Interview: Erik David Hidde (Housewarming Records)
Erik David Hidde is the man behind Housewarming Records, a worldwide digital label and home of several bands featured on these pages, namely, 17-year old London producer Jamie Isaac, downtempo IDM project IVVVO from Portugal, Austin’s Gladius The Fertile, Berlin’s Freakish Atlantic and a little closer to home, Brighton’s Birkwin Jersey. As this interview goes out, Housewarming is digital, free and and able to be checked out in more detail at the Housewarming Records website.
P: Tell us a little bit about Housewarming Records. What inspired it? Do you run it alone?
E: Housewarming Records is (as of now) a free, digital record label that I started in the beginning of May 2011. I run it alone, and I am very pleased with how it’s going so far. The real reason I started it was because I was always raving to my friends about all this great underground music, and I wanted to do all that I could to help it reach the surface, or at least help them get more listeners. I am friends with a lot of independent music lovers, musicians, and some people who write for blogs, so I would initially show them what I was releasing and go from there. My basic goal is to keep the music as consistent as possible while maintaining a high quality. Right now I have over 15 acts from all over the world, and it is an eclectic mix of artists/bands and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have made many special relationships with people I have never properly gotten the chance to meet, and I try my hardest to keep in close contact with them. I couldn’t do this by myself without the help and guidance of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, he gives me all the insight and keep me going strong to do everything that I can to help these musicians succeed . I am very thankful for Housewarming Records, for it has shown me a lot about myself, as well as the kindness and determination of others. Many Housewarming artists inspire me, and in turn, push me to make my own music that much better. I feel very blessed to be working with such great musicians, and people, and I thank them for their trust in me. I am also very grateful for everyone who has supported me, and everything that they’ve done to help my label reach a wider audience.
P: How would you describe the music on your current roster and how do you choose new artists?
E: I would describe the music on the current roster to be eclectic, emotional, and very promising. I choose new artists basically the same way I would choose what music is on my iPod, it’s music that I thoroughly enjoy listening to. I usually come across the musicians when I am searching through loads of music on bandcamp, and then I narrow down the releases that affect me the most and go from there.
P: I love the Housewarming Records selection of art. Do you think there’s as much of a place for beautiful artwork with the decline of physical releases?
E: I am very happy to hear that you feel strongly about the artwork, for I am very grateful that the artists on Housewarming have such good taste in artwork selection. I think that with digital releases artwork goes a long way, just like it does with physical releases, especially when using a site like bandcamp as a platform, because they have a place for artwork on every release that you upload, and it truly has a way of speaking to you, even before you press play.
P: Any plans to showcase Housewarming Records? Plans for the new year?
E: I have been thinking about putting together a Housewarming showcase/show at some point or another, but to be honest I don’t see that happening any time soon. It’s hard to get the artists/bands involved when they are located all over the world, but hopefully the pieces will come together in the future.
I am very excited for the new year, but only God knows what 2012 will bring. I’m just very thankful Housewarming had 22 successful releases in 2011 since May, and there are some amazing new releases coming in the new year, including full length releases by some amazing musicians.
P: What kind of music do you make yourself?
E: I have two solo projects, one is Not a Thing to Believe In in which I have released a full length, two singles, a number of unreleased songs, and I also have a new full length in the works. I would classify the music as lo-fi pop/rock and some of my influences for the project include Sufjan Stevens, The National, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and The Antlers. My other solo project is Beater Ban in which I have only released one song, but I was very pleased with the initial response and kind reviews I’ve received. I am currently in the process of putting finishing touches on my first proper Beater Ban release, which I am extremely excited about. I would classify this music as electronic beat music, and some of my influences include Four Tet, Nathan Fake, and IVVVO (who is an artist on Housewarming Records). Both projects are very emotionally driven, and rely heavily on the atmosphere of the tracks. I am also involved in other outfits, but I am not the sole member like in these two projects.
P: Favourite records of the 2011?
E: 10. Miracle Fortress “Was I the Wave?”
09. The Antlers “Burst Apart”
08. Grandpa Was a Lion “The Whalestone Tapes”
07. Future Islands “On the Water”
06. Coldplay “Mylo Xyloto”
05. Kurt Vile “Smoke Ring For My Halo”
04. Mogwai “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.”
03. Bon Iver “Bon Iver, Bon Iver”
02. Radical Face “Family Tree: The Roots”
01. Apparat “The Devil’s Walk”
Visit the Housewarming Records website, and download two releases by HWR-associated artists below.
