Martin Vogt–also known as Haywyre–was born in Lafayette, Indiana, but spent his early years in Austria, where he first learned the craft of playing piano. It wasn’t until he started studying jazz and classical music that he became intrigued by musical composition.
After several years of living overseas, Vogt moved back to the United States, where he began creating music under the name Haywyre.
It was during this time, that Vogt created a name for himself. Five albums, two EPs and several singles later he is now the leading artist at the Vancouver-based label Monstercat.
Most known for using a keyboard controller to produce melodies, Haywyre sets himself apart from other producers. Blending a diverse mix of funky jazz, glitch-hop, soul, and house music, he has created a unique sound. There truly isn’t a single way of defining the producer’s distinguished style.
In 2014, shortly after releasing his highly-anticipated ‘Two Fold, Pt. 1” album, Haywyre blew his fans away with an impressive rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”, which quickly went viral. Check it out:
Haywyre’s growth in popularity has earned him touring slots with artists like Zedd, Gramatik, and Mat Zo.
Most recently, he released the second part of his conceptual album series “Two Fold, Pt. 2” and it’s filled with extraordinary tracks including “Transient” featuring a piano solo.
In an exclusive with Four Over Four, Haywyre talks about his growth as a young musician and his upcoming tour with The Opiuo Band.
How did you first discover electronic music? What was that experience like?
As with a lot of people, electronic music had always been a part of my life, but in a more passive sense. My gateway into actively searching and listening to electronic music was metal, which is when I found iconic names like Deadmau5 and Noisia. Nothing was more exciting to me than hearing and experimenting with a genre of music that was so new and undiscovered.
You started playing classical and jazz piano at a young age, at what point did you decide you wanted to merge these genres and create the music you make today?
It wasn’t a decision as much as it was just an inevitable direction. Much of my involvement with music was through the jazz and classical worlds, so it only makes sense that those ended up shaping my creative process heavily.
Who is someone you think we should all be listening to right now?
Jacob Collier. Most recently, he released an album with a ton of incredibly impressive music (and won two Grammys!).
Your tour with Opiuo is about to kick off, what are you looking forward to the most?
More than anything, I want to step out of my comfort zone. I want to challenge myself and my listeners!
What can fans expect from you in 2017?
At this point in time, I don’t even know what to expect. I have been trying to get a better understanding of what exactly it is that I want to do with my music, and it’s the primary reason that I haven’t released anything in a year. Once I find what I’m looking for, I’ll be hitting the ground running with a new brand, new merch, live streams, performance videos, new music and some secret surprises.
Want to catch Haywyre at his upcoming gig? Check out his tour dates below, where he will be co-headlining with The Opiuo Band.
Haywyre and The Opiuo Band North America 2017 Tour
