DJ Hell: “The great power of electronic dance music is still sending out messages without any words”
DJ Hell, born Helmut Josef Geier, is an electronic music pioneer with decades of influence. From his roots in Bavaria Hell has pushed dance music boundaries since the late ’70s, shaping underground movements and leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Photo credit: Sven Marquard
Known for his innovative approach to DJing and production, Hell’s discography includes albums like ‘Munich Machine,’ ‘NY Muscle,’ and ‘Teufelswerk.’ His track ‘My Definition of House Music’ became a club sensation in 1992, setting the stage for his rise in the mid-’90s. Beyond his musical output, Hell has been instrumental in launching and managing respected music labels.
In this exclusive interview with EG, DJ Hell opens up about his latest release, ‘My House,’ a track he describes as ‘100% Hell’ that includes all of his musical DNA. He also discusses his recent remix work, his views on AI in music production, and his exciting upcoming projects, including a new album collaboration with artist Jonathan Meese.
Join us as we delve into the world of DJ Hell, exploring his creative process, his thoughts on the universal language of house music, and his continued impact on the electronic music scene.
EG: Hi, DJ Hell! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
DJ Hell: After 2 shows in Spain over the weekend, I’m back at my place and already listening to new music promos and demos, as well as my latest productions of unreleased music.
EG: How is your summer going so far? Any particular highlights?
DJ Hell: Lots of shows around the globe and great smaller club gigs and art shows at photo exhibitions or fashion week shows.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘My House’? Is there a concept or emotional trigger driving this one?
DJ Hell: House music is a universal language and still moves people all around the world. This track is 100% Hell and includes all my DNA.
“This track is 100% Hell and includes all my DNA”
EG: Do you feel like you tell stories through your tracks? Or do you view them more like “sonic explorations”? Do you have a “process” which you follow?
DJ Hell: The great power of electronic dance music is still sending out messages without any words.
EG: And ‘My House’ also features a remix by Tal Fussman. What do you look for when listening back to a remix of a track of yours for the first time? Do you tend to have any “ohhh!” or “a-ha!” moments where you go: “Why didn’t I think of that?”?
DJ Hell: Tal is the man of the moment. He’s such a great producer and DJ, and his music rules the DJ world right now. The remix he did couldn’t be better in the understanding of doing real remixes using parts of the original and putting his handwriting on top. Right now, I mostly play his version when I DJ.
EG: By the way, you’ve also just remixed GusGus’ ‘Rivals’… What do you look for when choosing what track to remix? Do you need certain “elements” to be there?
DJ Hell: Here, the vocals are great, and the original was already played in my DJ sets until December last year. I totally loved the original from the album, and it was pretty clear how my remix would sound like and what needed to be changed in my direction.
EG: Now, on to one of those hot current subjects… What’s your stance on AI? Do you see it driving the scene forward or is this one of those innovations that just take us backwards? Has any form of AI been applied in your recent productions or ‘My House’?
DJ Hell: I use AI when I write text or information; also, sometimes you can use it to help with lyrics for songs. I’m working on a concept with an AI artist from Hamburg, Germany, on a video project for the next single release.
“The great power of electronic dance music is still sending out messages without any words”
EG: Finally, what can we expect from DJ Hell in the next months? Where can your fans catch you playing live?
DJ Hell: There will be a new album of Meese x Hell on Buback Records from Hamburg. It’s already the second album of this collaboration with Jonathan Meese, his mother, and myself.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, DJ Hell! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
DJ Hell’s ‘My House’ is now available via Mind Medizin Records. Stream and download here.
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