Heard It Here First

At Heard It Here First, we love shining the spotlight on exciting artists that provide a combination of versatility and unpredictability in their music. One of those artists is Louis Richardson, better known as Hypho in the underground bass community.

Hypho is a dynamic producer and DJ from Manchester, England that has been making waves in the North American underground bass scene for the last couple of years, pushing styles that range between 100 – 160 bpm. Combining elements of dubstep, techno, garage and more, Hypho has created a signature sound that’s irresistible.

Hypho’s approach to music has carried over to the label side, where he is the co-founder of Manuka Records. The independent record label has been representing diverse styles in UK Bass, Techno, Dubstep and Grime since 2018.

2023 was a particularly triumphant year for Hypho. On the release front, he began the year with his six-track Dingle Bat EP that came out on Deep, Dark & Dangerous. He immediately followed this up with the release of his five-track collab Questions EP on BLXCK TXPES with fellow hit-maker MYTHM.

Hypho would then go on to release the Smokers Club EP with Chef Boyarbeatz as well as a chill, four-track EP with Abstrakt Sonance. Each project provided something different for listeners, showcasing the unique nature of his production.

Hypho was able to share his diverse catalog with a lot of new audiences last year, most notably at Ganja White Night’s Wobbleween event with world-renowned vocalist PAV4N (of Foreign Beggars). The set was very well-received and really put Hypho in the driver’s seat to continue sharing experimental old school flavors with the masses.

2024 is shaping up to be another massive year for the rising UK artist. Having recently moved from the UK to the Pacific Northwest, Hypho is ready to take his project to new heights. This Spring, he is embarking on the “All Night Long Tour” with Anna Morgan, hitting several stops across the United States.

We were fortunate to spend some time with Hypho, where we chatted about the upcoming tour, his move to the U.S., favorite MCs to work with, and so much more in this exclusive interview. Check out the full conversation below and let us know if you’ll be catching a Hypho set any time soon!

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HIHF: You recently made a HUGE move from the UK to Portland, Oregon. Congratulations! Why was now the right time to make this move? What were some of the factors that led to making this move?

Hypho: I felt like now is the right time to make a move because I have been getting booked in the U.S. more often over the last couple of years, whereas I haven’t really been getting booked in the UK as much. I want to be able to do music for as long as I can and live a nice life, so this move felt like the right thing to do. I’m always playing [in the states] and I’ve got a good team over here now. My agent is actually in Portland, so that was the reason I moved here. He’s one of my best mates and he had a place open up.

HIHF: For some of our readers that might be a little unfamiliar with the Hypho project, how long have you been making music? How long had you been playing shows in the UK before you started playing shows in the U.S.? 

Hypho: I’ve been doing the Hypho project for 10 years now. I used to make a lot of garage early on before diving into dubstep. I started getting booked for garage around the UK, was doing that for a while and then in 2018, I started getting booked in North America. Just last year, I got booked in India for a mini tour and, for this year, I’m planning to do a run in New Zealand and Australia. I never thought I’d be traveling around the world because of my music. 

HIHF: Now that you’re settling into Portland, combined with the touring experience you’ve had so far around the United States, I’m curious…what are some of the main differences you’ve noticed between the music scenes in the United States vs. in the UK?

Hypho: I feel like in terms of the music, I’m playing more dubstep. The people over here [in the states] know me for dubstep, but obviously I play a lot of genres. Dubstep is not really popping in the UK as much. It’s odd because when I mention that to people from the US, they’re like, “are you sure?” and I’m like yeah, none of us really get booked. If anyone does get booked from dubstep, it’s typically all the older heads.

None of us upcoming younger guys really get those opportunities, so I feel like America makes it work for us a lot more. The jam is popping over here, so they can book more and more of these artists. I do feel like the UK crowds are better for some reason. I feel like they understand it more, but it’s definitely growing over here. I see a lot more sound systems everywhere now and I feel like people have been catching on, so that’s pretty cool. It’s good for the culture when you can take it back to the roots. 

HIHF: I feel like in the US, there is a huge emphasis on visuals and big LED boards, whereas in the UK you’ll have a lot more dark rooms with lasers. What was that transition like when you first started playing shows over here and you had a large video board with visuals behind you?

Hypho: It was definitely a different vibe. In the UK, you might just have your logo behind you on a screen while you’re performing and that’s it. But here, it’s way more than that. It’s funny, I’ve actually told some VJs to just turn the room red and create a different vibe.

HIHF: That’s awesome! I’m now reminded of that Brooklyn warehouse show that you and Wraz played last year, where there were a bunch of heads packed into this all-red room and an insane sound system [Intent Audio].

Hypho: Oh man, that was cool as hell! That was the type of show where I’m like right, okay, Americans do get it, you know? It was so sick. I’m actually playing for [Smack NYC] again next month, so I can’t wait to get back up there. 

HIHF: I understand you have a tour coming up later this Spring with the legend, Anna Morgan. Tell us a little bit about the tour and where fans can catch you two performing. How long have you and Anna been working on this tour? What can fans expect from the tour?

Hypho: Anna and I have been planning the tour for about three months now. I feel like we both have a similar approach to how we DJ. She obviously plays a lot more higher BPMs and stuff like that, but it’s all very club-focused music. I really like what she’s doing and she’s such a sick DJ.

I’ve been wanting to get the Hypho project into more club environments because I used to make 130 BPM techno, garage and other stuff like that. I feel like for the past couple years, I’ve been labeled as a dubstep artist, so it’s kinda nice to step out of that. That’s basically the idea for this tour, is to take it back to the club environment, and kind of just play whatever I want to play.

