Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Human Design

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My father was a professional musician. He lifted me on our piano bench and never let go.

I was 4.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I composed a few classical pieces with piano and played one in my high school graduations. But it was a bit lonely and too conservative for my taste.

Luckily a friend had a band with a lazy guitarist. I had a guitar and could play a few riffs. They asked me to come and jam. I used the lazy guy’s guitar a few times and somehow he got to know. Maybe it was better tuned than usual. Anyhow….he got pissed and left.

I was now officially in a band!

We played covers (March of the S.O.D, Anthrax – Mad House etc).

I started composing and as we did not have singer songs became very complicated to keep the interest.

I was forced to start singing despite I hated my voice. Gradually backing tracks came in when I bought a synth with a sequencer. 

What’s the story behind your current music project?

I’m a baritone voice and therefore use a baritone guitar. When searching for a bass player there were only two small requests. Able to play precisely like a swiss clock and have a five string bass. Matti was the only brave one who contacted. Still in our crew.

Backing tracks have always been there and we play with click. My classical background drives me to add orchestral elements. There is a lot of layering going on. Maybe I’m just trying to hide my voice.

Piano is my main instrument and focus is to maximize it with a full symphonic orchestra, but still keep the band and computers there. That will give the edge.

Oh and yeas…..piano is a percussion instrument. There ain’t many who beat the shit out of it. I am one.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

It is dark and low with cinematic elements.

Merge Rammstein, Coldplay, Linking Park and Muse to get some taste.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Harmony is the key element keeping everything together.

Maybe the lack of big harmonies is why simple rap-music is not my cake.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Cubase with all kinds of plug-ins and sample libraries. I orchestrate and make scores with Cubase using the BBC orchestra library. Doing so I get some idea how we sound with a real orchestra as I’m no professional orchestrator.

I use Cubase to control my guitar effect switching too. Too much going on for me to hit Rocktron Midimate floor pedal. It is now just collecting dust.VooduValve is my guitar preamp. It goes straight to PA.

DMXis I use to sync lights with music.

Start command for videos comes from Cubase too. So if DAW dies our gig becomes stand-up comedy.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Whatever comes from the radio. Boring answer I know, but there is simply too much to choose from. It is like the night sky or a flock of birds. 

But if forced to pick one….IGORR

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

I tend to keep everything. I still own my first guitar.

But If my idea is too mainstream I delete it.

Some odd twist must be there to catch my interest. I will never write a hit song.

I have probably too balanced and happy life to become a big artist. I don’t have traumas to push me. Have you noticed the amount of broken people at the top of success? 

I’m not a great singer, player, composer nor performer.

But I’m good at visuals, coordinating and combining.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I have a concept called Epic Emotions. Goal is to shake and impress.

If the audience is euphoric and maybe a bit confused I’ve hit the point. I have had choirs, flamenco dancers and orchestra blended to epic heavy rock music. I play calm piano pieces to give the audience time to breathe before we again jump to really heavy stuff.

Sometimes we don’t merge genres at all and let them be as they were meant to be.

There can be three generations in the audience and there will be at least a small piece for everyone.

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Work and enjoy. Be open minded and flexible as you never fully control everything.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Arrange Epic Emotions in Prague.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Hans Zimmer. He has great touch for creating harmonies and melodies. Still able to keep things simple if required. He really stands out. Many times I’ve reacted to music on Spotify and when adding it to my favourites I noted….oh it is Zimmer again.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

All major platforms.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

Building a concept where I alone can perform with piano and backing tracks.

Then adding orchestra and band if possible.

Kind of a mobile and light version of Epic Emotions.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

Do not take me too seriously despite my music is a bit on the dark side.