In this exclusive interview, we catch up with HYSH, the multi-faceted music producer whose debut single takes listeners on a nostalgic journey back to the golden era of trance. After years of honing his craft, the German-born, UK-raised, and Netherlands-based artist is finally sharing his unique sound with the world. We discuss his creative process, how he overcame his perfectionist tendencies, and how his multicultural background influences the music he makes. Join us as HYSH opens up about the personal journey behind his debut track and what’s next on the horizon for this exciting new talent in the EDM scene.
HYSH, can you take us back to 2021 when you first started the project? What sparked the idea for this track?
Back in 2021, I was deep into rediscovering some old trance records, especially from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. There was one track that had stood out to me – the Ibiza remix of Magica, by Magica. It was a simple, yet energetic track that had an almost space-like and ethereal vibe to it, which perfectly captured the trance sound from that era that I loved so much. Similar tracks to that are PPK – Resurrection for example.
I set about recreating that exact vibe and feeling – initially as a sound design project to recreate the synth. This quickly became the start of my own project, in which the inspiration came from that track. It wasn’t about imitation—it was about bringing that spirit into a modern context while making sure it still felt like me.
Your debut single reflects the 90s and early 2000s trance sound. What draws you to that era of music, and how did you balance staying true to its essence while shaping something uniquely yours?
I think for me it was always the simplicity. Less is always more. Old school trance only had a few elements in tracks and those few elements could tell an entire story. Back then, the breaks of the track were also quite long in comparison to what we hear nowadays, so with this project, I tried to stay true to that and let the melody tell its story and build up that energy to a crescendo, before releasing it in the drop.
You mentioned the vocal was added later. How did that decision come about, and how did it change the overall feel of the track for you?
Whilst I was focused on creating the melody and structure of the track and tried to stay true to the old style – there was something that I felt was ultimately missing, especially in the break, which itself is quite long! It needed something that would add into the experience of floating in space whilst remaining ethereal. That came in the form of this vocal that I got from a sample pack (don’t worry, it is royalty free!). When I first heard the vocal, I immediately recognised the voice and after digging into it deeper, I found out it was sung by Victoriya – one of my favourite trance vocalists – shoutout to you!
Releasing this track marked a big step in overcoming perfectionism and fear. Can you share more about that inner journey and what finally made you say, ‘It’s ready’?
Oh boy, where do I begin with this? I think I’m still terrified and it’s only just been released! I’ve always been my own worst critic. For years, I would start tracks, get lost in tweaking them endlessly, and then abandon them because they just didn’t feel good enough. The turning point came when I sought advice from some of my friends and realised that no track will ever be perfect – but if it makes myself and others around me feel something, then it must be ready. So I really had to work on myself to finally shift my mindset from “Is it perfect?” to “Does the track capture the moment I wanted it to?”
Once I made my peace with that (and through the support of my friends), it became easier to let go and finally release something into the world!
Growing up German-born, UK-raised, with Indian ancestry, and now living in the Netherlands, how have your multicultural experiences shaped your artistic identity and the music you create?
I would say it’s certainly given me a broad perspective on music. Growing up in the UK, I was surrounded by a different style of dance music culture—trance, house, UK garage. At home, I also grew up with bhangra and bollywood music, which gave me an appreciation for melodies and instruments that aren’t usually typical in western music. Living in the Netherlands, it just felt like home – since this is where electronic music is such a part of everyday life – I have a passion for the harder styles of dance music and I can certainly say that this has influenced my approach to sound design and structure (you’ll hear the occasional kick roll!).
I think the combination of all of that subtly weaves into my music. There’s a mix of technical know-how and emotion, groove and atmosphere. It’s not something I consciously think about when making music, but I know my background gives me a unique perspective through which I experience and create music.
After four years of nurturing this project, how does it feel to finally put your sound out into the world? Has this process changed how you approach your music moving forward?
Well let’s just say, I hope it doesn’t take another four years to release something! Honestly, I couldn’t be happier. Getting over that hurdle that seem to hold me back – it’s a great feeling. And now I can focus my energies on producing and releasing good music and telling the world my story, through my sounds.
Looking ahead, what’s next for HYSH? Are there any dream collaborations, future releases, or personal goals you’re excited to explore now that the first single is out?
Well, I can certainly reveal that there’s at least 2-3 projects that are near completion, ranging in various styles, from drum n bass, to an energetic eurodance style and I can’t wait to show you what’s to come! If you ask me who my dream collaborations would be? I’d love to work with some of my friends who are artists – what better way to create music than with the people you love and look up to! Right now, my goal is to remain focused in the studio, to produce great music and let my inspiration flow. Longer term, however, I’d certainly love to be able to play them live and take the listener on a journey of sound.
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by Anna Prassl
