Hailing from Austria, Hertenfels is quickly becoming one of the most prolific producers around the world. His unique take on electronic dance music is inspiring, urgent and driven. He uses an EDM template, but deconstructs and reassembles it in his own unique, hybrid style. Full Send spoke to him recently to discuss his meteoric rise…

FS: When did you first become interested in electronic dance music and what drew you in?

H: The first time I recognized electronic music was when I got a vinyl sampler with “Kraftwerk – Autobahn” on it. It was around 1990, and there was this monotone, repetitive sound that was somehow boring but also interesting. I didn’t really like it at this time. Things changed when I heard “The Prodigy” for the first time in 1992. I still was a Metal head at this time, but I opened my mind. My slogan “Metal is the only good music” changed into “Music Is The Key.”

FS: Was there one significant event in your life that made you realize that producing DNB music was what you really wanted to do?

H: In fact, I wanted to become a Metal Singer or guitar Player in a Trash or Black Metal Band, but my missing music education and scrappy voice hindered me. I then became very interested in electronic music production in the late ’90s but had no budget or mentor to do so. It was around 2014 when my interest and the technical possibilities began to work hand in hand. I always had drum and bass on my radar, but at the time, it turned out to be the one genre where I could combine hard, fast, and dirty vibes with sweet melodies and soulful vibes. It felt right, so I started to learn how to do it at the age of 38. It was a crossroad in my life, and I am more than happy about my choice.

FS: When you’re in the studio, what is your creative process like? Do you go in with a specific idea in mind or do you simply get in the space and create what comes naturally?

H: What I love most about music production is the fact that there is no right or wrong, as long as the result can make someone happy. When I sit down in my studio, I follow my mood. Sometimes I sit down with a blank project and think about a working title for 20 minutes or longer before I make the first sound. Sometimes I start with a loop or with finding a melody on the MIDI keyboard, and if nothing works, I take an Amen Break and begin to build something around it. This short drum break has become my (not so) secret weapon when I have a lack of inspiration.

FS: What’s your go to studio equipment? Analogue or digital?

H: I am interested in analogue gear and extend my equipment with it whenever I find something interesting, but in the end, I am a digital producer just using analog gear to polish the sound. If I had to choose only one piece of hardware, it would be one of the fantastic multi-controllers like NI Maschine, Ableton Push, etc. I like when it’s compact and powerful.

FS: What makes you so prolific?

H: Am I? It always feels like the day is too short. The wish to learn, to make someone happy with my music, and this feeling I have when I make a final mixdown. That’s my fuel. I love to produce something out of my mind, I love the scene and the people I am able to work with. What should I say? Music is the Key.

FS: What artists have you been influenced by in the past and who inspires you today?

H: Camo & Krooked, Icicle, Goldie, Blame, LTJ Bukem, Ed Rush, DJ Hazard, The Doors, The Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, Summoning, Manu Chao, Deichkind, and Seeed, Apoptygma Berzerk just to name a few. Overall, I am very open-minded for influences from all genres. What kind of music I like and enjoy only depends on the moment and setting.

FS: What do you think of the club scene now? Too many mobile phones?

H: I tapped into the local party and free party scene mid-’90s. I don’t want to miss a second, and there were tons of situations I would love to have on photo or video. But there were more situations better not to be saved for the future. I feel sorry for the folks who turn viral and feel bad about it.

Get out your phones to party and capture the vibe if you want, but respect others like they were in a virtual dark room.

FS: If you could choose one artist in the world to work with, who would it be and why?

H: In fact, two, Camo & Krooked. At the end, their album “Zeitgeist” was the reason for me to start producing. When I heard their fresh sound and found out they are two young boys from Austria with huge success worldwide, I was really blown away. At this time, I was searching for something to fill my soul. I tried around with video editing, social media, and other tech stuff with a chance to get creative but was only a lush music consumer, even if music was always my safe harbor. I just thought, when these boys can do it that well why not giving it a try. I started learning basics, tried some DAWs until I ended up with Ableton and found some kind of workflow. It really took long for me to get something together that does not sound like absolute bullshit, but from my first steps, I felt like this was the one thing I always missed in my life.

I drifted off a bit. But yeah, I respect C&K for their sound, quality, energy, and innovation, and I really hope to get a chance one time to work with Markus and Reini.

FS: How do you think Drum N Bass will develop in the future?

H: What I can say is it’s getting bigger and bigger. It will always have one foot into actual mainstream styles, but from my opinion, everything is possible from Country to Samba; nothing is safe from being adopted into drum and bass. Maybe Polka won’t make it, but I am open-minded if you like to prove me wrong. No matter if it’s innovative, you will find it somewhere within the spectrum of the scene.

H: What’s in the pipeline?

FS: Next up, a straightforward four to the floor techno track “Fake Acid” at the end of February, an ambient lo-fi tune, a dubstep/ragga/techno influenced collab EP with my mate Q.Lee, my collab tracks with Circle Red, and some original drum and bass tracks are planned to come this year. Hopefully, I will get done more; there are some months left before we step into 2025.

Fake Acid is released on 22nd February.

Festival time…

Parklife returns to Heaton Park, Manchester this June (8-9th) and promises to be one of the biggest yet. With International artists such as Becky Hill, Doja Cat, Hus, Disclosure and The Sugarbabes all lined up to lift our summer spirits. DNB stars like Bou, Eksman, Hedex and Wilkinson will keep the bass pounding and your feet skanking at one of this magazines favourite festivals in the UK. Get your tickets while they’re hot!