Is The Hacker still thrilled by touring? “It depends,” he reflects. “The traveling is really the boring part, but when you play, when you see the people enjoying what you do, it’s all worth it. Especially coming to Australia.” Since he’s been producing and making electronic music for so many years, Beat wonders if The Hacker notices any differences between audiences in different countries. Or is everyone the same once they’re on the dance floor? “Years ago there was a difference,” he answers. “But now it’s pretty much the same everywhere, because of things like the social media, we all react the same, we all listen to the same music in festivals. It’s a bit scary actually.”
The Hacker’s long-spanning career has seen him work extensively with Miss Kittin, with who he is about to rejoin forces with. His work is influenced from everything from Kraftwork to The Cure, yet manifests itself in a way that is distinctly his own. Besides his current collaborations with DJ Overdose and Luke Eargoggle, is there anyone else he is looking forward to working with? “We are supposed to work with Gesaffelstein (Mike Lévy, a French techno artist and DJ) but we can’t find the time.”
He has now been in the game so long, that the music of The Hacker is now starting to influence his contemporaries. However, the man remains – as ever – humble. “In the early tracks of Gesaffelstein, for sure. There are maybe other artists, but I can’t really say who. It’s always flattering when someone says to me that I am an influence, that’s what music is all about – inspiring people, and making them want to do something.”
Like most of the greats, The Hacker is not focused on following trends. Rather, he begins with making music for himself. In his opinion, his own enjoyment is the starting point for a great track. “For myself, definitely,” he agrees. “I never change my attitude. I always stayed true to my early influences; I never jumped on any new trends just to try to be cool. I do what I do, and that’s it. I think people like this kind of honesty.”
Many have tried to define what makes his music connect with audiences on such a visceral level, and even the man himself struggles to define it. Ultimately, it’s impossible to dissect these things too much. “I’d like to know,” he says. “I think it’s this weird mix that I do with my music – electro with techno and a bit of ’80s new wave. There isn’t a lot like that in this genre.” While he is inspired by the golden age of house music and the warehouse parties that gave birth to it, The Hacker doesn’t rely on it as a crutch.
Rather, he makes his own music with one foot in the past and another far off in the future; looking forward and backwards simultaneously to create something unique. “In Europe, we’re in a big ’90s revival musically and also in terms of partying, people want to go back to warehouse rave. It’s cool – but I wonder how long it will last?”
By Liza Dezfouli
