Out Now on OneHundred/Spinnin’ Records
Artist: HEDEGAARD, Matt Hawk
Title: “Hood To The Hills”
Label: OneHundred/Spinnin’ Records
Release date: March 1, 2024
Danish star HEDEGAARD has quickly become a household name for his unique and heavy-hitting style known as “car music,” and his newest release – “Hood To The Hills,” might be his best work yet. He teamed up with fellow Danish producer Matt Hawk for the track, having previously worked together on their recent single “OneHundred.” It takes no prisoners with its blend of low-tempo EDM, featuring ominous undertones, reverberating basslines, and rhythmic urban vocals that make it exemplary of the “car music” genre that both HEDEGAARD and Matt Hawk proudly pioneer. Whether through your whip’s speakers or on the club dancefloor, “Hood To The Hills” is bound to heat things up. Read on for what the artists have to say about their newest collaboration.
Matt and I had so much fun doing our recent single ‘OneHundred,’ that we decided to do one more together, right away. Matt has recently released several tracks in the ‘car music’ genre, which were created using samples of classical music, an idea I thought was extremely inspiring. We agreed to do a track together in that style, combined with my more recent cinematic bass-driven sound and some motivational hip-hop vocals. I am very excited to present our result to the world. – HEDEGAARD
‘Hood To The Hills’ represents a collaboration built on a shared passion for the deep and dark ‘car music’ genre. This time, we decided to do a more grandiose approach while still keeping a focus on making the song catchy as hell. I feel the cinematic aspects of the sound we ended up with has added a fascinating dimension to our joint universe; I am extremely proud of this single, and can’t wait for people to hear it. – Matt Hawk
For more information about HEDEGAARD, go to:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more information about Matt Hawk, go to:
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Makin’ music and pretty stuff: Producer and Art Director.
After immersing myself in HEDEGAARD’s music, I feel in love with his sound and have been paying close attention to his upcoming releases and collaborations. When he dropped “OneHundred” with Matt Hawk, I went down a rabbit hole to learn more about his work. Anyone in HEDEGAARD’s circle is worth paying attention to.
This duo has been in studio and is releasing their next banger “Hood To The Hills”, out March 1. We all listen to techno, trance, and house music, but I am digging this new “car music” genre. It was awesome chatting with HEDEGAARD and a pleasure rapping with Matt. I don’t know what these guys are doing next, or what the future of “car music” has in store for it, but I can’t wait to find out. In the meantime, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Matt Hawk.
How did you first get into DJing, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
I was very lucky. I had a huge passion for club music, and through a friend, I got a trial at a nightclub. I think I only had 3 or 4 CDs with me, so I couldn’t even fill a whole night. But it went well, fortunately. They hired me after about half an hour. So, I was happy. After that, I just started playing a lot. Every single weekend. And with a desire to make my mark, I started making edits and mashups. It gradually evolved into remixes and later original productions. It’s been a self-taught journey all the way, driven by a passion for music.
You teamed up with HEDEGAARD on the new single titled “Hood To The Hills.” Tell me more about that release and your experience working with him.
I love that track. It encapsulates the musical style that we both love — combined with cinematic elements. It almost feels like a movie, which has also been a great source of inspiration.
It’s always a pleasure to work with HEDEGAARD. He possesses massive musical talent, and it’s so inspiring to collaborate with him. Additionally, he’s a very close friend, so in a busy everyday life, it’s a joy to have the opportunity to meet and work together at the same time.
You live in Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth largest city. How did you get into dance music and how is the club scene in Double A at the moment?
I got into dance music when I bought my first CD of electronic music. It was in Copenhagen. From there, my passion for club music developed into becoming a DJ and later also a producer.
Aalborg has the biggest bar street in Denmark. Maybe even in all of Scandinavia. There are a few clubs and events driven by enthusiasts, that plays club music, but it is mainly mainstream.
How did you first meet HEDEGAARD and are you planning any future collaborations?
I was told that he had played one of my mashups. I was incredibly proud of that. So, I reached out to him, and he replied. After that, we had a session and have never looked back since.
We don’t have a specific collaboration planned, but I think it is pretty safe to say, that we will be more music together in the future.
People have dubbed you as ‘the next big thing’ in car music. What are your thoughts on that characterization?
Pride. But I don’t really dwell on it that much. I just love making music — especially car music. So, I take the description in with a huge amount of humbleness. That said, it’s definitely something that motivates me, and I’m very happy to hear people are saying this about me.
