The Hacker, known also as Michel Amato, is a DJ and an electronic music producer notably famous for his duets with Miss Kittin. His work is influenced by artists such as Kraftwerk, new wave artists such as The Cure and Depeche Mode, as well as the French rave scene of the early 1990s. After more than twenty years of career, The Hacker is back with “Love/Kraft”, an album made in two parts. The first one has been released on April 21, and is the subject of our interview today. It is a real chance again to interview one of the iconic actors of the French electronic scene! This interview follows the one of other French DJs and producers like Da Fresh, Muttonheads, Rodriguez Jr., Paul Nazca. Firstly, I wanted to thank Michel for answering our exclusive questions.

 

"Hello The Hacker,

Frankly, it's a pleasure and an honor to interview you because I discovered your music with your first EPs like "Intimités" with Miss Kittin which followed your track "Gratin Dauphinois" extracted from the album Technics, signed on the label Gigolo in 1997 and created by Dj Hell that we interviewed some months ago. A few days ago, you released the first single from your new album “Clear”, a techno track with new wave accents. It has been launched on Zone Music, the label that you’ve just founded with Gesaffesltein. Could you briefly tell us how this project was born, knowing your first solo album was released around 10 years ago... Is there a specific reason?
> I have not done only a solo album for 10 years, but I've done many other things! Maxis everywhere, remixes and above all a second album with Miss Kittin, so I have not been completely inactive!
Concerning my new album, it was difficult for me to do it, I reworked it several times. I was never satisfied. The change came from the reaction of some of my relatives who told me that I was too difficult with myself. I was thinking too much. I had to do things more naturally, as I always did, so all of a sudden it gave me less pressure and the situation unlocked. I like this track a lot and I am very proud of them.

And apart from that, do you think there will be some remixes of tracks extracted from the album that we can expect in the upcoming weeks?
> No, there will be no remixes. Everyone is making ​​remixes. There are remixes everywhere, so as I like to be against the current. I decided that there will be no remixes!

How did you find the name of your album? Is there a link with your influences related to Kraftwerk?
> Indeed the track is a nod to Kraftwerk, but more especially to the American science fiction writer "HP Lovecraft", which is one of my favorite authors, whose stories are evolving in a very dark atmosphere. It has always inspired me.

This album will come out in 2 parts with another album that will be released later this year, in September. What will be difference between them?
> The second part will be "softer" than the first one, more "musical", less radically made for the dancefloor.

Your first album “Melodies in the basement” came out nearly fifteen years ago. What really changed in your method of working between these two releases?
> I know my equipment better, I'm faster and above all, everything is much more efficient at the time, mostly computers! Everything is so simple. I think that young people who begin today cannot imagine how it could be technically difficult 15 years ago.

2014 is starting for you on a high level, with the launch of your album at the Showcase, a few days ago with Arnaud Rebotini. If you look back to the beginning of this year, what do you think about it? What is your vision of the past few months?
> Everything that happened to me in the recent months is great. I'm in a new dynamism with my album and my label Zone. Lots of great things are happening, after the chapter of Goodlife (my former label) I started something great with Zone and it looks very promising.

After giving us these info on your latest news, we would like to go back to your musical roots. Could you briefly tell us how did you become a DJ and producer, with your debut on the electronic scene of Grenoble?
> I started doing live shows, I started djing much later. The early electronic scene in Grenoble was tiny, we were around fifteen, including Miss Kittin, Oxia, Kiko, etc.. That’s how it started slowly, playing in illegal raves in crop fields, abandoned forts around Grenoble. We all met at that time.

And besides, if it is not indiscreet, where does your nickname come from? I thought I’ve read somewhere that it comes from some names of EPs.
> My nickname comes from a piece of Jeff Mills (I'm a big fan of him), extracted from his first album "waveform transmission vol 1". I saw the title "The Hacker", I thought it sounded well, and that’s it. My name has nothing to do with the real hackers on the Internet.

At the beginning, did you family understand what you wanted to do in life? And now, are they proud of what you achieved along the years?
> Absolutely, at first I think they were afraid for me. They asked me if I knew what I was doing. You do not have to forget that in the early 90s, techno was frowned upon! But globally they have always supported me, and now they are very proud.

More and more readers are asking information about the gear used by producers that we interview. What software or tools do you use to produce? Can e have some technical information?
> I use "live" on Ableton with my small collection of analog synths that I have for years.

The interview will be published on a website mainly read by French. Are there artists you know personally? Of course there are Miss Kittin, probably Kiko, Alexander Robotnick, Olivier aka Oxia, Arnaud Rebotini and some others?
> Gesaffesltein, Maeltrom, Djedjotronic, David Carretta, etc.

 

The Hacker, before we conclude this interview, we have a few more questions for you. Sometimes one word is enough!

Where are you right now to answer our interview?
> In my hotel room in Sydney, I'm on tour in Australia.

The track you advised us to listen to in your discography?
> My latest single with Perspects «A thousand times ».

3 words to define your music?
> Mysterious, dark and melancholic.

A privilege that your DJ status gives you access to?
> You don’t pay any more for drinks! haha!

Your favorite track right now?
> Zed "Plastic Love" is an old piece of italo-disco made in the early 80s, I love this style.

A few words about the website that I run and where the interview will be published: Actualités Electroniques?
> I do not know much about it, sorry! I'll take a look.

The Hacker thank you very much for the time you devoted to Actualites Electroniques and especially for the complete and exclusive interview. We look forward to the release of your new album and the second part later this year! "

Dj Aroy

MORE ABOUT THE HACKER
http://www.zone-music.fr/
https://www.facebook.com/DJTheHacker
https://soundcloud.com/the-hacker
http://www.songkick.com/artists/387818-hacker
https://myspace.com/thehackergoodlife