HUGEhands
Interview & Guest Mix
As has become a custom, a new producer on the UM Records label brings a new name to the interview hall of fame. HUGEhands is a name I’d seen around, heard a few bits and then listened to his demo and was hugely impressed… and here we are. Like many more, he’s a relatively new name, with a time-served history in the music scene and a deep respect of the community. And it shows in his tunes, a knowledge and appreciation, an ear for a groove and not a bad tale to go with it. Let’s dig in…
Good to catch up James - lets start at the beginning - how did you start out in music?
Good to catch up - I always kick off with this one — how did you first get into deeper house?
Thanks Richie, yeah well, from school age I loved music of all genres especially jazz and general electronic sounding music. It was the early 90s when I started listening to house mixes on cassettes that my friends had given me. Following on from that the nearest free party sound system to me was deep house so as soon as I had my driving licence I was off with friends driving to various parties usually in rural locations or commercial raves at clubs. The music was ingrained in me from the start.
We also had Glastonbury festival close by which hosted and still does amazing house/deep house DJs and live performances and luckily in the West Country there were loads of other smaller festivals during the 90s.
Who would you class as your biggest house influences so far - DJs or labels?
I could go on and on with this as I have so many influences from but to begin with it was DJs such as Sasha and Digweed and all the DiY sound system DJs and many of the early US house DJs which would be another list!
Then following on from that it was Daft punk, Miguel Migs, Johnny Fiasco, Inland Knights, Groove Armada, Layo and Bushwacka, Carl Cox, Fat Boy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Way out West, Tom Middleton, Leftfield. I'm not going any further with this but I think you get the idea, a very broad spectrum!
Tell us a little about your journey so far with production — how did you begin trying out ideas?
I'm a relatively new producer and started this journey around 5 years ago. It's something that I'd wanted to do for a long time but circumstances were not right especially when I lived in a mobile home for 4 years while undertaking a house build!
It's been a very steep learning curve for me, getting my head around the software and hardware. Not only that, I'd never used a Mac before and always kept my distance from social media which I soon realised was a necessary tool to promote myself! So I spent hours and hours watching Youtube videos to try and teach myself enough to get started with all this technology which was new to me ha ha.
What’s your production set up consist of?
Very basic so far. I use Ableton live in conjunction with an Ableton push controller. I use a Novation full length midi controller the most if I'm honest. Also a studio mic for vocals and a nice pair of Yamaha HS80 monitors. I'm hoping to go further down the hardware route eventually as well but currently have plenty to keep me creative at my fingertips!
Do you plan time to work on tracks or wait for inspiration to strike?
I have to plan time because my music at the moment has to fit around a full time job and also a busy family life so my time is limited anyway. I'm hoping in the future this might change but for now that's how it is. I try to work on tracks most evenings and use my lunchtimes during the working week to think and play around with new ideas.
As a producer — how do you find inspiration for new music?
It starts at the bottom for me. I've got to like the bassline. Once I've made a bassline that I'm happy with then I'll work on the groove. It's so important for me to get these two working together. I'll then start building on this foundation and see where it takes me. I generally don't have a fixed idea in my mind before I sit down. It very much depends on my mood which definitely determines the final sound of the track. I usually have 4 or 5 tracks on the go at the same time so that if I get writer's block on one I can give myself a break and start on another.
What’s your favourite part of the process?
I think for me it's the early stages of pulling together different sounds and basically jamming in Ableton which is great fun. Searching for samples which fit is also fun. The other part of the process I enjoy is the final mix down and pressing play for the first time listening to the track in stereo.
You’ve collaborated with a variety of people over the years, what’s that experience like creatively and what do you look for in a collaboration partner?
