It’s a story of a family at war, there’s much strife, and the odd ability to open that portal for processing, maybe the portal has never been closed… “Blood on the border, it’s blood from my brother”
How much saturation is too much? Joking aside, what is your creative process like?
Give into the flow, where it takes us. We want to play on the biggest speakers imaginable to send it. Bath in the wash; extrapolate the moarz, add-rinse-repeat.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
“I never feel safe”
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
Have you heard of The Prodigy and Aphex Twin? Joking aside, Keef Chambers portrayed by Tony Cavalero is a real gem(stone).
Which song gives you such a rush of energy, you wish you had composed yourself?
Soul Man – Sam and Dave Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt – Naruyoshi Kikuchi
Favourite music related film?
Honestly, it is a toss up between Muppets Christmas Carol and Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift.
hangtime.. What is the story behind your name?
We are not hangtime, this is hangtime It’s there. Look at hang…look at time…look at what happens in the middle. we been doin’ music awhile, hangtime was born in quarantine
Thank you!
"A Prismatic Shard can be offered to the Dark Shrine of Selfishness at the Witch's Hut to turn children into doves (getting rid of them permanently)."
Tell us a few things about Down down. What is the main idea behind it?
I like to create something new – I like the Ocean – I like Barry White´s Voice. So I tried to create as “one man show“ with the help of all digital tools and things i could afford – this song
The track has a very cinematic vibe. If it was in the end titles of a film, which film would that be?
Imagine a kind of „Amageddon“ at the ocean (not on an astroid) More in french than american style (with very interesting faces -not models) A film where the ocean, the planet, the nature strikes back and humankind try to stay alive.. But at the end..all high tech..is useless..all efforts, everything ultimately leads to the knowledge that we find the true harmony, the true knowledge at the bottom of the ocean, at the bottom of our soul..our heart.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
You will find some very personal lyrics in another of my songs… called „Freeway“ but I’m pretty sure my most personal and honest lyric lies in a future song
What is the first synth you turn on (analog or digital) when you start a new project?
I always start with a picture, a movie in my head, the the sounds follow I´m pretty sure, I’m not a typical musician – i build songs upside down – maybe I’m more a director than a musican – I love to create both – the film & the music
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
well, I´can not sing, I can not play an instrument, I can not read music notes No good singer wanted to work with me First you’re imperfect – they ignore you, then they laugh at you Then you evolve step by step – what I wanna say -every challenge made me stronger
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
I created already a Partysong, a Xmas Song, a Pop/Rock/Soul/EMD Song Life is not black or white, midi is not always in a good or sad mood. Down Down is a bid more on the deep, darker side..it leads you to yourself..maybe some people are afraid regarding this way.
What is the most useless talent you have?
What a funny question :-))) I really believe every talent is useful, it only depends when and how you use it 😉
Classical meets electronic. Or to use your title, Classics Unleashed. Tell us a few things about this project.
A project I’ve thought about ever since Wendy Carlos released her electronic version of Bach. It was pretty radical to interpret a classic work and take it right out of the purist comfort zone. And I’m pretty sure these rock stars from the past would have been all over these electronic instruments!
What first got you into music?
I wish I knew… I was only four…
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
I feel that I constantly get inspired by so much talent out there! Especially from artists that pour their passion into their art.
What would be your dream performance venue?
It might be a bit of a long shot 😉 but performing at the International Space Center floating around the planet would be the ultimate.
If you were asked to rescore a film, which one would you choose?
I’m not sure about stepping on someone else’s work. But way back in Toronto, our band NRG did live film score performances to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. We experimented a lot with sounds, and whatever gear we could get our hands on. Back then, our friend Larry ran the 16 mm projector and the three of us were buried in gear. It was a blast!
If Bach were alive today, what kind of you music would he produce?
His music could possibly be so intense that mere mortal brains would explode.
Imbalance has a very nice experimental vibe in it. Tell us a few things about your new song and the main idea behind it.
Imbalance is the first single off of the album “Payoff,” which is one 25 (yes, 2albums I’m releasing everywhere on Saturday, June 4th, 2022 at 3PM CST, and I chose it as the first single from the album because I needed to define my sound for new listeners. For the record, my style is a very dystopian approach to hip hop, fusing it with electronic and other genres, though I will concede that I actually do not know who, if anyone, originally coined the term “dystopian hip hop”.
At its core, the main idea of “Imbalance” is a power struggle, something that I believe everyone can relate to, because who doesn’t want to hold full power over their own movement and their own life?
What first got you into music?
I grew up in a household where my dad would listen to the oldies and classical music, my mom would typically favor whatever the hit radio station was, my older sister would balance between hit music stations and country, and my older brother would favor the alternative rock and hip hop stations. So needless to say, I was listening to everything growing up, but what really got me hooked was hearing Coolio’s music growing up. I can remember hearing his version of “Fantastic Voyage” and “1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New)” on the radio at home, plus when I think back to the roots of my style, I know I can trace it back to being hooked by the beat of “Gangsta’s Paradise,” as well as Coolio’s storytelling on the song.
