15 questions with… HAIDER

Sheffield-born, Berlin-based producer Haider breaks down and mixes up as many genres as possible. “Keep it moving!”

Haider originally emerged out of the Sheffield bassline scene to DJ and eventually start producing his own music in 2008. Since then he’s traversed genres including grime and UK funky, eventually setting on creating a label, Breaker Breaker, to release quality music in any genre, from jazz to shoegaze. His own music has received support from Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music and with so many genres under his belt, has been described as ‘acid electro, future breakbeats and raw, jacking house’. And why not?

1 Tell us about your background?

H: “I was born and grew up in Sheffield. As I got into my teens I got into the whole Niche thing which was big in the city. I got a pair of decks and would go and buy vinyl from the now defunct Studiobeatz store. I started to help out around the shop and eventually started DJing on the internet radio show, which led to my first ever gig so it all began there I guess.”

2 What is your production philosophy?

H: “I like to go in with a blank mind and just let it all flow naturally. I don’t like to over think things. If I do, I get stuck in a locked groove going round and round in my head being unsure of my creative decisions. I just throw things at the canvas and think about mix downs and arrangements after.”

3 How did you get into production?