Herobust has cemented his status as one of the greats in the bass scene. But it wasn’t a quick or easy path. Hayden spent years making music, refining his skills and constantly experimenting. A mad scientist in the lab carefully creating monster tracks that fuse together elements of rap and bass music. His 2016 EP I’m Aloud was the triumphant sum of years of effort, a masterpiece that pushed the boundaries of trap, dubstep and bass music as a whole. Songs like ‘Skurt Reynolds’ and ‘Dirty Work’ became some of the biggest anthems of the year, destroying stages around the globe. The following year he proved his talents once more with his follow-up Vertebreaker. The project built upon the foundation laid on I’m Aloud and somehow ratcheted things up to new levels. 2018 has seen a slew of singles and Herobust travelling the world and killing festivals from Lollapalooza to Electric Forest. With a new single out, his tour underway and a new EP on the horizon, we had the pleasure of catching up with Herobust to discuss ‘WTF,’ how he continues to innovate, becoming the hero he’s always wanted to be and much more. Check out the interview below.
How has 2018 been treating you so far?
Its been good. Been to China, going to Europe and Australia. Played Lollapalooza Chicago, Bass Canyon, Electric Forest, released some fire; its been a good year for me.
You just dropped a massive new single ‘WTF’. You said you made “almost all the sounds in this song from a recording of me saying WTF.” Can you tell us a little bit about that process? How did the song come together?
I had been playing around with this idea of making a track centered around something I hadn’t heard before. If you listen closely to the drop, the beat of the synths are in the same beat pattern as the phrase, “What the Fuuuuu”. So this was a really fun way of seeing an idea come from such a small, inconsequential place. Literally, a whole track from one statement!
I don’t try to follow trends, and instead follow my own ideas, and use the bass music trends to frame my ideas and sound design.
You’re well respected for your unique sound design and ability to push boundaries in bass music. How do you keep innovating and staying original year after year?
I don’t try to follow trends, and instead follow my own ideas, and use the bass music trends to frame my ideas and sound design. It’s never as easy as it sounds, but in the years that I’ve been making music, I have pushed myself to continue to follow my own ideas. It’s what people find intriguing about my music, and it’s what I personally find exciting about it.
Collaboration is at its peak in electronic music, but you mostly opt to work alone. Is there a reason why you don’t often work with other artists?
I wouldn’t say that there is any real reason for that. I am totally open to do collabs, especially with the bass producers there are out here these days. I would say that I just work very fast on my own and a lot of my tracks just come about without much input from others collaboratively.
What makes you actually want to collaborate with someone?
When they have something unique in their musical style. I like when I hear something that I’m like, “How’d they do that?” Or they really try to push what EDM is as a style. I don’t care if they’re just another EDM producer with just enough differentiation, I want something more than average.
I let the music take me where it’s wanting to go. If that leads me back into trap, I’m open to it.
Your recent releases have leaned harder into the dubstep direction. Is this the direction you’re headed in the near future? Will we get anymore Herobust trap?
I let the music take me where it’s wanting to go. If that leads me back into trap, I’m open to it. But right now, I’m being lead this way, and I like where its going!
You’re gearing up for your fall tour, is there any particular city that you’re looking forward to hitting most?
It’s hard to say that I’m excited for one specific city. I know that’s a little bit of a cop out, but I absolutely love everywhere that I’m playing this fall! I guess I would say Europe is super exciting, cause I’ve only been over once, and it was rowdy AF over there! They love their music!
You’ve had the opportunity to tour the world and perform in so many different places. How well is your music received in countries like Asia and the Middle East as opposed to the United States? Is there a good bass scene among those cultures?
I feel that the US is a big fan of Bass. Against Asia though? We may need to step up our game. My shows in China WENT OFF! Some of them got insanely rowdy. The culture of EDM over there is still pretty new, and this music is so freeing when your partying with it, it’s like the crowd really needs this music, which is something I haven’t felt to that level in a minute.
What do you miss most about being home when you’re on the road?
Consistency. Always consistency. When I’m home, I live in a way that is more predictable but I have much more control over it. I try to keep as much control as I can when I’m traveling, but it can be difficult. Sometimes you just have to focus up and remember why you do this. I’m not complaining about the travel, it’s such a fortunate thing I get to do. It’s just that you need to get into the right mentality to maintain sanity.
It’s going to be insane, very different, fun, something you can headbang to, something that pumps you up, something that makes you want to lift heavy stuff.
You’re dropping a new project entitled Not Your Average EP later this year. Can you tell us a little bit about the EP and what we should expect?
What CAN you expect with something that is anything but average? It’s going to be insane, very different, fun, something you can headbang to, something that pumps you up, something that makes you want to lift heavy stuff. Whatever you may have in your head, could be it, but honestly, it’s going to be so much unexpected stuff, that all you can do is brace yourself!
I think there are so many talented people out there who will never get to be as popular because they haven’t given into some cookie cutter mentality of music. While some people just ride coat tails of trends straight to the mainstage.
If you could change one thing in the music industry what would it be and why?
I would change people’s desire for more of the same. I think there are so many talented people out there who will never get to be as popular because they haven’t given into some cookie cutter mentality of music. While some people just ride coat tails of trends straight to the mainstage. Whenever someone does something truly unique, and gets popular because of it, it is followed by a bunch of trend chasers. While I think that some trends are worth following, the trend shouldn’t be the “IT” factor of YOUR music.
Have you become the hero you always wanted to be?
I’m always working towards being the hero I always wanted to be. If people can get rowdy and be elevated for even a moment because of me, then I think I am succeeding!
