The UK's Huxley has been on fire over the last couple years, basically doing everything in his power to make the UK house and garage scenes stand up and pay attention. As many heads waited with baited breathe for his debut LP Blurred, which to dropped on October 20, I spoke to this compelling producer about the trials and tribulations of musical creative expression and how he tossed his first draft of the album in the trash to start from scratch and create this beautifully versatile 12-track LP for Aus Music. He also dives a bit into his creative process and goes on to express how fun it is to play festivals in 2014. We shared the glorious first single "I Want You" a couple weeks ago and now comes the expansive insight from the man himself.
How long have you been working on your debut album, and what were some of the things you wanted to convey with your sound by doing a full length LP?
Well, I've been working on it for about two years, give or take. The reason it took so long is I pretty much wrote one and then realized I hated it and then wrote the one that is actually going to come out, the one I'm really happy with, in about the first six months of this year. Also this mixed with touring obviously meant it took a bit longer. I think the thing I wanted to do with this album was to go back to producing a lot of genres, and make real music again, songs alongside the clubbier tracks. Really, I wanted to show myself, and other people, that I'm not just here to make club records, that I can be a proper artist.
In listening to "Blurred," I can tell what you mean. There's definitely a multifaceted feel to it with a lot of versatility. Have you always made other music outside of the house/garage type realm or was this really the first project you attacked like this?
I have always done it. Less so over the last couple of years to be honest, but I have always made stuff in other genres. I use to write a lot of hip-hop when I was younger. Not that any of it was any good, and I use to have less pressure to deliver a certain style. I guess I wanted to get back to that feeling of writing what I wanted and not to give a fuck about the constraints of what other people want to think of me. In all honesty, it has made me realize how bored I was just making one style. It's definitely broadened my horizons again. Saying that, I definitely still love making house and techno.
Definitely understood and it seems that pigeonholing is as prevalent today as it's ever been in dance music. Seems only natural to want to break out of ruts and find different ways to express yourself. Do you think it's a challenge for artists like yourself to "do something different" and potentially confuse your fan base?
I think so. I think people expect a certain thing from someone, and if they go off in another route, then it can often cause a lot of stress. I mean look what happened to Julio Bashmore. I thought the hate he got for the "Duccy" thing was ridiculous. He was just trying something else, something different. I suppose it's rare for a fan base to go with whatever an artist chooses to do. You can definitely see that people are scared to do it. I mean that's why some producers just make the same tune over and over again. It's a safety net. But I think if you don't move forward, you're never going to know what your fans are going to follow you with. If you don't take risks you might as well not bother. Making music is, after all, an art form. I think that a lot of people forget that these days and feel like they can't express themselves. Something I've probably been guilty of myself sometimes, to some extent anyway.
Absolutely man and I think you can hear the hard work in the diversity on the album. Do you feel good about the relationship with Aus Music and how everything is rolling out on the set up? Seems like there's so much to the PR campaigns and marketing now just to get eyes and ears on a release...
Yeah, I love working with Will and Jodie from Aus. It's really a nice experience. You can get honest feedback and they are always happy to hear what you have to say. They never asked for a certain album, they just asked me to deliver something I wanted to make. Saying that, obviously they sent constructive criticism, which I think any artist who works the majority of their time needs. PR is something that has to be done these days. It's a means to an end. You can't hate the system, but it can get a bit frustrating I suppose. A lot of the time, it's a lot of targets we're told we need to hit, so maybe when one doesn't happen it can put a downer on things. But, without it I wouldn't be where I am, and as much as some people would hate to admit they wouldn't be where they are now. Even not doing any PR now is a PR tool. It's just the way the world works these days, not just in the music industry. Everything is so accessible and instant gratification means that you need PR otherwise people just move on or don't notice you.
So true. Instant gratification has created so many flash-in-the-pan type scenarios with artists and genres it can be frustrating to anyone just trying to "break through."
100%. It makes everything so throwaway.
Do you find that's something that enters your brain now when you sit down to make a tune? Like, it affects your creative direction or how you attack a particular style?
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I think I have to make that "big tune," but I can guarantee whenever I think that it never happens. I think if you'd asked me that a year ago it definitely would have, but now not so sure. I think I still want people to like the music I make, but I think about less of the trappings that I was caught up in before.
That's dope. Seeing your upcoming dates to help with promo for the album, you've got a date at the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. This is not your first trip ever to the U.S. is it?
Nah man. I've been there about three times in the last two years. That's actually the last date of the tour this time. I start at HARD Day Of The Dead and then onto Miami, Detroit, Philadelphia, Toronto, and then BEMF. I've not done BEMF before, though. Apparently it's pretty sick. I'm looking forward to it. I always look forward to coming to the States. It's always really fun. Last year I did the week before for Halloween. I have to say you guys do it better than anywhere else I've seen!
I totally forgot about DOTD. Seems like that's an incredibly broad and adventurous lineup. Do you like a majority of the festival plays you get?
I love playing festivals. To be honest, though, this is only my second one ever in the States. The lineup does look mental though. I'm pretty glad I get to hang out on the Sunday as well. Definitely can't wait for the Dirtybird BBQ! Festivals on the whole though are cool. I spent all summer doing them and I love them. I'm loving being back in the clubs again at the moment though. You get to be a bit more adventurous at a club. Festival sets are normally a bit like you in - bang it out, then it's all over pretty quickly. And that's what the crowd wants, normally, so why not give em what they want!
