HOF: You have to pursue your goals despite setbacks

HOF, a distinguished artist and producer based in Frankfurt. His career, spanning over 25 years, has seen him evolve from a vibrant fixture in Frankfurt\’s club scene to a renowned figure in the global dance music community. HOF\’s artistry earned accolades from techno titans like Adam Beyer, Hi-Lo, and I Hate Models. His entrance into the scene was marked by immediate acclaim with debut releases \”The Return\” and \”Dark Passenger\” in 2021, storming Beatport’s Peak-Time Driving Techno Chart and demonstrating his prowess in crafting compelling techno narratives. \”Dark Passenger\” notably finished the year as one of the best-selling techno releases on Beatport. His track \”Contact\” further solidified his status, amassing over 300,000 streams on Spotify. Of course, everyone knows about artist’s recent “La Revolution” in collaboration with acid techno maestro A*S*Y*S on the Fe Chrome label. At the end of 2023 HOF clinched victory in the Drumcode Demo Contest \”Make Your Mark\”, setting the stage for an anticipated collaboration with Bart Skils. Their joint track \”New Life\” was released via Drumcode on February 16.

Today HOF is here with us on the pages of Tune In Magazine! So, let’s talk!

ー For those unfamiliar with you, tell us a bit about yourself and your background. 
ー I was lucky enough to experience the golden era of the Frankfurt sound at Omen and Dorian Gray. This sound has influenced me and my style to this day. A mix of acid with hypnotic elements but always something melodic. I met Frank Ellrich aka A*S*Y*S back in 1998 and we started our first successful projects together. At the end of 2020, we were together at the football stadium and Frank asked if I wanted to make a few tracks for his label Fe Chrome, as the current sound was reminiscent of our old releases. From this idea (and two beers:D), HOF was born. The first two tracks immediately made an impact, receiving support from Richie Hawtin, Wehbba, HI-LO and Alex Stein. \”Dark Passenger\” even hit number 1 on the Beatport Peak Time Charts.

ー Has Drumcode influenced you over the years? Who and what have been your favorite artists / tracks?
ー Drumcode has been musically present for me in a certain way over the last 15-20 years. Whether as a label with powerful releases or Adam as a DJ at festivals. However, my perception of Drumcode intensified even more when I shifted my musical focus to HOF in 2021. The tracks by Wehbba and Bart Skils have inspired me a lot over the last few years. Bart\’s \”Horsepower\” as well as Wehbba\’s \”Third Wave\” and \”Basic Pleasure\” can still be found regularly in my sets.

ー You’re Frankfurt based and play regularly at various clubs around the city. How is the scene there these days?
ー In recent years, the majority of Frankfurt\’s techno clubs have suffered greatly due to the success of German hip-hop and the more commercial house and R&B sound. However, clubs like Tanzhaus West have been able to consistently fly the flag for techno. Moreover, a new, young, and strong community has been emerging in Frankfurt and the surrounding area, focusing initially on harder techno. It\’s good to see the community growing again, especially since people will eventually open up to other styles of techno, benefiting the entire scene.

ー Tell us about the experience of producing with Bart Skils in Amsterdam at STMPD studios?
ー It was great. Anyone who follows my channels knows that I have a soft spot for hardware in studios. I grew up with it and as much as I enjoy the benefits of software, there\’s just something magical about a real synth, an analogue mixing console or hardware EQs for me. Accordingly, I was excited to have the opportunity to work in the famous STMPD Studios, which one usually only knows from pictures. Bart and I had been in contact for about a week beforehand and had prepared the session, but we met there for the first time. Despite everything, it was relaxed working together and we were on the same wavelength from the start. Fortunately, we shared the same vision of where we wanted to take the track.

ー Tell us about some of the other highlights during ADE week with the Drumcode crew?
ー One highlight was of course the b2b with Bart at the Drumcode Centraal pop-up store. Here I also got to know some of the Drumcode team and was able to chat a bit with everyone. We also used the time on-site to create some promo footage for the release. A camera team accompanied us during the studio session and we were able to film an interview in the pop-up store. On Thursday, we all had a great party at Awakenings x Drumcode. It was cool to make some new contacts backstage, but also to meet old friends and acquaintances. During the studio session HI-LO was working in the room next to us. Oliver had strongly supported my last singles on Fe Chrome and it was cool to meet him in a relaxed atmosphere away from festivals and be able to exchange thoughts about everything. He is a super relaxed guy. And of course, I have to mention the hotel room that was provided for me as part of the prize. The private jacuzzi and sauna in the room were really cool.

ー What was your big learning from the experience?
ー That hard work pays off at some point and that you have to pursue your goals despite setbacks. With \”New Life\”, I had the feeling at some point that the track could be a great fit for Drumcode. Instead of shopping the track around, I initially held it back and waited to see if a good opportunity would arise for Drumcode to hear it. The fact that Drumcode was actually launching a contest for new artists was the perfect opportunity to see if they would find the track suitable for themselves. In the end, patience and intuition paid off.

ー What’s coming up next for you?
ー Initially, my focus is fully on the release of \”New Life\”. Around April, I have a collaboration planned with Dark Chanell. This project is special to me because it\’s the techno project of Laidback Luke. Luke and his team gave my solo artist career a good boost back then and Luke has always been a kind of mentor to me in the early years. So, it was even cooler when he approached me last year with the idea of collaborating. Additionally, I\’m currently working on a few more hypnotic/raw tracks, and of course, I also plan to return with a release on Fe Chrome in the first half of the year.

ー Thank you for the interview! We look forward to the new releases from you!
ー Thank you too!

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