Few artists in electronic music command the same level of respect as Hannes Bieger. From his early days as a revered mix engineer to becoming one of the scene’s most accomplished live performers and producers, Hannes has consistently pushed the boundaries of sound, bridging deep emotion with technical mastery. His latest album, GALAXIES, is a testament to this evolution—an expansive journey through melodic techno, where lush harmonies collide with driving rhythms, capturing the vastness of space in sonic form.
In this exclusive Techno Mood UK interview, we delve into the creative process behind GALAXIES, his approach to live performance, and what fuels his passion for electronic music. From DC-10 to Awakenings, from the studio to the stage, Hannes Bieger continues to shape the future of electronic sound—one perfectly crafted note at a time.
“Galaxies” delves into themes of existence, consciousness, and human interconnectedness. What personal experiences or philosophies inspired you to explore these concepts in your music?
I always love for an album to have a theme, an underlying concept, a through line. With “Black Hole” as the lead track last year the space theme was set. I am hugely fascinated by science and nature, but without the human experience it all means nothing, as that is sort of the lens through which we are seeing the world around us. I wanted to look past the kitsch and the clichés of nebula images in space, at the heart of it lies the wonder. Much like the lone wanderers in Caspar David Friedrich’s paintings we as individuals are confronted with the vastness of space, but this experience only means so much when we can’t share it. These are tough times, and I started to like the idea of “love” being the force holding our universe together.
Collaborating with Icelandic vocalist FEY on “Stardust” adds a unique dimension to the album. How did this partnership come about, and what was the creative process behind integrating the vocals into your sound?
I have been mixing tracks with her vocals already back in 2013 or so, it was a project also involving members of Hunter/Game and Tripolism. I loved her voice back then already, and the Tripolism track the guys gave me for my 2022 Balance Series album also featured her vocals. So it was very much about time we did something together as well. She lives in Iceland, so sadly this time we had to collaborate via the internet, but I’d love to do a proper studio session together with her in the future.
“Stardust” lyrically explores the chemistry of love. How does this theme align with the overarching narrative of “Galaxies”?
I think this album ultimately is about the juxtaposition of the vastness of space with the individual. Love is fascinating, because it’s about gravity as a force between two persons, it has biochemical aspects but also, luckily, it embodies a layer that completely evades science.
Having transitioned from a renowned mixing engineer to a solo artist, how has your approach to music production evolved with the creation of “Galaxies”?
It’s important to note that I only pursued a career as an engineer after working as a musician and producer for quite a few years. People started to note the sound quality I was achieving in my own productions, and I somehow managed to turn this into a career I never had planned to embark on. After I stepped back, so to speak, into the limelight in 2018, some things had changed for me, and some hadn’t. For me it has always been about the music, I simply like to create, it brings me joy. So I was always in it for the “right reasons”, and that still is not different. However, I like to believe that all the experience I gained from working in this field for so long has made me a better producer. In this sense, “Galaxies” is a continuation of this path, just creating the music I enjoy creating in that respective moment. It’s also the first time I have released an album on my own label, so it was complete artistic freedom for me. However, these things swing back and forth like a pendulum, and I’m looking forward to releasing new music on different labels again later this year.
The album seamlessly blends melodic depth with club-driven intensity. How do you balance these elements to create a cohesive listening experience?
This is not something I am actively shaping, I just let the music flow. But the fun part was to create the sequence of the tracks. It’s a journey that starts with lighter, more melodic tunes, draws you inside and carries you towards more powerful tracks. The whole album was written for a performance with a 30 piece orchestra in Costa Rica end of last year, and I constructed it in a way that it keeps building and building and hopefully takes you on a journey through space.
As someone deeply involved in the technical and creative aspects of music, what message or emotions do you hope listeners take away from “Galaxies”?
The beauty of art in general is that this ultimately lies in the eye – or ear – of the beholder. Ideally, some of the underlying ideas I had while making it would transpire, but I find it interesting to see how people receive it.
Looking ahead to 2025, do you have any exciting projects, collaborations, or live performances in the pipeline? How do you envision your musical evolution in the coming year?
Yes, I’m always keeping myself busy…! We will do more shows with the orchestra, and I have finished the first new tracks after focusing on the album for so long, and some of them are signed with labels already and will see the light of day very soon. After the album, which sort of stands on its own, and which at times is very playful and delicate, my new tracks have a bit of a different approach – more stripped back, more to the point, and more aimed at the dancefloor…
