INTERVIEW : HeartWerk
I was looking for new electronic music on Spotify when I stumbled upon HeartWerk’s music on Thomas Rio’s seminal 𝔏𝔬𝔣𝔦 ℌ𝔬𝔲𝔰𝔢 playlist. The producer’s single Envy And Self Care fitted perfectly beside tracks from some of my favorite electronic acts, artists like DJ Seinfeld and DJ Boring. A deep dive into HeartWerk’s universe proved highly entertaining. Most of his tracks available on the streaming service date from earlier this year, and they’re all worth a listen.
Combining elements of house, techno and acid, they have this vintage charm distilled through the prism of a modern aesthetic and display certain elements associated with the lo-fi movement, without ever becoming self-referential or caricatural.
His full-length Songs I Wrote Last September is surprisingly coherent (not to mention addictive). With effortless charm, it’s focused, mature, to the point… All qualities that are extremely hard to come by in an electronic LP these days. They all echo in his latest opus, an EP simply titled Fresh.
Being who I am (i.e. an electronic music nerd), I had to send HeartWerk a few questions to learn more about him and his creative process.
Where are you from? How’s the scene in your neck of the woods?
From Tulsa OK. It’s developing slowly but steadily.
Do you think producing music is an extension of DJing?
I guess so. I started DJing only because the cost of starting to produce was too high back in ‘03, which is funny now that DJ gear costs more than most production gear.
What’s your last great musical discovery?
I’ve been really digging Jogging House and Lightbath for ambient kinda stuff.
What’s the most useful thing you've learned about DJing?
Just go for it. There are times when I’m not sure if I should play something, and I just pull the trigger and it goes off. And if it doesn’t, being good about getting back to something safe smoothly.
What’s your go-to creative tool?
Lately it’s been the Octatrack. I like how it allows for so many happy accidents.
In your opinion, what should a young, talented DJ do to get started in the world of DJing? What advice would you give him/her?
Again just go for it. Take everything a professional says with a grain of salt. I had a lot of pros and mgmt and such tell me I should do one thing, or not do one thing, and then the next thing I know it’s three months and I haven’t done anything.
Some advice is great, some isn’t. Just really figure out what you’ve been told is or isn’t a good move for you, and just go for it.
What’s coming up for HeartWerk?
My Fresh EP just released on Audiophile Deep!
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