Name: Human Rias
Nationality: German
Occupation: Producer, CJ, label founder at 7Rituals
Recent release: Human Rias's Endless EP with Arnude is out via 7Rituals. Buy at beatport.

If you enjoyed this Human Rias interview and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, and Soundcloud.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

Certain moments definitely call for you to close your eyes to feel the intensity and allow your mind to draw the scene that the music you’re listening to is painting. In other moments music is a guide, setting a scene that you need to observe, allowing the soundscapes to enhance it.

When you’re in a club dancing the night away, forgetting time, closing your eyes can allow you to feel so much more, being together and yet alone, drifting. Being in nature can call for opening your eyes, watching the trees sway rhythmically to the beat you’re listening to.

How does listening with headphones and listening through a stereo system change your experience of sound and music?

Listening through headphones is sound for the mind, it’s all about clarity panning, and composition. However, it somehow also feels hollow compared to listening to music on a stereo system, when you can truly feel the music and the sound waves touch your whole body and not just your mind and ears.

Tell me about some of the albums or artists that you love specifically for their sound, please.

Two albums I want to mention here, one is by Burial.



I love how he creates ambience, the individual sounds are just so crystal clear, allowing you to dream and paint pictures.

The second album is Ludovico Einaudi’s Una Mattina. 



Every piece in this is beautiful, you can listen closed eyed and dream, or you can watch nature pass by on a train. It's a go to for me to switch off.

[Read our Ludovico Einaudi interview]

Do you experience strong emotional responses towards certain sounds? If so, what kind of sounds are these and do you have an explanation about the reasons for these responses?

I have used sounds to stow away memories, and written music to process what was happening in my life. I can’t tell you how exactly I have chosen these songs, they just so happen to be there when I needed them the most.

One particular piece that comes to mind is Brian Eno's "An Ending (An Ascent)."



[Read our Brian Eno interview about climate change]

There can be sounds which feel highly irritating to us and then there are others we could gladly listen to for hours. Do you have examples for either one or both of these?

Uff, yeah I think the single worst sound that creeps me out to this day is chalk on a chalk board (I still go to hear this in school).

A very pleasing sound on the other hand or even my favourite of sounds is the wind blowing through trees creating this beautiful rustle.

Are there everyday places, spaces, or devices which intrigue you by the way they sound? Which are these?

The most intriguing of sound is the sound of nature.

The way a woodpecker pecks the tree sounds completely different here in Europe than It did on my travels through Latin America, the sound of the Forests are different, the ocean washing up on a beach sounds different from one beach to the next. It's a reminder that our surroundings create thes beautiful unique sounds.

To be honest now writing about it, I am mentally with my incredible fiancee at the beach just listening to the ocean move.

What are among your favourite spaces to record and play your music?

I adore unique and intimate spaces where the acoustics enhance the music. Churches with their natural reverb, cozy living rooms filled with warmth, and open-air settings surrounded by nature always inspire me.

Each space adds its character and emotion to the sound, which I find exhilarating.

Do music and sound feel “material” to you? Does working with sound feel like you're sculpting or shaping something?

To me, sound is incredibly material. When I work with it, I often feel like a sculptor, chiseling away at a block of stone to reveal something beautiful.

The way sound travels and interacts with its surroundings feels tangible, like I’m moulding the air into shapes and forms that evoke emotions.

How important is sound for our overall well-being and in how far do you feel the "acoustic health" of a society or environment is reflective of its overall health?

Sound plays a vital role in our overall well-being. The "acoustic health" of an environment often reflects its vibrancy and liveliness.

When soundscapes are rich and harmonious, it enhances our mood and connections with others. Conversely, chaotic and jarring sounds can drain our energy and affect our mental states.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds?

I’ve had many moving experiences with the sounds of nature – from the haunting calls of owls at night to the soothing rhythm of ocean waves.

There’s something profoundly connecting about these sounds; they remind us of life's cycles and the natural world, allowing us to reflect and find peace amidst chaos.

Many animals communicate through sound. Based either on experience or intuition, do you feel as though interspecies communication is possible and important? Is there a creative element to it, would you say?

I do believe interspecies communication is not only possible but crucial.

Animals express emotions and intentions through sounds, and while we may not fully understand them, there’s a creative language beyond words. It’s an ongoing dance of connection that we can feel on an intuitive level.

Tinnitus and developing hyperacusis are very real risks for anyone working with sound. Do you take precautions in this regard and if you're suffering from these or similar issues – how do you cope with them?

Yes, I am mindful of the risks associated with working in sound. I take regular breaks and use protection when necessary.

Earplugs Earplugs Earplugs!

We can surround us with sound every second of the day. The great pianist Glenn Gould even considered this the ultimate delight. How do you see that yourself and what importance does silence hold?

I see great beauty in surrounding ourselves with sound, much like Glenn Gould expressed. Yet, silence holds its own significance, providing clarity and space for contemplation. It’s in those quiet moments that I often find inspiration or a sense of grounding amidst the noise of life.

Which is why silence is so important in music. To allow space to breathe for thought before coming back in with the crescendo

Seth S. Horowitz called hearing the “universal sense” and emphasised that it was more precise and faster than any of our other senses, including vision. How would our world be different if we paid less attention to looks and listened more instead?

If we prioritised listening over looking, our world would bloom with deeper connections and understanding. It could foster empathy as we tune into the sounds and stories around us, transcending visual stereotypes and truly experiencing life through the richness of sound.

Listening cultivates awareness of the present and nurtures bonds within our communities and the natural world.