Collaboration is important as it opens you up to new ideas that you wouldn't think of yourself so my experience is that you end up with a final piece of music which is quite different from something you've produced on your own. For me, if I'm going to collaborate with someone Ive got to like their own style as well and it's great to work with someone who is driven and sometimes pushes you along to finish the project. I've made some great friends so far including Wez and Col from Deep Fix recordings and Im currently working on a collaboration with Sen-Sei which is taking shape nicely. I'm always up for working with other artists and building new friendships.
You’re a DJ too right? How does your style vary behind the decks as opposed to on them?
Ha ha this all started a long time ago now. I started playing vinyl when I was around 17 years old, a mixture of house, old skool hardcore and techno. I bought a really tidy second hand pair of Technics 1210s Mk 2 which I still own to this day. I went through quite a long period of mixing breakbeat as well late 90s and into 00s. I still love my breaks. So now you could say I've gone full circle and back to the deep house groove which I'm totally addicted to and which hooked me in at the start. My sets now incorporate all styles of deep house from funky, deep, deep tech and more melodic, progressive sounds.
Best gig you’ve played ever?
If I'm honest I haven't played in many really big venues. It's been pretty low key clubs, small festivals and outdoor parties, some of which I've put on myself in the famous HUGEhands stage haha. I put on a night in my local town which was quite a small hall but totally rammed. That's what I like, you feel as though you're really connecting with those people through your music which is an amazing feeling.
What’s the biggest learning you’ve had over the last few years building your sound?
Before I started producing I'd listen to other music and think to myself that's the sort of sound that I want to create. The thing is it wasn't until I started I realised it wasn't that simple. The music I'm producing, I would say has its own sound which I'm glad about now so my biggest lesson I think is to be yourself. Don't worry about what other people are doing. Don't compare yourself to others just do your thing even if you find it difficult to place your sound.
Tell us about the process/idea behind your release on UM?
My single ‘Star Gazing’ I find a very emotional sounding piece of music which was reflecting my mood at the time. So I started with the groove and then a warm synth sound drifts in and some sneaky stabs. Then we have male and female chopped vocals. Later in the track we have a female opera sample which just floats over the top. All the time whilst making this piece of music I just had the vision of standing out in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black looking up at the night sky!
What’s your favourite tune of your own of all time — the one that never grows old?
Thats a difficult one but I think it's got to be ‘Clouds’ on Houph label which was released last summer. It makes me smile every time I hear it and I used my own vocal in it as well ha ha.
What other producers are killing it for you right now for you — tracks you’re playing and loving?
Well, there's so much good music around I could write an endless list but Im liking B&S concepts productions also my good friends Col Lawton and Wez BK. Rob Savage has made some great tracks recently which I've enjoyed. Vall recently released a great Ep on House Trip recordings. Willowman, Rohan Nunes, Christian B, Saison, Fred Everything and Shur-I-Kan. Like I say it could be an endless list!
What can UM listeners look forward to from your Guest Mix?
Ok, well, don't be fooled about the slow start, I've carefully selected the tracks and I think we go from 121bpm which is a track by Peter Mac on Delve Deeper recordings and then finish on 126bpm. Obviously I've included my new track ‘Star Gazing’ on UM and another track of mine ‘Day Dream’ which was released this summer on Induction Muzic. Also included close to the end is Brotha D remix of Eventual Groove track ‘Forte’ also on UM. This mix is typical of my sets which tries to incorporate all styles of deep house. Hopefully listeners can go from sitting down nodding their head to up and moving by the end!
What’s on the cards for the next while?
Unfortunately due to Covid I couldn't play out much this summer and some festivals were cancelled 2nd year running! I'm playing at an event in October which I'm really looking forward to. Production wise for the remainder of the year I have music coming out on Dutchie Music, Spiritualized, Soul Room records and Delve Deeper recordings as well as my new release on UM so still plenty to look forward to.
Where can people follow you?
People can follow me on all the usual social media platforms and digital streaming sites if they wish to keep up to date with all my releases.Thanks so much for your time interviewing me which has been really enjoyable! Hopefully this will give people a bit more of an idea about the person behind the music, thanks again.
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