HiMom!!! is an exciting artist whose raw and analogue style combines the driving energy of techno with the euphoria of classic trance. His contemporary style is a modern take on a retro sound, and his new release “Lucid Dream” features four original tracks. Also taking influence from rave and jungle, it’s focused directly at the dance floor. The release also launches his new record label Dancing By Myself, and we invited him for this interview so we could learn more about HiMom!!!’s timeless sound…
Hi, HiMom!!! It’s great to be talking with you today. Can you start by running us through your background in music?
Hey! Pleasure meeting you! 🙂 I wanted to do music my whole life, but due to circumstances, I couldn’t really get piano lessons or play any other instruments when I was young. I had a little project with a buddy in my early stages of life, but I was always more of a DJ than a producer. We lived in LA and tried to chase music for all the wrong reasons. We were kind of young, and at least speaking for myself, dumb, lol. I started to learn production along this journey and wanted to someday be good and proud of my tracks. When our project ended, I took the decision to take music seriously and learn how to create worlds. I was living in LA and got tired of the rat race, so I decided to give away everything and roam around the world to really find myself. I bought a 70L backpack and fit a mobile studio into it with a few shirts and socks. I roamed around the world for a few years, listening to music and producing non-stop in hostels and wherever else I ended up sleeping. I was never confident enough with my production to actually release stuff, so I stayed in the shadows, making a track or two a day. I have finally reached a point where I feel like I want to share my feelings/art. I have a pretty big catalogue of music and really hope to take people on a journey. I want to make people feel something when they hear my music. I put a little bit of my soul into every track. This is going to sound super corny, but I honestly don’t even think it’s me making the music. I just learned the tools to translate the messages of the universe. Hahaha, sorry guys, some spiritual hippy stuff!
Your artist alias, HiMom!!!, is quite a unique name; I wanted to find out the story behind it?
Haha, probably goes back to the story above. I wanted to do music for all the wrong reasons in the early stages of life. I have been hiding from the music world for too long, and got tired of listening to everyone telling me to start releasing my music. I had a few names in mind, but felt like they still had ego. I just want people to enjoy the music. I thought it would be funny to name the project HiMom!!! and I want people to concentrate on my music and not the name and all that other stuff that you’re supposed to be doing these days.
Where do you live, and has the local scene influenced your music?
I live in San Diego, California, in the States. Haha, we do have a small, growing scene of techno and trance. Most of the stuff out here is definitely tech house, which I honestly love too. I think all genres are amazing if the DJ takes you on a journey. I was lucky enough to travel around the world and experience some of the best clubs and parties. The stuff that really made an impact on me was the dark clubs where a DJ takes you on such a journey that you get lost. This is going to sound super dumb, but I try not to listen too much music outside of the events I attend. I start copying and making stuff that other people are doing. When I want to listen to some music, I just hop into Ableton and make a new track. I think this is what keeps pushing me to improve my production. If I want to listen to a new song, I have to make it. Haha, I still do a little bit of market research on what’s cool these days, but again, I want to make the music that I want to hear. Hopefully, some people will also like it.
When did you decide to become a DJ and start producing music?
So, I have been producing for about 10 years, but I never felt like I was good enough. This stuff really does take a long time to craft a sound and to be able to control different elements in a track to your exact liking. You really never stop learning in this field. But honestly, ever since I was probably 20, the only thing in life I wanted to do was play music for people and express my feelings. I’m actually not super big on talking about my life… probably not the healthiest thing, but music allows me to write in my journal how I’m feeling that day. Sometimes I’m happy, and sometimes I have bad days. I will be releasing a lot of music, and if you really take a listen to the tracks, I’m telling a story of my life.
Talk us through your new release, Lucid Dream, and what inspired the four tracks on the EP?
I have a lot of tracks and just wanted to show a little glimpse of my journal. It’s a small step for me to start sharing my feelings with the world, and hopefully, people will be able to relate.
Lucid Dream also launches your new record label, Dancing By Myself. What inspired you to start a label, and what’s coming next on the imprint?
I love the feeling of being in a club, putting on a hood and sunglasses, and just dancing. Closing my eyes in the rare instances of forgetting my sunglasses, lol. I wanted to create a label where I can release my catalogue of music and maybe find other people who really put emotions into songs. I think it’s easy to make tracks that will get people dancing, but it takes a different skill set to touch people’s feelings in songs. Hopefully, I’ll find other artists for the label that will want to create the same feelings for people.
What are some of your favourite activities when you’re not working on music?
Ahhm, I do like to party once in a while, haha. But in all honesty, I always end up back home after a club with my Ableton open. I love travelling and still try to fit in a few trips a year. I think travelling is the best book you can read. I attempt to surf once in a while, but I am definitely not good at it.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. Is there anything you would like to add before we finish?
Nope! Thanks for doing the interview 🙂 and listening to my music. I hope you enjoyed a few of the tracks!
