EQUATE meets Joe Hertz

The incredible Joe Hertz (son of the legendary Electronic and Dance music champion Pete Tong), averages an awe-inspiring 2 million streams a month, and that’s when he’s not spending time in the kitchen, or when this novice gardener isn’t exercising his green thumbs. With the recent announcement of his debut album ‘Current Blues’, and with a new single ‘Colourblind’ out today, the Brixton-dwelling producer is on a trajectory up and up - marking himself as a tastemaker, as well as a polymath. With critics likening him to SG Lewis and Mura Masa, Joe’s output has the ability to flood the airwaves, whilst also bearing the supremely credible stamp, and we caught up with him to discuss all this and more.

Read the interview below…

EQ: For those who don’t know you, who is Joe Hertz as a person, and Joe Hertz as an acclaimed producer?

JH: I’m a creative. I’m drawn to things that I can add my own flair too. I like spending hours trying to make something that others might think is long. I’m a bit of a perfectionist which goes hand-in-hand with the production I suppose. As a producer, I enjoy exploring nostalgic feelings when I’m making music, rather than recreate something because it’s popular at the time.

EQ: Having grown up around music did you always know this is the path you wanted to take?

JH: Initially it was a hobby and something I used to rush home for and stay up all night doing. After my A-Levels, I did try and do a foundation in Graphic Design but after just a couple of months into the course, I realised that my true ambition was to pursue music.

EQ: You’ve been able to forge a great name for yourself outside of familial ties, and your sound is distinct & unique. Where do you get your inspiration for production?

JH: I feel blessed to have been exposed to such a wide range of music when I was a kid. I grew up listening to my dad playing a lot of dance classics through the 90s, subconsciously I was getting into disco/funk/soul because most of the samples I was into drew from that music. I then got more into electric guitars and bands when I was a young teen. I started trying to DJ and make beats around 2005-2006 in the drum and bass and dubstep era. This evolved into a love for general forward-thinking electronic music. It’s always felt that the target is constantly moving in terms of what I want to make but that’s what drives me to keep looking to make something fresh.

EQ:…and in terms of influences, who would you cite as your main ones?

JH: Such a hard question because there are a lot of influences that inspire me. But occasionally you will hear something that will trigger a mix of inspirational feelings and it’s then time to be productive. Some key names: Nujabes, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Aphex Twin, Noisia, Flying Lotus, James Blake.

EQ: You’re also described as quite the tastemaker and selector - which up and coming artists we should all have on our playlists?

JH: I have been really loving Mk.Gee and Westerman, both have just dropped really good albums in 2020. Worth checking out!

“It’s always felt that the target is constantly moving in terms of what I want to make but that’s what drives me to keep looking to make something fresh…”

- JOE HERTZ

EQ: Your debut album ‘Current Blues’ is coming out soon (congrats!). What do you hope fans take away from this body of work?

JH: I wanted to make a body of work that is soulful and full of emotion but also punchy and hard-hitting. Essentially giving my interpretation of what I have grown up enjoying listening to.

EQ:…and what was your inspiration behind the project?

JH: Production-wise it’s very nostalgia led. I tend to make things that remind me of or are inspired by things I grew up on like anime and manga, movies, art, video games, etc. I find that tapping into these feelings makes producing more focused and provides an idea of where you’re going. Songwriting-wise, the inspiration has come from views on the world, society, relationships, and such. It’s interesting how things can be perceived.

EQ: What’s your life mantra? Or a piece of great advice you’ve learned from your time in the industry thus far?

JH: Show love to your peers. Be patient. Keep learning. Less is more.

EQ: Once we’re all totally free to live life again, what’s the first thing you’re planning to do?

JH: Try and escape the UK for a bit!

EQ: What else can we expect from you for 2020, any EQUATE exclusives you can let us in on?

JH: I have started streaming on Twitch and creating music & food-related content for YouTube, so more of that for sure. Recently, I’ve moved to a new studio which is a big upgrade for me, it’s exciting to do these things from a fresh space. I can’t wait to get back to doing live shows and DJing etc. but in the meantime, I’ll be connecting with fans via the internet for that. There’s a bunch of awesome/quirky merchandise ideas I have been developing for the album release, one to mention is a range of the artwork created by Liam Cobb for the album in the form of an A3 size colouring book.

YouTube/Joe Hertz

Stream ‘Colourblind’ Ft. Collard HERE

Pre-Save ‘Current Blues’, OUT FRIDAY, HERE

Follow Joe on socials

Instagram: @joehertzmusic

Twitter: @joehertzmusic