Melbourne, Australia’s Herzeloyde is a man of many talents. Although known for making waves in the experimental bass scene through his ceaseless innovation and continuous lack of conformity, the talented producer is no stranger to exploring completely different forms of electronic music.
Today, Herzeloyde demonstrates this proficiency of diving into new genres with his house-inclined Paroxysm EP, which is out on Fool’s Gold. In the four track endeavour, the Aussie artist shows fans two very different sides of the current, and undoubtedly future state of house music. While ‘552’ and ‘Narrative’ are groovy ballads meant for listening by the pool on a hot summer day, ‘Paroxysm’ and ‘Dream Type’ have the energy to keep you dancing in the club until sunrise. Aside from this stark contrast between the two pairs of tracks, one commonality throughout the project is its flawless production and undeniable ingenuity.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Herzeloyde to talk everything from his creative process, to producing different genres, to the Paroxysm EP and more. Check out the full project and interview below!
How have you been lately? What motivates you to keep creating on a daily basis?
I’ve been doing well, thank you for asking! It ebbs and flows with my mood and is definitely something that can be just as shifting as whatever it is I’m working on.
I would argue on a level that we as humans are never NOT creating.
When you’re not creating, what do you like to do outside of music? How do you use these other hobbies/interests to drive your creativity?
I would argue on a level that we as humans are never NOT creating. However, I do enjoy learning about life and about people. This happens both intentionally and unintentionally, whether it be through actively researching online or from going outside and experiencing things. Everything then inevitably transmutes into inspiration to drive my artistic expression.
You’re no stranger to making all kinds of different electronic music. Is there a genre you prefer to make over another? How do you decide what type of track you’ll make on any given day?
That depends on my current state of mind – it’s changed a lot over the years. Sometimes I’ve been in periods of pure spontaneous creation where there isn’t a clearly defined decision behind what I’m making, rather something naturally occurring. Other times have been more of a carefully planned approach to a particular style that I want to develop and grow. In terms of what draws me to a certain genre in the first place, I would say it’s usually a fundamental enjoyment and appreciation. If I’m digging a certain style, then I’ll usually follow up by attempting to improve on it or push it more in alignment with my own taste.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming producers about limiting themselves to a certain genre or sound?
Generally, I think limiting yourself can act as a positive tool in creation as it lessens the options available which can feel overwhelming. The concept of limiting genres, however, isn’t something I would advocate. I love the diversity of genres that exist and are ever-growing, and I always appreciate it when an artist shows me more than one side to their music.
Let’s talk about the Paroxysm EP. It is a truly remarkable body of work that is somewhat different from what most would expect from a Herzeloyde project. What inspired you to go in this direction with this project?
Thank you, I’m glad you liked the EP! House music has always been a personal favourite of mine and I particularly enjoy hearing when it’s innovated, expanded upon or pushed beyond the expected. That mindset of innovation was definitely the idea behind producing these tracks – essentially, I wanted to continue to explore the style whilst applying the latest variations of my taste to the songs.
I feel the ‘four on the floor’ groove has a real longevity to it and something that may never fade away if we keep pushing it to the fringes of what it can communicate.
From my perspective, there is an endless amount of stuff that could be brought into the mix to push it out of the familiar.
House music may be one of the most difficult genres to innovate in simply due to its widespread popularity across the globe. What did you do to ensure the entire EP sounded fresh and unique?
I never necessarily thought it was difficult to innovate and didn’t realise that outlook was held to the genre. From my perspective, there is an endless amount of stuff that could be brought into the mix to push it out of the familiar and it’s just a matter of doing exactly that. I can’t really change the beat structure heaps otherwise it’s not going to be something we can call house anymore. So that tells me that I need to dive into the music side of it and apply the changes and alterations there.
‘Paroxysm’ and ‘Dream Type’ are grittier bass house tunes, while ‘552’ and ‘Narrative’ are more feel-good, groovy house tracks. Why the stark separation in tone between the two pairs of tracks?
Exactly right. That distinction is an example of how I’ve begun to segregate the blanket genre in this EP alone. This is me and how I work. I enjoy a whole range of various sounds, whether it’s all the music genres in the world or all the sub-genres of one specific area. I could list all the different types of house I enjoy and then continue to list the types that I feel I haven’t heard before. If you’re exploring a sub-genre that you feel is under-explored within the domain, then I’d say you’re treading the waters of innovation.
Is this house direction something fans can expect more of from you?
I’d never want to become stale or lost in a single sub-genre and the idea of being predictable is one that brings me great horror. That’s not saying I’ll never make something again that can be called house music. Although, when I do touch the area again, I’ll be trying to bring something new to the table and freshen the “house” label in the context of my sound and the overall spectrum.
What else are you excited about in 2019?
Working on some of the most experimental music of my career and exploring new and interesting ways to translate the fruits of my endeavours to audiences around the globe.
