With great delight we present our next guest: Michael Hooker. On top we had a very nice talk with Michael and came to the conclusion he is a hard working and down to earth person with a positive mind set, trying to leave his mark with his music and label Re:Sound.
Michael took the time to select some fine house cuts for his guest mix. He is a person that really takes the time and pays attention to every detail which does not go unnoticed in his seamless mixing skills. Press play and enjoy the interview
Please like an repost if you enjoy this sweet ear candy.
Tracklist:
Customer – Magic Number
Ed Ed – 3. Sentinel
Whomadewho – Keep Me In My Plane (DJ Koze Hudson River Dub)
Alex Arnout – 6 Million Ways (Original Mix)
Âme – Doldrums
Kyle Pearce, Junge Junge – Beautiful Girl feat. Kyle Pearce (Tim Green Remix)
Nico Stojan, Jaw, David Mayer – Blue Hour (David Mayer Remix)
Steven Wobblejay – Remember
Hyenah – The Idea (Frankey & Sandrino Remix)
Robert Babicz – Red (Original Mix)
Graumann – Gray Boulevard (Michael Hooker Thomas Latham Remix)
Hey Michael, how’s life?
Life is great! I have recently renewed my DJ visa for the USA and I am focusing on the next few years here.
You are based in Arizona? What do you find inspirational about where you’re living now?
Arizona is beautiful! The scenery is stunning and the weather is great. I totally believe that both of these factors play a huge part in my wellbeing. This positively impacts the kind of music I play and my productivity in the studio.
What’s the local scene like over there?
The scene in Phoenix is growing at a rapid pace. It’s really exciting to be involved at this stage because people are searching out what they want to hear. If even two percent like what I do musically I feel I am doing something right!
Do you play often in your area or surroundings? Any special gigs or residencies?
I have 3 weekly residencies where I get to play a range of sounds from very chilled electronica, through to deep house / tech / techno.
I also have a monthly night called ‘Concept’ which I run with my good friend who is also a DJ here. The night takes place at a basement club called Valley Bar and gives me a platform to play the music I am passionate about within a club environment. We are also planning one off parties at different locations. These are still inline musically but each experience will be different.
On top of those I am starting a new residency for the summer at a cool new European style hotel called The Moxy. The night will be called ‘Sessions’ and will be in conjunction with my record label. I am very excited about working with the hotel. They have a great vision and I feel the music we release fits well with their brand.
Any plans in playing abroad? Europe maybe?
Definitely! I’m actually in talks at the moment for dates in Europe, Mexico and South America.
How are things going with your label, Re:Sound Music?
Things are going well. I’m very happy with the artists, they are a group of very talented musicians and I am happy to be able to give a platform to the guys. We have also been working with Pobla for mastering. They are amazing and they totally bring out the very best in each of the tracks.
We did a few reviews of some very nice releases, Mumbaata & Tade. Anything new coming up?
We have lots of new music coming through the summer from M.E.E.O, Dead-Tones, Lunar Plane, Maschino, Marabou, Fassi, Sean Raya, Mumbaata and myself.
In your view, what were/are your biggest challenges in the music business?
I think the biggest challenge for any musician now is how people value music. Unless you are a DJ or a music collector, buying music is a thing of the past. Paying a subscription to stream songs / create playlists on so many different platforms is the future. The challenge is to move with the times and make sure you are relevant in a every evolving market.
Is there anything you want(ed) to be different in the music industry?
There are always things that are frustrating with this industry but I believe it is best to focus on your goals and strive to do the best you can. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in trying to change things or not being happy about situations which are out of your control. It can suck a load of energy and time that could have been used to create something beautiful.
When & how did you first get involved with music?
When I was thirteen a school friend made me a copy of a mix tape he got from a shop in Manchester. It was from a rave by Mix Factory and the DJ was XTC. I was hooked from here!
Now that you’ve been around for some years now. How do you think your music has evolved since you’ve started?
The bpm are slower! I think I am constantly evolving with music. It excites me to find new songs, producers, sounds I have not heard before!
What/who inspires you?
Personally – I have been married for almost twelve years and my Wife has always been extremely supportive of me and my music. She is very passionate and honest and gives me the drive and focus and keep going.
DJ wise – Danny Howells has always been someone I have looked up to in the sense that his mixes are always an eclectic journey. This makes them very interesting to listen to, especially when you’re in a club as you never know how the set will go. I tend to do this too.
Where do you draw your creative influences from?
Everyday life.
Finish the sentence.
My guilty pleasure is … Ice-cream
A bad habit of mine would be … Biting my nails
I really hate it when … People say they do not like something without trying it
The thing that puts an instant smile on my face is … Speaking to my niece on FaceTime
Thank you very much!!
Follow Michael Hooker’s Journey on:
Facebook »
Twitter »
Soundcloud »
Instagram »
Follow Re:Sound on:
Twitter »
Facebook »
Soundcloud »
Instagram »
