On October 4, 2026, five years passed since SETTWOR released Light Wave, his first official track. Released on October 4, 2021, it marked the beginning of his journey as a released artist. At just 14 years old, Daniil Shulha had taken his first step into the music industry, setting in motion a path that would gradually shape his life.
Although his interest in music and production began much earlier, Light Wave was the first time he officially shared his work with the world. Five years later, that date stands as an important milestone — especially considering how young he was when it all began.
From Simple Beats to a Music Career
SETTWOR began learning music production from scratch in 2018. Initially, he experimented with simple beats, gradually developing his skills through practice, trial and error. Music was a largely self-taught journey, driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how tracks were made.
In 2020, he adopted the name SETTWOR and created a YouTube channel to share his work. The following year, he released Light Wave. At the time, he was still at the beginning of his development, with much to learn about production, sound design and releasing music.
His first listeners made a lasting impression on him. As he has described in his biography, hearing that people were actually listening to his tracks felt almost unreal. Every stream gave him a reason to keep going and motivated him to improve.
Finding His Sound
SETTWOR continued developing his production skills and exploring different approaches to music. On May 8, 2022, he released LUNATIC, his first track in the phonk genre, which became the main direction of his early releases.
Over the following years, he continued experimenting, improving his production and gradually building a catalog of original music. His first full-length album, GET IT, Vol.1, arrived in 2024, featuring GOT ME UP 2, which would eventually become his most successful track.
His musical direction continued to evolve. The release of DON’T STOP in December 2023 marked an important change in his sound, while BREAKPOINT Mixtape, released on March 28, 2025, represented another turning point. SETTWOR began exploring styles beyond his established phonk sound, including Brazilian funk, house and EDM.
Five Years of Growth
The years following his debut brought not only musical development but also significant milestones in his audience growth. His YouTube channel expanded, his catalog grew, and his releases began reaching more listeners across streaming platforms.
In October 2025, SETTWOR reached one million total streams across digital platforms, counting from his first release. In 2026, his audience and streaming numbers continued to grow, with GOT ME UP 2 surpassing one million streams and newer releases setting additional records for his career.
His recent work also reflects a willingness to collaborate and explore new directions. From his experiments with Brazilian funk to collaborations with other artists, SETTWOR continues to expand his musical experience without committing himself to a single sound.
More Than Just an Anniversary
Five years may not seem like an especially long time in the music industry, but starting at 14 makes this milestone particularly meaningful. SETTWOR began releasing music while still a teenager, learning through experience rather than following a fixed path. Much of his development happened independently, through countless hours spent producing, listening, experimenting and finding ways to improve.
The journey from Light Wave to his more recent releases represents years of work, changes in musical taste and growing ambitions. The first track may not have defined the sound SETTWOR is known for today, but it gave him a starting point.
October 4, 2026, marks five years since that beginning. What comes next remains open, but one thing is clear: SETTWOR has come a long way since releasing his first track at 14, and his musical journey is still unfolding.