Hyenah is an artist who puts music above all else. Choosing to DJ in a mask as to not reveal his identity, dedicates the experience formulated through the music he creates to the receiving audience. Striving to create magical moments through the diversity reflected from the people in electronic music, his work is a beacon of hope, tackling issues of racism and offering a vision of unity. Following select releases on Freerange, Objektivity, Rise, and a 12“ for Watergate Records, he delivers the latest edition of the Watergate mix series.
We caught up with Hyenah to talk about his new compilation on the Watergate series.
Electronic Groove: Hi Hyenah, welcome and thank you for speaking with us today. Given your long-standing affiliation, we are excited to listen to your Watergate compilation. Can you tell us about the project and the inspiration behind it?
Hyenah: First, thank you for giving me this opportunity. As you probably know Watergate has a long history of mixed CDs including big names such as Solomun, Kerri Chandler, Jimi Julez, Mathias Meyer, Who Made Who, just to name a few. Also, South Africa’s Culoe de Song has already been featured. So, I am super happy to be in charge of number 27.
What inspired me when I started working on the mix in 2019 was the urge to make a statement. I wanted to communicate a message beyond music. So I worked with my long time friend Lazarusman. We wrote a text about anti-racism together and wanted to roll it out over the whole mix. Little did we know how much momentum this message gained in 2020.
Besides that my main focus was to develop a journey through the Hyenah sound with a strong Watergate, or rather RISE flavor. You will find only tunes that have never been released before – including four new tunes of my own. On top of that, it features artists from all over the world that are friends and that I really value. People like Manoo, Kerri Chandler, Floyd Lavine, Da Capo, Henrik Schwarz, Pablo Fierro, FNX Omar, FKA Mash, Ameme, Jamiie, or Super Flu.
EG: What was the track selection process like when compiling the mix?
Hyenah: Working with just exclusive music is a bit like solving a crossword puzzle with one main goal: to create a magic flow. There were so many more great tracks that I really wanted to include.
In the end, the whole story finally unfolded through a long back and forth. There already was a nicely evolving combination of a few tracks in the beginning and a good selection later on that work really well. Still, there wasn’t a smooth connection between them. So I either created the missing parts myself or kept on digging. And I never stopped asking around – until the very end. Finally, everything came together nicely.
EG: The mix includes a number of your own tracks, which are generally known in part for their high standard of production. Based on that we’d love to hear a bit about your creative process when it comes to making music?
Hyenah: Each of my songs has its own story. And to get there I try not to recycle myself but to stay true to my own signature sound at the same time.
I have different approaches that I follow. Either I am trying to express something in particular, like a feeling, a vibe, a certain energy, and my main focus is to hit that as good as I can. Or I start with an influence, a musical idea, and build the track around wherever that idea takes me. Sometimes it is also good to not touch a sketch for a while. It can be really refreshing to find out what a certain tune really wants to tell you after you got it out of your system for a while.
Another little trick I use is to listen to a sketch that I see potential in over and over again without working on it. This way I know better what to do with it when back in the studio. So I avoid only jamming on it.
EG: We are now 6 years on since the first release from Hyenah and there have been many memorable ones in the time since. How do you feel Hyenah as an artist has evolved since the beginning? Is your mission still the same as when the journey first began?
Hyenah: That is a very interesting question. Time definitely moved on, I feel different today than back then but my heart is still at the same place. A lot has changed since release one, “The Wish”. When I started there were not so many producers bridging the sound between Africa and the Western world. Now there are quite a few. And many of these guys and girls are fantastic.
In the end, my mission is still the same: I want to build bridges, bring people and cultures together and make people enjoy music.
EG: Given the aforementioned long-standing affiliation with Watergate, what does it mean to Hyenah to be releasing this mix and compilation?
Hyenah: Looking back I think that I would not be where I am now without Watergate – the club and the label. They gave me and the RISE crew a home, long before afro house gained major attention in Europe and was easier to sell. They took a risk for us and I really appreciate that.
We, the RISE team were able to grow our sound and give the community a safe spot to celebrate our own idea of house music. So I am very, very grateful and honored to represent the club and the label. It feels right. We do share a message and a mission and I really appreciate what they did for me.
EG: In what has been a turbulent year across the globe in a number of ways, what values do you feel are most important for people to practice right now?
Hyenah: This year really has been crazy so far. 2020 feels like a decade already. Do you remember the wildfires in Australia in January? They feel so far away already. In regard to your question, I think to stay patient really is important right now. To not freak out. This is a tough one since one can’t take any shortcuts to patience. We can still try to evolve artistically these days and take routes that are not aiming at the dancefloor only. I mean, we are still living in a global pandemic and have to accept that.
I am trying to listen and focus on supporting each other radiating an optimistic spirit. And more than ever it is mandatory to be considerate towards others. As much as we all want things to go back to normal we still have to be responsible to not endanger more vulnerable people. And we have to be aware that other people are hit way harder than us.
“My main focus was to develop a journey through the Hyenah sound with a strong Watergate, or rather RISE flavor”
EG: Hyenah is known as an artist that strives to build bridges and bring people together. What role do you feel music has in helping to achieve this?
Hyenah: That’s a good question! Music can definitely help you to get through tough times. Music is always about togetherness and respect. At least the music I am representing and feeling. It can bring people together even though we are physically disconnected. We share a spirit with music. And we know we are close and connected in spirit.
Music can also be the carrier for many other things. That’s what I tried to do with my anti-racist message in this mix. Generally speaking, music is already about appreciating cultural diversity and valuing that as something magical. By what I do I want to create images that become reality. A reality that tears down walls and is building bridges. Exactly as you said.
EG: Thank you again for speaking with us today. To round things off, is there anything else Hyenah related that you’d like to share with us?
Hyenah: Hold tight, be strong, we’ll be together again soon.
Hyenah’s Watergate 27 Compilation is out now via Watergate Records. Stream and buy here.
