‘Signal From The Universe’ is a record you should probably listen to. Yes, it’s niche and obscure, but it’s also cathartic and life-changing. Especially because it emerges from a place of deep artistic research – not your usual chart-ready stuff. It’s not easy to let yourself go to the unknown, we know, but sometimes a jump into sonic obscurity is a powerful emotional reset, the kind that Hipster Pug can certainly provide.
We recently wrote about the project: “It is bold, quirky and hyper-authentic, a wonderful nugget of experimentation and leftfield sentiment. Penned by Dutch creative Hipster Pug, ‘Signal from the Universe’ is extremely eclectic and expansive. Built on electronica, ambient and neo-classical elements, the album places itself in-between genres, yet it doesn’t feel forced at all, it simply wraps the listeners into a cathartic and introspective listening experience.”
Intrigued by Hipster Pug, we caught up with him to find out more about his artistry and future goals… interview below!
Hey Hipster Pug, how is it going? we are curious about your musical journey – where did you learn the craft, and did something/someone particularly motivated you?
Hello! It’s going very well. It’s a long story but try to keep it brief, haha. I started as Hipster Pug in 2018, I always loved music, but besides making some on a site called musicshake, I never made actual music until then. In 2017, I had a gaming channel on a site called Vidme and at some point I put some of the music I made with music shake on that channel, people were interested by that. Then, Vidme stopped and I did not longer enjoy making videos. In 2018 I moved into music, first working with samples and making more Lo-Fi, downtempo music. Since 2020, I make my own tracks and more personal albums with a story that I like to tell, but always instrumental because I believe sounds can express more then words can say (most of the time).
Coming to your latest work ‘Signal from the Universe’ – What’s your creative process like? Do you start from a vibe, a feeling, or do you experiment with sounds and effects?
Most of the time I have a bit of an idea about what kind of music I want to make; this project started as an EP for a one-month album writing challenge. I did not win but got a lot of positive feedback for the EP, then I asked the label I’m with (Monochrome Motif Records) to release it, and I was asked to make it a bit longer then it turned into a full album. I knew that I wanted it to be more experimental but also with the Ambient and Neo-classical genres in it, because I wanted it to tell a story in different sounds and styles of music.
Production-wise, how do you obtain all the beautiful textures you used in the record? Do you have any secrets you can share with us?
I work with a lot of virtual instruments for all kinds of different sounds, and to be honest I always just start writing the basics, from there I build up the whole song with different instruments and effects. I have a starting idea, but it is also a surprise for me where it will end up. I love that about the whole making music: it brings creativity to the song.
If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
I would love to make music with Olafur Arnalds, he is really good with neo-classical stuff and I think I could learn a lot from him. But I would also love to work with Nils Frahm or Max Richter, both musicians are also really great: Frahm in the experimental field and Max Richter in soundtracks/classical material. I could learn a lot from all of them.
You mention Wes Anderson and the way it influences ‘Signal from the Universe’. How should the keen listener approach the album? Is it better consumed in one, long sitting, to fully absorbed the change in atmospheres and vibe?
That is true: the structure of this album exists thanks to Wes Anderson (funny where you sometimes find inspiration). I was watching Astroid City and the French Dispatch and those movies are built up in 3 acts/parts, telling sections of a story but making it a whole. I was stuck with the structure for the album at the point I was watching those movies, but I thought if it works for them maybe it will work for the album as well, and that is how it turned into the current structure: Act one – the signal, represents change. Act two – the cave of memories, is about letting go of the past and looking forward to what you would like. Act three – new beginnings, the self explanatory new start. The album is made for one sitting to get the full story, but if people want to listen one of the songs that is also possible but for the full experience you can make an hour free of your day and listen the full album in one sitting.
‘Signal from the Universe’ is about telling your story without using words – what is the story? Can you shine a light on the lyrical basis behind it?
Like I said earlier in the interview, I believe that music can speak louder than words in some genres, and especially within the ambient and neo-classical genre. It is important for me, when I worked on my previous album Neon Noir I knew I wanted to tell a story of my own struggles with fear, but I just couldn’t use words to explain it – that is why I tried to tell it with music. In the follow-up EP called Nouveau Chapitre there was one song with french lyrics, but when I use lyrics it really needs to bring something to the song and the project I work on. For this album I wanted to go back to only music since it’s a follow-up to Neon Noir and knew I wanted to build from that album, to see what was possible to create in different styles. My latest work is hopfully an happier album overall since this is more about new beginnings.
Is there a track in the album you are particularly proud of?
Of course, I really like every song on the album haha, but there is one song that i’m really proud of because I tried to experiment a lot with different things/sounds/instruments and effects. It’s Path Of New Beginnings – It is also the longest piece from the album and was going to be the last one on the album for a while, but then found a better way to end the record. I’m really proud of this song because it changes a lot during the 6 minutes, and I love the idea of keep changing it and see what’s possible from a creative standpoint.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I have always ideas for new music but I havent started with anything new yet, I probably will work on a new EP, but I know there will be more music in the future.
