Photo by Renate Madsen
If you're making a beat and going for that perfectly contrasting soft/hard dynamic, a bumping 808 low-end can sometimes be best complemented by jazzier, more restrained elements in the rest of the frequency range. Based off the fluttering synth textures of his silky new single "La Vista," streamable below, Norwegian producer Hasta seems to think so, too. He also exercised a similarly efflorescent, delicate aesthetic on earlier track "Tropical Nintendo," originally premiered on FACT. Ahead of his forthcoming Botanique EP, due October 2 on French label Kitsuné Maison, THUMP spoke to Thomas Wesenlund Wahl—who is notably signed to the same management as Cashmere Cat—about plantlife, experimentation, and the power of collaboration.
Hasta: Right now I'm sitting on my couch with my buddy Yung Ivanov. I'm surrounded by candles and some scent sticks to create a perfect atmosphere for this bad movie we are about to watch.Botanique is your debut EP, right? How does it feel to come out with a big release after building your name off tracks and remixes?
Well actually, my first EP was called Floral, but this is definitely a stronger and bigger release. Botanique has more focus on being my signature sound and style, more so than trying out stuff musically.How would you place "La Vista" within the larger context of the EP?
It's definitely one of the stronger tracks on the EP. "La Vista" combines my inspirations from both hip-hop and jazz very clearly, and I find this creates a more harmonic track.Plants and tropical themes seem like a recurring theme in your music and aesthetic, with "Tropical Nintendo" and the EP name Botanique. How does this theme relate to your work? Are you a "tropical bass" producer?
Haha, I'm not a tropical bass producer. I just really like plants and everything botanical. I feel like plants resemble my organic approach to music, and I want my audience to actually feel the human touch in the process. I want tracks that aren't generic and synthetic.Can you tell me about the collaborators you've chosen to appear on this release?
I was lucky enough to get three features from lovely up-and-coming artists. There is vōx, who's featured on "Coastin," whom I've worked with on a remix earlier. And then I've brought on one of my Norwegian friends, OMVR, on "For You," and London-based Daniel Spencer on "Trouble." The EP wouldn't have happened without them and their personalities shape the tracks.Why is Kitsuné the best home for this release?
I like to think that at this point of my career it's important to brand myself clearly. Kitsuné is a label that has been a pioneer in branding, and I like what they've done with previous releases, and how they structure their image. Basically it's all about that "indie" feel.So, what's next for you?
I'm already working on my next EP, focusing a lot on building my sound in a more indie direction. I would love to do more organic stuff with instruments and experimental vocals. I also work with a lot of interesting people, and will be doing a few select gigs that I'm looking forward to!Hasta's Botanique EP is due October 2 on Kitsuné Maison. Pre-order it here.Alexander Iadarola politely encourages you to follow him on Weird Twitter.
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THUMP: What are you up to right now? Describe your surroundings!
Hasta: Right now I'm sitting on my couch with my buddy Yung Ivanov. I'm surrounded by candles and some scent sticks to create a perfect atmosphere for this bad movie we are about to watch.Botanique is your debut EP, right? How does it feel to come out with a big release after building your name off tracks and remixes?
Well actually, my first EP was called Floral, but this is definitely a stronger and bigger release. Botanique has more focus on being my signature sound and style, more so than trying out stuff musically.How would you place "La Vista" within the larger context of the EP?
It's definitely one of the stronger tracks on the EP. "La Vista" combines my inspirations from both hip-hop and jazz very clearly, and I find this creates a more harmonic track.Plants and tropical themes seem like a recurring theme in your music and aesthetic, with "Tropical Nintendo" and the EP name Botanique. How does this theme relate to your work? Are you a "tropical bass" producer?
Haha, I'm not a tropical bass producer. I just really like plants and everything botanical. I feel like plants resemble my organic approach to music, and I want my audience to actually feel the human touch in the process. I want tracks that aren't generic and synthetic.Can you tell me about the collaborators you've chosen to appear on this release?
I was lucky enough to get three features from lovely up-and-coming artists. There is vōx, who's featured on "Coastin," whom I've worked with on a remix earlier. And then I've brought on one of my Norwegian friends, OMVR, on "For You," and London-based Daniel Spencer on "Trouble." The EP wouldn't have happened without them and their personalities shape the tracks.Why is Kitsuné the best home for this release?
I like to think that at this point of my career it's important to brand myself clearly. Kitsuné is a label that has been a pioneer in branding, and I like what they've done with previous releases, and how they structure their image. Basically it's all about that "indie" feel.So, what's next for you?
I'm already working on my next EP, focusing a lot on building my sound in a more indie direction. I would love to do more organic stuff with instruments and experimental vocals. I also work with a lot of interesting people, and will be doing a few select gigs that I'm looking forward to!Hasta's Botanique EP is due October 2 on Kitsuné Maison. Pre-order it here.Alexander Iadarola politely encourages you to follow him on Weird Twitter.