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These days, new producers come a dime a dozen. It seems as though everyone and their mother is either making tunes, but so many these days are competing to be the loudest, the one who crams the most into each new track they can AIM to the community. This is where Hobzee comes in: by purposefully sticking to a "less is more" ethos, he has embarked on a trek to bring DNB back to a place where emotion and funk can dance together without shame.
Starting out as a breakbeat head (he cites the Chemical Brothers and others of that ilk as being producers he latched on to), lil' Hobzee stumbled upon DNB around age 14, borrowing tapes from friends, studying sets from tastemakers like Nicky Blackmarket and others, and realized (like many a junglist does) that DNB "is it". Within a year's time, he was bit by the production bug, working on honing his skills with various forms of equipment, all the while practicing behind the decks. His DJing is known the world over, from websites like Dogs On Acid, where "Andy H" and his mixes have gotten heaps of praise, to his tenure with PFRadio, bringing his own brand of funk to the listeners. He personally sees PFRadio as being a stepping stone, helping not only get his skills on the turntables up, but also getting proper feedback and getting his name out there.
His production has only recently been getting accepted. Vibe'z was the first to sign him, with his track “Revolutions" on VBZ037 (although this hasn't come out yet!), but it was his track "Requiem" that really opened doors, getting the ear of Neil @ Horizons Music. Since then, he has had two releases under the HMG Camp (CRISIS008’s “Passing Me By” b/w “Cubism” and PRGLTD003’s “Requiem” b/w “The Pressure”) , as well as getting to know and work with some of the other signees, namely Hobzee and Zyon Base. This "new school" has been getting props on the 'Net and on the radio for their tracks, which has only risen their stock in the eyes of labels, as well as their DJ gigs. Hobzee has already traveled from the UK to NYC (USA) to perform, and is currently scheduled to play numerous gigs in Europe.
The friendship between Zyon Base & Hobzee turned into a collaboration that sees them now crafting loads of tracks together, to much success and praise. The first fruit of their labour is "Blue Lotus", which is set to drop on Celsius in the near future. They also have a backlog of tunes that are being bid on by some of the more forward-thinking labels in the scene, so consider yourselves warned.
To hear Hobzee tell it, he is just trying to get back to MIST's "How You Make Me Feel". While this might be the starting base, we are hearing less of MIST and more of Hobzee, and in the end, that's what the scene needs right now. Deeper cuts with a razor-sharp edge. A no-nonsense approach to precise vocal snippets, which help set the tone and mood of a track. A keen musicality that knows when to add something, and more importantly, knows when to keep it simple. Old school remembrance with new school flavor. Hobzee covers the map, and soon he should be filling your bassbins.
Words by Khal
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