Denmark have produced quite a few notable DJs in recent years like Martin Jensen, and MORTEN. With such talent emerging from the country, I’m curious: Is there a significant level of competition among Danish DJs, or do they generally maintain a friendly and collaborative atmosphere?
I think it depends on the individual and the setup around them. But generally, there’s willingness to collaborate, although I believe we could be better at working together. Like they do in Sweden.
Denmark has many nightclubs, including mainstream discos, chic venues, cool bars, or hidden underground spots. I’d love to hear about your favorite spots.
As we approach the summer, I’m thinking of turning my attention to the Danish festivals. It’s great to see how much electronic music has been included in the lineups over the past few years. Denmark has really evolved in this regard. To mention some examples: Smukfest in Skanderborg, Tinderbox in Odense, and Syd for Solen in Copenhagen. And many more.
Your single “SYMPHONY” has seen remarkable success, closing in on 5 million streams on Spotify. Can you elaborate on how you created the single and reflect on the impact of this exposure on your artistic journey.
It’s been a long time in the making. I’ve had the idea to re-work Symphony No. 5 for a very long time. And there are countless versions stored on my computer. But I finally got it sorted out, and fortunately at the right time of my career. I also must give huge credit to Brandon Beal, who wrote the lyrics and performed the vocals. He has a huge contribution to the track.
It kind of set a framework for the next few releases, which also included elements from classical music. It’s a style that I love. I’ve made a ton of mashups and love mixing genres of music. It has definitely been a massive inspiration for this musical journey.
Could you elaborate on your role as an art director and discuss how that role intersects with your work as a DJ?
It’s all about creativity. All the way. And the urge to create. I can’t help but both make music and design. Fortunately, these things go really well together. For example, when creating artwork and animations. I do everything myself. So, it’s great to be able to follow one cohesive vision for both musical and visual expression. To be able to tell the same story.
Could you describe the experience of collaborating with HEDEGAARD on the remix of “Ni**as in Paris”? When you and your collaborator have different creative visions, how do you navigate disagreements about the direction of the music?
It was a pleasure to make that production. We had the idea and created the track together, which we’ve done several times before. So, we kind of knew the process – and especially each other’s way of working. Fortunately, we have the same mantra when we work together. We both have to be happy and see things work. That’s the way forward.
Which headphones do you have around your neck? And do you switch to different ones on stage compared to what you use in the studio?
As a DJ I use the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Headphones, and in studio the AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio and beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO. Sometimes I also reference-listen on Apple AirPods Max. Additionally, I have two sets of monitors: Yamaha HS8 Powered Studio Monitor and SE Electronics Munro Egg.
“Hood To The Hills” is out now on OneHundred Records. I’d love to hear about your experiences working alongside the label. What’s it been like collaborating with them? Furthermore, I’m curious about the process of getting your music released through a major label like Spinnin’. Do you feel a big difference, from releasing you singles with smaller dance labels?
I can answer that very briefly: I finally feel like I’ve landed in the right place. It’s a pleasure to work with a shared vision and with a drive that pushes one forward. It couldn’t be better.
Absolutely. You can feel that there are forces behind it all that make things move forward.
It appears that almost every DJ is hosting a podcast nowadays. Have you been tuning in to any particular shows? Have you ever considering starting your own podcast?
It varies a lot. I don’t have one or several specific ones that I listen to. For me, it’s very much about what I feel like at any given moment. So, I like to spend time digging for new things to listen to — just like music in general.
Probably not. Many do it so well, so I prefer just listening to them for now — and then put my energy into the music and visual work. But who knows what the future holds.
Where is the best place for folks reading at home to learn more? Do you have a newsletter I can sign up for or should I just visit your website?
Instagram. And Spotify.
What’s next for you? Are you working on another single or perhaps a tour to promote “Hood To The Hills”?
Next up is the release of my next single “SKELETON” on May 17th. Then the summer is packed with lots of festivals and other gigs. I’m as excited as a child waiting for Christmas to come.
In all of my interviews I always give the artist the last word. Go…
Awesome! Then I’ll choose my words carefully… I think I’ll just thank you for your interest. It’s so cool that people like you write about us and all the things we love. So, thank you for that! And to the people reading this I hope you will follow my journey. I promise there’s a lot more to come! Thank you.
