Names: Hardt Antoine
Nationality: French-Jamaican
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current release: Hardt Antoine's new single Let it Go is out via Kompakt.

If you enjoyed this Hardt Antoine interview and would like to know more about his music, visit him on Instagram, Soundcloud, and Facebook.



The path to becoming a producer is a process - but from many interviews, I am under the impression that there are nonetheless one or a few defining moments. If this was the case for you – what were they and why were they so incisive?

I was making music for some time but I wasn’t confident to really showcase my work and felt I needed to make music within a certain pocket.

It was in a quiet, memorable, moment of introspection – away from the studio – where I reflected in who I was as a person, made a decision that I was a ‘real’ artist and could put out whatever I wanted and if I respected myself others would respect my work too – or I wouldn’t care if they didn’t.

Things really started to change after that day.

Tell me about one or two of your early pieces that you're still proud of (or satisfied with) in terms of production – and why you're content with them.

I have a track called ‘The Edge’ I released on Anemos Dance.

It was the lead track to a conceptual EP inspired by Modern UK breaks juxtaposed with a eastern inspired synth-line.



I made it in Mykonos visiting when the Island was completely deserted in the winter “off” season and was inspired by nature and the silence of the cyclades when the loud parties are no longer there.

I went completely under-the-radar but I’m very proud of it!

In how far, would you say, was your evolution as an artist connected to the evolution of your music set-up and studio? Were there shared stepping stones?

Using a hardware setup has made a change to my sound and of course workflow.

I am using just a handful of machines and I find the limitation means I have no choice but to push my musical boundaries and also get the most out of each unit. I’ve acquired my hardware set up very slowly over time.

There are artists who can realise their ideas best with a traditional – or modified – piano interface, others with a keyboard and a mouse, yet others by turning knobs or touching screens. What's your preferred and most intuitive/natural way of making music and why?

All of the above.

I find the keyboard and mouse is a great way to do unorthodox work, especially with manipulating audio. A keyboard is tried and tested for a reason, whatever your piano level is and turning knobs by hand is key to making traditional electronic instruments come alive.

The only things I don’t like are waiting for digital presets to load or scrolling through hardware screens.

Tell me about the space of your current studio/workplace and how you've set it up to optimise creativity.

I have a room in a co-working space with all my equipment. I sublet it to 2 close producer friends (REj and Pattn), too, who also have their set-ups. So between us we have a mountain of equipment. It has an amazing sound and I have no neighbour problems.

Sometimes I can feel too “at work” in there, though, so I’ll take my laptop and work remotely. At home, in a cafe or on the road.

From the earliest sketches to the finished piece, tell me about the production process for your current release, please.

I really don’t have one. I usually work by making many sketches and then finish the best ones, sometimes combing the best elements of each to tell a story. There’s no right way for me to start a track and usually no order in doing things. I need the open approach.

On my recent track "Let Me Go” on Kompakt Records, the idea for the crazy drums and vocals came together very quickly. The keys were added in a different session inspired by something I had done on another record.

It was in a third session we arranged the track.

Late producer SOPHIE said: “You have the possibility with electronic music to generate any texture, and any sound. So why would any musician want to limit themselves?” What's your take on that?

I think the unlimited possibilities of modern production are a double edged sword.

On one hand it means there is endless potential to sound original, on the other there is too much choice and it can be overwhelming. I think this was a problem for me for some time.

I know what sounds and colours I identify with as an artist. That does continue to grow though.

Tell me about your aesthetic preferences for picking effects like reverb, delay, compression, chorus etc … - what was the role of these effects in the production of your current release?

I have effects I use more creatively, mainly delays and distortions. I’ll use all sorts of plugins for these, from Native Instruments guitar rig delays from sound toys and many others – I’m not afraid to get creative or to automate functions in an orthodox way.

When it comes to mixing I use very simple plugins. Either Ableton stock plugins, or basic plugs from Waves or Fab-filter.

The current production process allows for fast and infinite variations. Can you tell me about how you deal with this potential for the infinite and what ultimately decides on how many iterations to create and which version to release?

I can get so lost in this. Especially with dancefloor music where you may want the track to do a different thing depending on the moment.

For my track “Free" I sent out 2 drop variations in the promo pack and released the more popular one. I still play both out regularly depending on the moment.



Production, as opposed to live performance, can be a lonely process and feedback from listeners isn't always tangible. What is it about it that gives you satisfaction?

This lifestyle suits me well. I’m very comfortable being my myself, and working alone and there is a lot of it in my life. In the studio but also on the road travelling.

I’m not a full introvert but my social battery does get drained quickly, especially around gigs so me-time in the studio is perfect.

We can watch videos on production, take producer courses, and exchange deep insights on gear forums. Amidst these options to improve one's chops/skills, how do you keep things playful?

It’s important to always make different types of music. Different genres, different tempos, different moods. Even if it’s just for growth, learning or experimental sake. It’s easy to get lost in functional music - but it’s a slippery slope to boredom.

Even this aside, many of my dancefloor tracks started out as something more experimental, including “All We See” [Kompakt] …



... and “Oktagon” [TAU].



I also think sending DJs some more experimental music helped me to stand out when my demos were first being noticed, even if they didn’t get signed.

My track “Goliath” came out on Jennifer Cardini’s correspondant. It’s one of my most dancefloor ready releases but she first got in contact when I sent her something beatless and very edgy.



[Read our Jennifer Cardini interview]

AI is already capable of making something most people would recognise as music. I am curious, though, and will keep this question somewhat broad on purpose: What do you think that means?   

I think AI is a tool like any other and there are tools for humans to use creatively.

That said, AI generated music sucks [in 2025] and I know there is a lot out there but I don’t think it’s connecting with people.

There are no cheat codes in writing music and definitely no cheat codes in building a career with longevity.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though producing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

I maybe wouldn’t compare it to a cup of coffee but I would compare it to a dish or meal. Sometimes one ingredient fresh from the ground can be delicious. Sometimes a dish requires years of expertise, and specific ingredient sourcing.

A creative outlet is essential for my mental health and well-being. I think it’s good to take some breaks from writing music but it’s always important to keep the creative flares alive.

Create a T-shirt line, create a fresh business concept, app ideas or make a dish that’s never been made before – don’t let your inner artist die!