With releases on Quality Goods Records and Mad Decent’s Good Enuff, plus collaborations with the artists like Sango & Montell2099, it’s safe to say Haan808 is an underground legend. The New Zealand-based producer has been a FUXWITHIT favourite since he first blew us away with ‘Bad Boy’ back in 2018. Since then he’s dropped his exceptional Lights of Guidance EP and followed it up earlier this year with the DnB leaning two-piece Drone / Flying High. He also just put together an epic set for Boombox Cartel’s Cinco Mode live stream. With a hot year on the horizon, we caught up with Haan808 for a guest mix + interview. The mix flexes his ability to move between genres and slips in a few killer IDs. As for the interview, we delve into the music scene in New Zealand, experimenting across genres, learnings from his product design degree, and more. Check both below!
What should we expect from the mix? Where are we headed with this one?
A lot of music I’m feeling atm by other artists, some ID’s/collabs and overall good time lol.
How’s New Zealand been treating you?
NZ has been treating me great! It’s been good for me to have some time to reinvent myself and focus on the things that are important to me.
It’s always great to see another artist from NZ grow and thrive overseas putting us on their back. Love to everyone hustling here in NZ and making waves in the music industry.
The scene out there seems very tight-knit. For those outside of NZ can you tell us what it’s like? Is everyone pretty friendly and supportive?
Yeah definitely, everyone knows each other or knows of each other. In other genres of music also. A lot of us artists in NZ are homies, me & a very good friend of mine Montell2099 all have a lot of homies who do pop music, rap and are in bands etc. It’s great that we can learn a lot from each other and we respect each other’s hustle and grind. It’s always great to see another artist from NZ grow and thrive overseas putting us on their back. Love to everyone hustling here in NZ and making waves in the music industry.
What was your start point into music as a creator?
I was about 5 years old when I first picked up the guitar and not long after that I started playing piano. At about 11 or 12 years old that’s when I started to make beats- my brother Pax showed me a video of 9th wonder and Phonte making music in the studio and that sparked a huge interest in beat making after that.
In a previous interview you mentioned you originally hated hip-hop. What converted you into a fan?
Lol my bad! Yeah that’s changed for sure. At the time I was just really into other genres like heavy metal, metal punk etc. My brother was/still is a huge hip hop head so I’ve grown to really appreciate it.
Your set from Boombox Cartel’s Cinco Mode livestream was pretty epic. Where was it shot and how did it come together?
Thank you, yeah it was awesome. S/O Boombox for the support! It was easy shooting to be honest. My flatmate and good friend Jared Tinetti shot it for me, who has been working alongside artists like QUIX, Montell, Alison Wonderland, and tons of others. We shot it at a waterfall behind my university campus and it came out great!
Having to produce the same edm trap hip-hop is great and I still love it but it’s been a nice breath of fresh air to release some others genres and show people I can do more than just bass heavy and hip-hop stuff.
You’ve been experimenting with some new genres including house & D&B. What’s prompted the switch up? Where are you heading next?
I’ve been making different genres for the longest time tbh, I guess recently I’ve been wanting to showcase what I’m about and what I can do to the people who listen to me and stuff. And also wanting to be more free of creative control also. Having to produce the same edm trap hip-hop is great and I still love it but it’s been a nice breath of fresh air to release some others genres and show people I can do more than just bass heavy and hip-hop stuff.
How did you and Montell2099 first link up? Any plans for future collaborations together?
Me and Monts have known each other for a while now. Over 7/8 years, I think. We liked each other’s music then eventually met up in person through a mutual friend. These days we don’t really discuss music together tbh, he’s busy taking over the world right now and I’m happy for him. We haven’t got any collabs planned right now but you never know.
Outside of music are you still doing physical art? Have you created any pieces as of late?
Yup always making art still, because like I said before I’m still at uni and so for projects I gotta create and make prototypes. 😊
What’s the biggest takeaway from your product design degree?
I haven’t really thought about that before. I guess one of the biggest things I’m taking from this degree is… My degree has really taught me how to create art that… I’m not sure really, I haven’t thought about it to deeply. I guess taking away the overview of design and art. Also in how to create something that triggers thought-provoking matters and topics. Understanding the form and process of creating good composition and typography. Just still learning all ways to be honest.
What are you sitting on in terms of music right now?
I have tons of plans for upcoming music atm, some releases with labels and collabs that I cannot wait to announce in due time. At the moment I’m trying to slowly reinvent myself and show people how diverse I can be with the music I put out.
Don’t be stupid, be kinder to others. And support your local music it really goes a long way when up and comers have support from friends and people they know or just new fans also.
Any final words for fans?
Don’t be stupid, be kinder to others. And support your local music it really goes a long way when up and comers have support from friends and people they know or just new fans also. I would like to thank FUXWITHIT for the constant love and support you guys have been giving me as well, I really do appreciate it!
Tracklist:
1 Hold On Me – Sidekick
2 I Don’t Wanna Know Why – Slowpalace
3 Eloquin & HODA – Clear Out
4 Habstrakt – Show Me
5 HODA & Eloquin – Kicks Ft. Dread MC
6 HODA & Eloquin – Banzai
7 Do You Love Me (Prod. Haan808)
8 Black Cherry – Hudson Mohawke
9 Kumarion – Enemy
10 Cali – TroyBoi
11 Boombox Cartel – Máquina
12 Turning Point – RemK
13 L*o*J – Underdog [LATU. Remix]
14 HAAN808 – iD
15 Ellie X Flux (Haan Edit)
16 Don Toliver – CARDIGAN – Knock2 Remix
17 HAAN808 – iD
18 HAAN808 – iD
19 HAAN808 – iD
20 Offline ‘Ultra Violet’
21 Haan808 – DRONE
22 Waeys
23 Halogenix – Independent