For this tour, we’re gonna be hitting some of the bigger cities – we’re playing in LA, New York, Austin, Detroit, Seattle, basically all the hubs. I’m really excited for these shows!

HIHF: 2023 definitely felt like a big year of growth for you, from notable bookings to epic label releases. Was there a specific moment or two from last year that really stuck out to you where it felt like things were headed in a very positive direction? If so, tell us about it/them!

Hypho: Yes, first I’d say my releases on Deep Dark & Dangerous seemed to get a lot of attention last year, which was dope. They really helped push me onto a lot of shows. But, the one show that was like the big “Wow” moment for me was that Ganja White Night show with PAV4N. It was just ridiculous, I was playing to about 8,000 people in a big arena like that. I never thought I’d play an event like that.

Even working with PAV4N is surreal, like I used to listen to Foreign Beggars all the time when I was younger. We have a lot of tracks we’re working on now. But yeah, playing these types of shows and working with these types of artists made me realize it was definitely time to pursue it.

HIHF: Looking ahead to 2024, what’s on the horizon for the Hypho project that you’re able to share? What are some of your short-term vs. long-term goals as an artist?

Hypho: There are a lot of things I’d like to do. I’d love to play Red Rocks one day. I’d love to play some more arena shows like the Ganja White Night show. But really, I just want to make a lot of nice music, put it out to people, and be able to live a nice life. I’ve started to go with the flow more and it has started to be a lot easier for me, you know? I’m not stressing myself out. It feels good to sit back and just see what happens instead of trying to force things. I feel like I have more gratification towards doing these things naturally. 

HIHF: For some of our readers that may not know, you are also the co-founder of a label called Manuka Records. When did you start the label? Who did you start it with? What were some of the initial goals of the label vs. the present-day goals?

Hypho: Manuka Records was actually started in 2012 as a class project in Uni. It wasn’t even meant to be a thing at first, you know? It was literally one of my lessons in University, where I had to make a record label from scratch. So I made this one as a project and in 2015 or 2016, I met a guy named Amadeo. He’s actually called Xakra, but now goes by Amadeo. He and I made a lot of the same music and we wanted to make a label together, so I had everything ready and brought the idea to life.

We were starting to push a lot in the 130 BPM garage, techno, and breaks realms while stepping away from dubstep. Over the past year, I’ve been releasing seven-inch dubplates and that’s been very dubstep-focused. It’s been quite a journey so far. We’ve got a lot of cool stuff coming out this year. 

HIHF: Being in this unique position of a touring artist and label head, you’ve come across a wide variety of artists and styles. Who are some lesser-known artists out there that our readers need to know more about? Who’s been inspiring you as of late?

Hypho: Wraz has been inspiring me a whole bunch. He’s such an incredible artist. I just love his style of music. There’s this guy BAKEY from the UK, he’s an insane garage artist. Chef Boyarbeatz is absolutely sick, too. He’s also one of my homies now, which is cool. Honestly, I’m making music all the time and don’t really get to listen to as much music outside of demos for Manuka. So when I have my friends send me their music, it almost feels like it’s easier to get inspired.

There’s a guy called Aloka that makes a lot of Detroit-style electro stuff and he’s really sick. He’s definitely someone I always look to for inspiration. Even though I don’t make electro, it’s always nice to listen to his stuff because it’s dark and super sick. There’s another guy named Sean Cartier and he’s from Leeds in the UK. He makes a lot of electro as well – I’m really getting into electro at the moment, so that’s why I’m so into these artists right now.

Other than that, I listen to a lot of old-school hip-hop and jazz and stuff like that. I also like listening to podcasts haha they’re a good way to chill out. I don’t want to get burnt out on something that I love, so it’s nice to switch it up like that. Chill stuff is good, too – Bonobo is another one that inspires me a ton.

HIHF: Some of my favorite Hypho tracks have included unbelievable bars from some very talented lyricists and MCs. Who are some of your favorite vocalists to work with/listen to?

Hypho: Right now, I’m working on a couple of tracks with Illaman. He’s in this band from London called PENGSHUi. They’re more of a punk, hip-hop and heavy metal infusion, and Illaman also spits grime – he’s insanely talented. I’ve also got a track or two with Snowy that I need to finish up. Emz is great to listen to as well. But yeah, there are loads of MCs – Black Josh, PAV4N who we’ve been talking about, Strategy obviously. These guys all bring a unique vibe and they are all great hosts when we’re at shows.

HIHF: What are some of your favorite hobbies to do when you’re not working on music?

Hypho: I’m honestly so focused on music all the time haha but I like going to the gym and chilling with friends when I have some free time. I also like listening to podcasts and giving my ears a break from bass music. I definitely want to get into more hiking. There are some really beautiful spots out here in Portland.

HIHF: We’ve covered a ton! Is there anything else our readers should know more about you?

Hypho: If you haven’t heard of me, or if you’re just starting to learn about Hypho, definitely go check out some of my older music. I’ve covered a lot of music in my time doing this, and it’d be nice to be known as more than just a dubstep DJ. I want new fans to check out the full catalog. Other than that, I’m active on Instagram and SoundCloud, so let’s connect!

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We can’t thank Hypho enough for taking some time to speak with us about all of the exciting things surrounding his project! The “All Night Long Tour” with Anna Morgan continues in Denver next Friday, where the two will be supporting kLL sMTH‘s curated show at the Ogden Theatre. We’re looking forward to following Hypho’s continued success in 2024 and beyond!

Support Hypho on Socials: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | SoundCloud | Spotify | Bandcamp | Manuka Records

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