Favourite album of the past decade?
VERY tough call, because there were a lot, but what stands out to me from the last decade (and I do not know if this is a cliche answer or not) is Earl Sweatshirt’s “Doris” album. Not just because Earl is an excellent lyricist with a smooth delivery and an artist that can get his point across without getting too loud, but the production on tracks like “20 Wave Caps” with Domo Genesis and “Molasses” with RZA was some of the best I’ve ever heard in my life.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
The biggest struggle for me has been trying to make sure all of my songs stand out individually, even if they are all in the same key or set at the same tempo.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
I imagine they might listen to my music after a stressful day because they’re looking to unwind and not think about too much when it comes to reality. By coming into my world for as long as they need to, they are allowing themselves the freedom to follow whatever paths their subconscious may conjure, and the most they will have to think of will be everything that runs around willy-nilly in their imagination.
One last thing we should know about you?
Despite the vast catalog of music I have ready for release on June 4th, I wish for it to be known that this is not the best you will hear from me. I am a huge proponent of constant evolution, regardless of whether or not a person makes songs with lyrics, and I can guarantee that if you stay tuned to my work, I will create newer worlds for the masses to explore, and wherever you go from there is entirely up to you because if you do not have the freedom to go wherever the sound is taking you, it’s not really my sound.
Tell us a few things about your new song Games. What is the main idea behind it?
« Games » is a recollection of cocaine-filled parties, full of hope of a bright future.
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
As an artist, I’m deeply influenced by Jim Morrison and the Weeknd. But musically, my influences range from electronic acts such as Crystal Castles and The Prodigy, rap acts like Travis Scott and Lil Peep to rock acts such as Oasis, Metallica, Motorhead, The Stooges, The Rolling Stones and many others…
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
It depends on the song. “Games”, for instance is an uplifting party song.
‘Let me know’ blends future bass elements with some trap infused sounds and a pop sensibility. Tell us a few things about it. What is the main idea behind it?
The song tells the story of my frustration when dating someone who wouldn’t make their feelings clear. The lyrics are a bit tongue-in-cheek but it’s an exact description of the situation from my viewpoint!
Sound wise though, I didn’t write the song with a particular idea in mind. I work with my producer (Daniel Bohen) to decide what suits each song and portrays the emotions and mood best. We work in this way drawing together different unique elements and that’s what I love doing the most in my music rather than being confined to a particular subgenre.
What first got you into music?
I started playing instruments as a young child, which gave me a solid foundation to be able to write music and sing. With my interest in pop music, I can’t really pinpoint that to a certain thing: while growing up, I was just surrounded by it in the world around me, intertwined with pop culture, fashion and media in general. I’ve always loved pop music as a genre that’s so accesible to easily enjoy and have fun with but it also can have really deep layers and be a world of stories and emotion to escape to.
Main influences?
I don’t have conscious influences as I just write what I feel at the time. But the main music I listened to was Top 40 (primarily major female pop solo artists, 00s pop bands) and EDM so I guess those would have some influence on my writing.
What would be your dream performance venue?
Glastonbury Festival
Favorite film ever?
The Matrix
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Thank you so much for supporting me on this journey! I appreciate it every time someone takes the time to listen to my music and I hope you will keep enjoying my songs. If you like Let Me Know, be sure to check out my new single Games which was released last week – it’s a hyperpop inspired track with some cool chiptune sounds! I also just filmed the music video which is a super exciting project so keep an eye out for it!
Life In The Background has very cool soundscapes. Tell us a few things about the EP, the story behind it.
Matt: We’re bursting with ideas so for this EP we tried to tame ourselves down and focus on some of our mellower and more lofi sounds. That was in part to fit the aesthetic of our label OAKHI. The EP is short and sweet and less intense than some of our previous work. I’m really content with how it came out, which I can’t say about everything I work on. To me it hangs together really well. Brett: Matt typically works out the ‘one of a kind’ names for our songs after we have gone back and forth through the first few versions of a song idea. After that I try to lean into the descriptive parts of those names to find inspiration, refine the details and also try to form a loosely connected narrative journey between various songs we are working on. To me Life in the Background sounds like it feels; from the outside looking in, a window into life from the background.
Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?
Brett: Oneo Fakind is mostly remote collaboration in which we send ideas back and forth. Although it can be lonely working on new parts, receiving a revision is like having a musical conversation by email. It is not the same as jamming but it is definitely a social experience. Matt: The best part is when I get stuck on something I can send it off and what comes back has moved forward in a new direction I never would have dreamed of.
Favourite album of the past decade?
Brett: All Melody by Nils Frahm Matt: The Catastrophist by Tortoise
What would you change in the music industry?
Matt: I’d like to write soundtracks to books. That would be cool. I dunno if maybe that’s already a thing or gonna be a thing with ebooks.
If you were asked to rescore a film, which one would you choose?
