Juan Hansen: I would describe my sound as eclectic

With a string of successful career releases on the likes of Afterlife, All Day I Dream, Bedrock, Human by Default and Balance Music, and a hugely successful world tour in 2022, prolific Argentinian producer, composer, celebrated recording artist and live act, Juan Hansen, now looks to open his 2023 tally with the announcement of his latest solo offering, Higher EP.

Out now via independent German label MEIOSIS Records, the two-part Higher EP marks Hansen's inaugural solo outing on the burgeoning, Berlin-based imprint, following two critically acclaimed EP releases as part of three-person vocal electronica outfit FORMA (Hollow EP and The Peak EP) in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Positioned amongst an elite group of artists who manage to comfortably straddle multiple musical reference points, Hansen fuses electronica, analog instrumentation and organic soundscapes with remarkable deft. Opening the EP with the absorbing title track Higher, his robust broken beats and warped textures are complimented perfectly by ethereal samples and subtle vocal drops, with a series of mind-bending arpeggiated synth lines forming the backbone of the tripped-out narrative.

Taking things down a notch for the carefully considered closer Irreplaceable, the Argentinian's trademark amalgam of restrained drum patterns and textured synths is utterly compelling, as he concocts a spine-tingling, lo-fi house track that delivers from the off. Propelled by refined rhythms and dynamic synth lines, Irreplaceable comes complete with an official live performance music video, recorded from a waterfront pagoda in Tulum, Mexico. Recreating the track, live, Juan's unmatched musicality and creativity shines, as he adds to his impressive catalogue with another majestic musical masterpiece.
— Hello Juan, and thanks for taking the time to chat to us. Where in the world are you right now?
— Hello and thank you so much for having me! Im in my studio in Buenos Aires right now.
— Massive congratulations on your huge new EP 'Higher' on MEIOSIS. Can you talk to us through the release and what fans can expect when it drops?
— Thank you! Higher was super emotional to make.

In the studio I'm always listening to old ideas, and higher was one of that recordings lost on a hard drive. When I found it I instantly felt it was the right time to finish. Higher is a breakbeat downtempo track where I tryied to take my vocal recording to sound as an old sampled piece of music on top of a chopped drum recording I made a long time ago. The main synth comes from my Yamaha CS.

The B side Irreplaceable was born from a live improvisation while shooting a video in Tulum, Mexico. Is a more organic drum sounding track with lyrics that evoke an internal struggle for balance wich I describe as the fire war.
— How did you connect with MEIOSIS for this project? Is it your first release on the label?
— Meiosis is like home to me, is a label for our family of artists in CAPT to express ourselves and put music out. Is my first realse as JH but Ive already put out two EP´s with my band side-project FORMA.
— Going back to your formative years, can you explain when and how you fell in love with electronic music? Was there a particular moment when the penny dropped?
— There was a moment when I was 16 years old and a friend of mine played me a CD with trance music, and after listening to Paul Oakenfoald I clicked with electronic music. After that I started digging into different genres and styles, and I fell in love with the energy this music has, always trying to blend it with my rock background and trying to find a personal voice. After going to my first electronic festival, Creamfiels in Buenos Aires, my electronic world finished to open up for me and I knew that electronic music was a path for me.
— What music (or artists) have played the biggest role in shaping you as an artist?
— Dire straits with their Brothers in Arms album was one of the most important pieces of music for me. Mark Knopfler´s subtile guitar marked me as a guitarist. Bob Marley was one of the most influencial artists for me on how to write songs and about what, the importance of the message behind the music and on how to approach singing. Last would be Depeche mode and their unique combination of electronic elements and acoustic instruments.
— How would you describe your sound, and why did you choose to pursue your particular brand electronic music over other styles? What is it about the genre that you love so much?
— I would describe my sound as eclectic cause I´m always trying tofind myself in constant change and experimenting with new sounds and styles. This Higher EP is maybe my first time releasing a downtempo breakbeat track with so few elements in it, but still I want it to sound with my personality. I love the hypnosis state that electronic music can provide and how is this kind of music always looking for new ways of breaking it´s own boundaries. I choose electronic music to express myself but I didn't stopped playing other genres just for love of music. One of the biggest pleacures in life for me is to join some friends with instruments and jam whatever style comes up.
— Looking forwards, do you have any specific goals or objectives you would like to achieve as an artist over the next few years?
— I think the most important thing for me is to keep my music honest and fresh over the years. My main goal is to never get bored of doing what I do, maintain the spark of making music as when I began.
— If you could put on your own show anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would you have joined you on the lineup?
— Ok this is a tough one but maybe Buenos Aires, deep in the Delta river cause it is where I am from. I would love to have just live sets performing in two opposite stages where people turn arround to see the next artist.
— Where can we see you perform over the coming months?
— For this next months I will be playing a lot of cities in Argentina such as Cordoba, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Tucumán, Bahía Blanca and La Plata, also going to Mexico city, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and hopefully Brazil and Chile. Ill be in Europe, Asia and Middle east from mid June untill August.
— Finally, do you have any other projects coming up soon that you'd like to share with us?
— This year is coming full or new releases, both originals and collaborations. Im working with some great filmmakers on two music videos and hopefully the release of a liveset video recording by the end of the year.

I´m really excited to be playing in a lot of new cities I never been before and some great festivals for the europe summer season.
— Thank you Juan, we wish you all the best!
— Thank you so much for having me ! I wish you all a great year full of ove and music :)