HARDEN’s (@harden_sounds) recent single “Lie Detector” has continued to move through the club circuit with a remix package featuring names like FAR&HIGH and Superflu, giving the release a longer shelf life beyond its first drop on Casa Alta. The Denver artist has been building quickly, with a debut EP that reached #1 on Beatport’s Indie Dance chart and a growing run of sold-out events across Miami, Denver, and Las Vegas.
Casa Alta gives this story a wider frame. HARDEN has used the label and event brand to connect music, curation, studio culture, and physical spaces, including large-scale events with artists such as Adam Ten, Bedouin, DJ Tennis, and other names moving through the house and indie dance circuit. He is also developing a studio and private artist hub in Denver’s RiNo Arts District, which gives his work a practical infrastructure beyond releases and parties.
In the interview below, HARDEN talks about inspiration outside the booth, the role of rest and health in performance, and why recent time with vinyl, samplers, drum machines, and older records has started feeding new life into his sets.
Interview With HARDEN
What parts of your life outside of music have ended up shaping your approach in the booth the most?
That’s a very difficult question to answer, honestly. I’m not sure. I try to play approachable and undeniable music that is unlikely to be known by the audience. I try to play credible music that I I enjoy personally through a set that is uniquely HARDEN. I don’t have any specific reference to a part of my life outside of music that shapes my approach, though I would say my life does generally follow a similar arc to my sets.
Do you find inspiration in non-musical places, such as conversations, art, nature, or travel? What sticks with you?
That’s a hard question to answer. I don’t know how I would pinpoint some element of my life and say “yes, I’m drawing from that particular silo’d-off element of my history to contribute to this sound/song.” Like everybody, my taste is informed by my unique combination of my life, background, upbringing, exposure, and genetic code. I think that growing up in Germany for a portion of my life certainly informs my music, as does having a background that was heavily post-punk rock and indie music.
I generally don’t have to “find” inspiration, it’s abundant. I never think to draw from any specific art, conversations, travel, etc. I draw from the ethereal and guttural without knowing specificity. I try not to be contrived or designed and I trust my taste and sensibility.
Has there been a moment where something totally outside the club changed the way you DJ?
I’m sure there are. Personal life impacts the way you DJ, no matter how professionally you approach your gig/responsibility. Mood, drinks and life always play a factor.
Positive events can breathe life and pump adrenaline into the set and negative events can suck life out. I can’t think of anything specific, but I’m sure that events outside of the club have impacted the way I felt going into a set. That said, I’ve always focused on my response to the needs of the set/club regardless of what may be happening outside of it. I love playing and I take it seriously, it’s not hard for me to focus on playing and giving everything that I have to the dance floor regardless of what is happening off of it.
Do you think DJs should actively seek out inspiration from outside the scene, or let it come naturally?
I can only speak for myself, not other DJs. Everybody is different.
For me, I don’t actively seek out “inspiration.” I’m inspired, and intention and influence comes from wherever it comes. I trust the universe and I follow my heart. It can be from outside, inside, other artists or no art at all. I feel most creative when I am not forcing a process. I work intensely or not at all. I do a lot or a little, in a lot of time or tight time frame. Whatever is needed for my artistic soul, that is what I do, which serves me well. Contrived inspiration doesn’t work for me. Others have designs that wouldn’t work for me. It’s different for everybody. At the end of the day, am I feeling good about the process I’m utilizing.
I’m more inspired than I have time to execute on that inspiration. That feels like a good place to be.
How does your daily rhythm or lifestyle affect the vibe you bring to your sets?
Healthy lifestyle and steady rhythm helps my sets, without a doubt. When I’m feeling well rested and well prepared, my sets shine easier and I have better energy. Sleep is the big one for me.
My lifestyle, work cadence and travel schedule interrupts sleep so I have to be on top of my rest ahead of a set. I’m so grateful to play in front of people that choose to spend time dancing with me and I take it seriously. I work to ensure that I’m getting good rest ahead of my gigs and I watch my alcohol intake so that I can perform. I’m not always perfect, and no matter what, I’m going to bring my very best when it’s time to play, regardless of whether conditions were perfect.
My vibe is always pro-dancefloor and I’m all about respect for the audience, crew, production teams, and other artists. I’ll always bring-it. That said, when I’m on top of my health and rest, my sets shine, undoubtedly.
Do you have any practices that help you reset or reconnect before gigs?
Sleep is the big one and the most elusive commodity for me. If I can get sleep the night before and take a nap the day of the gig a few hours before sound check, I’m in very good shape. Sunshine on my skin is also helpful. A good walk in the sun when it’s still up ahead of a nap is really best practices for me.
What’s something recent from your real life that changed the kind of music you’ve been playing or digging for?
Playing vinyl and working in the studio with certain samplers and drum machines has shaped my sets recently. I have been working on several edits of rap tracks that move the dancefloor with breakbeats / freestyle touch. I’ve been digging for and playing a lot of breaks/freestyle records at home and have incorporated those sounds into edits.
They really move the dancefloor and the attitude in the club really pumps when I incorporate those sounds. There’s something about incorporating those classic fresh sounds with what I’m already doing that really feels good. Playing more vinyl and going back in time has lifted the vibe and energy of my sets, immensely.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