Brett: Either of the Fantasia films. I think both movies are perfect as they are but also that it could be a fun challenge to create new sounds to match those visuals which were precisely designed to work with something else. Matt: Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky. Very minimal atmospheric gem of a movie from the late 70s. Would be fun to make soundscapes for I think.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Matt: I can cross four of my five toes on each foot without using my fingers.
Tell us a few things about your new song ‘Calm’ . What is the main idea behind it?
‘I don’t want to run for another day’ is a feeling everyone has already experienced at least once in their life. If calm is able to make you relax and chill out when listening to it, then it has achieved its intended goal.
What first got you into music?
I was born in a musical family. My father played the violin, my mother the organ and my brother plays guitar. There was always music in our house. What really got me hooked on synthesizers was the album „Switched on Bach“ by Wendy Carlos.
Favourite ambient album of the past decade?
Still for me a masterpiece is the album ‘Zeitreise’ be the project Schiller
What would you change in the music industry?
Clearly the payout scheme of the streaming services. Tidal made a good start and the others should follow. Spotify is really the worst in my opinion. They make a fortune on us musicians and give back only breadcrumbs.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Learn to read and write sheet music (laughs). All I do is purely based on intuition and my mood when writing a song. There‘s nothing wrong with that of course, but I admire musicians who can readily play of sheet music.
What is the one habit/thing you cannot live without?
GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome (laughs)! When there is a new synth coming out I need to check it out.
Tell us a few things about The Blend. What is the main idea behind it?
‘The Blend’ broken-down is a positive song, lyrically it’s stacked with endless wordplay which compliments the futurist, HipHop, electronic and Spacey sounding score. The wordplay in the song is linked to space and the universe. The inner universe within you and the outer universe all around us. A nice fact about the song is it was written whilst myself and Peter Spacey were on an Instagram video call
How would you describe your musical progress over the years?
Xidus: “My musical progress has been great over the last couple of years. I have written 40 projects in the last 40 months, and I’ve got to work with some legendary people, I have just delivered a Tedx Talk, I have recently been awarded a BBC / AIM Music Local Hero Award, and having the pleasure to collaborate with Peter Spacey is the Skygaze is the icing on the cake.”
Spacey: “I’m coming from a traditional background as a professional keyboard player, alongside early exposure to electronic music, beat-making, Djing (Turntablism), and music production. I started playing the keyboard at the age of 7 – my first 5 years were focused on traditional music education as a classical piano player, which later transitioned into jazz keyboard playing. I started Djing at the age of 15, bought turntables, learned the art of scratch, and grew up listening to electronic music and experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines, sampling, and beat-making. My sound signature is a result of these combination flavors and is characterized by Spacey beats, glitched grooves, and some secret spices 🙂 These three elements are the main elements of my music-making – at the studio when creating and cooking my Spacey music, and on stage while performing. Using these methods, skillset, and tools that surround me gives a solid framework for my creative process. Throughout the years of living with the music beside and inside of me, I found a way to express myself and to communicate through music. I was always fascinated by frequencies, harmonies, and sounds, and was obsessed from early age days to playing by ear musical pieces that I love, synthesizing sounds, and exploring all the different dimensions of music.”
What first got you into music?
I’ve always loved music due to my mother playing music around me as a child from Soul Music, Gospel Music, Reggae Music, traditional Zimbabwean and African Music. My older brother got me into rapping. My mentors The Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s Delight” is the first rap song I remember hearing and liking as a baby.
Spacey: “I grew up immersed in music, raised by musician parents in an innovative, inspiring musical environment. Music was always there for me, a way to express myself, to communicate, to groove and move to, and to relax into. I used to sit with my father during sessions when he was doing compositions and orchestrations for theater, making electronic music on his computer, or playing the guitar. Also, when mom’s lessons when she was teaching flute. Also listening to music at home – everything from popular oldies throughout Brasilian and jazz up to electronic. Some artists that influenced me the most in my first years were – Jobim, Chick-Korea, Jean Michel Jaar, Beastie boys, Fatboyslim, Gorillaz, and Queen, to name a few.”
Your dream collaboration?
Xidus: “My dream collaboration would have to be Jay-Z, common or Kanye. I love their beat choices, song arrangement and lyrics. The fact that they still make amazing, interesting and current music after over 20 years in the HipHop game is a testament within itself.”
Spacey “Collaborate with Nasa – play my music on the outer space / make music out of outer space field recordings, experiments with some music physics anomalies and science in the unordinary environment.”
What would you change in the music industry?
Xidus: “I would shift the power over so the artist has more control than their label. I would also make sure artists get more money for streams and have more of a balance when it comes to messages sent out to listeners within mainstream music.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
Xidus: “My music is mood music I have over 40 projects which explore different subject matter. I call it mood music due to having a project or song for different emotions and occasions so people can take their pick.”
What is the most useless talent you have?
Xidus: “I am good at classic beat ’em up video games, for example games like Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat, Marvel Vs capcom, Tekken, Soul Calibur and Power Stone. Spacey: “i know how to make huge soap bubbles”
HipHop Paranoia 