the(mutednoise)ofthemetropolitancoldstore

Hunee

With his head in books, a hand in the kitchen, a holiday to look forward to, nautical ambitions and a blog to write, it’s convenient that Berlin-based Hunee is quite happy for his keys to collect dust and his productions to be put on hold sometimes. The new kid on the block has got an ol’ head on his shoulders…

For the people who might not be familiar with you, tell us a little about yourself… how long have you been producing? What got you into music? First inspirations? etc etc.

Moved to Berlin ten years ago - good decision. I’ve played around with music since then but in the early days mostly messing around without knowing what and how to do it. Back then it was all about Rap music for me - finding samples, practicing scratching, dreaming of djing in public, being lazy, doing nonsense and making friends. Later my interests moved more and more to the samples that all these wicked Rap producers found and used - and being a sucker for the dance floor, disco records became my number one love affair. My understanding of House music comes pretty much from a Disco background and perspective, it was important to know about the history, the transition period in the 80s and the amazing time for the deeper styles of House in the early 90s.

Well, it’s all a big, long, never-ending process and I hope I’ve grown and keep growing and keep learning and enjoying. A few records and parties in my memories stick to my mind as a constant source of joy and inspiration, but depending from which angle I look at it, other things come to the front. Any producer, musician, DJ or artist that achieves a personal, individual style with passion and without the fear of mistakes is inspirational to me. If it doesn’t come to me emotionally, it doesn’t do to much for me.

You live in Berlin, it seems to be a real place of inspiration at the moment with musicians, producers and anybody involved in electronic music flocking to the German capital, what’s so special about it?

Hmm, its lovely - life in Berlin is cheap overall, the summer is magic and filled with days at the lakes and nights at the canal; flats are absolutely payable; very little crime around - so it’s safe in most places; you can ride your bike to any place in Berlin without any hills or robberies in the way; the food is good; people are nicer than the grumpy stereotype; the clubs bring interesting artists and pay them well. But I haven’t lived in many other places, so all this might not be “so special” about Berlin. You should just check it out yourself, the Easyjet ‘bizniz’ usually delivers Berlin on a lil’ plate.

How would you describe you own sound? Do you draw from any particular influences?

My own sound, pffft - I hear things, I like certain sounds, I don’t like to be bored, I try to make different decisions on every track, I dislike most of my tracks when they get released… Influences, well they come from everywhere and everyone - it’s a very fluent thing and hard to stick to names (there are too many…).

You seem to have an extensive knowledge of music, you only have to look at your Myspace blog pages to see - how long have you been involved in music and making music?

DJing for quite a long time, making music for a few years now, but not so regular; constantly ‘nerding’ out with my friends on specific musicians, styles, labels, etc… Hmm, but I don’t make music all the time, there are months where I get into other things that excite me or need to get done and let my keyboards collect dust.

‘Standin High’ is out now on Permenant Vacation, keeping company with the likes of the 6th Borough Project (aka The Revenge and Craig Smith), not to mention tracks out on W.T and Prins Thomas’ Internasjonal records; it must be great to feature on such a well respected labels early on in your career?

Yes, I am glad, they’re all doing their thing and I can join them for a lil’ ride. I only made music for people that I know personally, except the Feel Music thing, which has been a pure internet relationship so far but John Daly is such a good musician - I was very surprised and happy. W.T. and Retreat are run by good friends of mine, Prins Thomas is of course a big dawg and I met him in Oslo a few years ago, long before any tracks were exchanged. The connections to the Drumpoet Family came naturally through my good friend Lexx and I met Benji and Tom from Permanent Vacation at some parties in berlin.

Anyhoo, I am still amazed that people out there actually like, play and buy the music that a year ago only had an existence in my room between a few laughs with my friends and late late nights… Confidence about my own music feels good but grows slowly. I feel strong when I can work with a label that i honestly respect and that keep their own taste and personality in their outfit. I like lil’ underground labels that dont produce these stream-lined, functional records - weird labels, risky things.

You write your own blog at hunchmusic.com - what kind of stuff do you post up on there and is there plans to develop Hunch Music into something more, a record label perhaps?

The posts are kinda like the soundtrack to my everyday - I try to go in a lil’ order of tracks, like a mixtape if u play ‘em all in a row and I don’t post music from “contemporary” artists (except i know them and asked for permission). I want to post more about things that are interesting in general and get more friends involved to post shit, but in the moment I am too busy to expand proper and my friends are too lazy to post things.

Hunch Music is definitely my prime platform for all kinds a dreams and plans for an unknown future, but nothings decided so far and I like to keep it open until I have more ideas or enough money to materialize them.

You have another moniker, Hunch, how does that work differ from yours as Hunee?

Not quite sure yet.

You’ve featured on the Jazzanova Radio Show, quite a compliment from music royalty?! :-)

Music royalty…? Haha, it was just a mix for a radio show. I’ve known the Jazzanova DJs Alex, Jürgen and Claas for a long time, mostly through my work at a record shop and at a time in the early/mid 00s when they threw these crazy “Kaleidoskop” parties with Daniel Best. I heard and danced to so many good DJs there - it was really open and freestyle. Trying to be adventurous as a DJ, thats what I learned there, breaking the tempo, creating a situation for sneaking in a lil’ ballad or just having fun. Good times… I remember Moodyman and a Prince record, Bugz in the Attic tearin that place apart, Fat Freddys Drop before they filled stadiums, Gilles Peterson jumpin from Brazil to Dancefloor Jazz, Kenny Dope doin’ somethin’, Louie Vega, Spinna, all the big dawgs in quite an intimate environment, oh so nice….

What are your plans for this year?

Getting my degree, going to a group of islands in Greece called “Kykladen” for vacation, makin some good music, finding more records and playing them at places I haven’t been before, forcing my friends to post on my blog, learning how to make soups and stews, saving money to buy a ‘beamer’, learning how to sail, touching my toes.