Coffee Break with Henrik Schwarz

Henrik Schwarz is one of the game's most dexterous and prolific names, an electronic music legend, masterful composer, and true artist. Over twenty years, some 100 releases, eclectic collaborations, and countless beloved performances worldwide, he delicately balances the line between electronic, classical, and jazz through everything from sweaty club sets to seated auditorium live performances. But that only scratches the surface. With Home In On, the German maestro joins the DGTL Records family, emerging from the pandemic with two tracks of studio wizardry and a clear reminder of why he is one of the premier names in melodic minimalism. 

Hi Henrik, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. How are you doing today?

Very good. I just played two wonderful shows with my old friend and collaborator Bugge Wesseltoft on piano last weekend and I am still radiating good vibes from that.

When did you start making music, and what motivated you to become a producer?

Oh that is actually a very long story that started even longer ago. I always wanted to make music but weirdly never learned to play an instrument. So when a friend of mine got his first Computer around 1992 I thought this is my chance. I thought the computer could be my instrument. So that’s what I am still working on today. To become a better player of this instrument. And interestingly, I think just right now there is a new door opening again: Just like it did for me back in 1992. And that is AI. The situation feels very similar to me. All new, all unexplored, unknown territory. A great place for artists to dive into.

You just released a new EP, "Home In On", on DGTL Records. We read that it was in the pipeline for 5 years before seeing the light of day. Could you tell us about how the project was born?

I played DGTL Tel Aviv in 2017. When I play live I always have a keyboard with me and so there on stage I started to improvise a bassline and a few chords and a solo. Sometimes when all goes right you capture the energy of the place and the people and something special comes up. After the set I received some insta messages from people who asked me what that track was - so I thought I should work a bit more on it. But sometimes working a bit more takes a bit of time :-)

DGTL has a renowned eco-conscious approach. How does this EP echoes the environmentally-aware message behind the brand?

Yes they absolutely do. When I finished the track I stayed in Ibiza last summer. Sometimes I took a swim and I discovered this beautiful seagrass under water that can be found all around the island.I started to investigate about it and found out it can hold a lot of CO2 and it needs protection. It’s called Posidonia Oceanica. When I came across that name I thought it would fit the track I was working on very well.

A more technical question now: What DAW, gear or VSTs do you generally use, and which ones did you use to produce "Home In On"?

My Go To DAW is Ableton Live of course. When it comes to gear and VSTs I always listen and try new things that are available. The sounds in this EP mostly come from a plug in collection from UVI. What I like about it is that they are meticulously sampling original old synths instead of writing a program that simulates the old synth like many others do. I love the sound of these ...

Which track is your personal favorite and why?

Hmm. There is not really a favorite from my perspective. It’s like asking which one of your children do you like more :-)

We are curious about the different places you have lived and how they influenced you and helped shape your sound. Where are you from and where are you currently based? / Have you lived in different countries?

That is an interesting question but also not so easy to answer. I was born and raised in south Germany and lived there until I was around 28. Not many people were into electronic music there at that time. I spent a lot of time in my studio learning how to use those synths and also investigating how to add a computer to the setup. There was no internet so it has been very difficult to find information and a lot was try and error.

Then I moved to Berlin to work as a graphic designer and art director. But soon after I had arrived I released my first record and from there everything changed. Suddenly there were many other electronic musicians around me. I loved the city, and still do. Every year I learn a new perspective to look at the city. I moved a couple of times within the city as well. Every part is different and offers new ways of living. I might stay a little longer ...

Are you working on new projects for 2023?

Yes. I am working on an album for a great label you all know. And I am developing a new inspiring music hardware that will be available later this year. New remixes are in the pipeline as well.

And last but not least: coffee or tea?

Coffee to rise up, tea to calm down.

’Home In On' was released on DGTL Records on 27.01.23.