Artist Spotlight: H! Dude

H! Dude are Belgium-based techno wizards whose unique brand of techno is perfect for a dimly-lit (or red-accented) warehouse event. This duo flips the traditional techno formula on its head, throwing in cerebral (and surreal) sounds, creating progressive tracks with many hidden gems. They commonly refer to their sound as “technostep,” which makes sense after repeated listens. The throttling drums and bass instill a natural fist pump in the listener. H! Dude can move fast, take it slow, and effortlessly switch between the two at a second’s notice. Several tracks from the duo are also influenced by the edgier side of House, mixing dark hi-hats with techno snares and prominent bass. This article will highlight a couple of the duo’s best works. Enjoy!

First up is “LALALALA,” the duo’s latest outing released on April 5th of this year. The song gets to work IMMEDIATELY, greeting us with rumbling techno drums, heavy hi-hats, and underlying chunky synth. A haunting vocal sample repeatedly recites the song’s title over dissonant claps and heavy techno percussion. The sample effortless bobs and weaves with the heavy backing beat, creating a perfect sonic tapestry. A brief break from the instrumentals leaves us with an a cappella version of the recurring sample. Simply beautiful. The drums return after their brief holiday, as the vocals change in tone and begin to trail off as the instrumentation grows more intense. Gradually increasing in speed, as glimmering dubstep-influenced synths help to prepare us for what lies ahead.

“Stop the track. Wind that shit back… BEG FOR MERCY!” Scream the vocals, as we are swiftly thrusted into hard techno territory. The track then DROPS, as merciless drums and blaring, alarm-like effects pleasantly override the senses. The rhythm is heavy, dark, and gorgeously malevolent. More dubstep influences can be found here, showing off the incredible versatility of these artists. As the drop from “LALALALA” continues, it mixes glitchy laser effects, techno drums, and thick bass to full effect. Around the halfway point of the song, we are brought to where we began with the return of the notable “LALALALA” sample that gives the song its name. The drums and vocals lead us into the second drop of the song. This time, the drop takes on more of a up-tempo hardstyle approach, as a distorted voice yells:

“SAVE YOURSELF THE SUFFERING… DEATH IS NEAR” before immediately returning to its hard techno roots. This change in tone shows the sheer amount of genres that “LALALALA” draws inspiration from, including techno, house, dubstep and now hardstyle. What a glorious concoction. The song continues its journey, before gradually fading out and coming to a close. This is a great song to show off the numerous influences of this dynamic duo. Listen above to get the full picture.

“We Are All Connected” is a utopian and progressive techno bop that fully embraces human interaction and connection. Unlike “LALALALA,” the first song that we covered, this one starts out slow, steady, and gradual. “We Are All Connected” begins with harmonious bass and low-key hi-hats, as a woman’s voice repeatedly chants a single word: ONE! Light synths and tap effects abound, as the cymbals and bass increase in tempo and intensity. The cymbals eventually fade out, leaving only the synth effects. This is immediately followed by a majestic bridge that mixes dark bass and luminous synth patterns. A perfect collision of largely contrasting vibes. House-influenced hi-hats return to provide a solid backbone for the other song elements. “Connected” begins a gradual decrease in tempo as the effects all fade out in unison. A break in the track’s instrumentation brings us to a 10-count, as a woman’s voice states: “You are the universe experiencing itself… We are all connected” as fuzzy, laser-like effects bring us into a techno breakdown.

The rhythm is steady and highly danceable, perfect for the aforementioned warehouse mentioned in the introduction of this article. Clap effects separate the two halves of this breakdown, creating order and structure for the rest of the elements to follow accordingly. “Connected” takes another vocal break to lead us into the last minute of the song, concluding with percussion and bass that gradually fade out, as the previous affirmation repeats: “You are the universe experiencing itself.” “Connected” is a progressive, utopian, and collectivist techno romp that mixes elements from other various EDM genres to create an amazing cocktail of influences. Listen above to take the journey yourself.

H! Dude is an incredibly versatile duo with numerous talents and genre influences. They can make both progressive, slow burn tracks and intense, in-your-face songs that refuse to be ignored. H! Dude has perfected the “Ttchnostep” sub-genre and I am curious to see what their future holds. Explore today if you are a fan of techno or looking to dip a toe into a dynamic, talent-filled genre of EDM. Enjoy!

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