myself harder,” he said. “It made me wonder, what else can I do? So, I’ve stayed consistent since, running four to five times a week.”
A big fan of Brooks
“After I ran my marathon, the recap video I made went viral–and Brooks sent me shoes,” Deitcher said. He quickly became a fan of the brand’s balance of comfort and functionality. “The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 feel way more stable than my previous shoes, and my feet feel so much better. Shoutout to Brooks for healing my feet.”
