hiruya interviewed by WTC
Estonian noisester delves into her underrated discography
Hello! Would you be able to give a brief introduction on who you are and also your work?
I'm hiruya, I go by numerous aliases, some that are known and some yet unused - but that has been my main alias that I have gone by in music. I dabble in numerous things, but I mostly do music and graphic design. I started experimenting in both a bit before high school and have been doing it for a good few years now. doing it for a good few years now. My main genres of music are breakcore and HNW.
I see that you are currently live in Estonia - does the place you live in or your background ever influence what you make? Do you have any connections to any local scenes?
I would say it does, Estonia can be a bit gloomy at times, especially during autumn and winter and I guess that subconsciously has affected the type of sound or vibe I am going for at times.
Also, it hasn't particularly influenced what I make, but I do have a couple of people in my family who make music either as a hobby or a job, so I am definitely influenced by them in that regard too! They are one of the reasons I got into music production.L
I do not have any particular connections to any local scenes yet, but I do know a few local artists, that I have worked on helped and will continue to do in the future.
As mentioned before, you use a variety of aliases such as Kowloon Antifreeze and Shamanic Princess for other works ranging from pure noise to ambient drone. Would you be able to elaborate on them and how they function? Do you feel closer to the hiruya alias than the other ones, or are they all equal?
I like to think of my aliases as sort of "alter egos" that I use depending on the genre or mood I am going for - kind of like how an artist or a wrestler has their own persona they create for themselves. I find it makes (making) music more fun if you have a chance to go by a completely different name every time.
Some are completely one-off aliases that I make up if I need to make something specific like a track for a compilation or if I want something new, whilst others are persistent and I often return to them, like the ones you mentioned. Those have their own specific sound and way I approach them. For example, the kowloon antifreeze alias usually has more of a "dystopian" feel to it than my usual noise I make.
I would not say I feel any more closer to my main alias than I do to my other ones. Each one of them has their own specific place and time. So, in a sense they are all equal.
Looking at your discography you already have splits with artists such as Sam Fauchon and Princess Army Wedding Combat (which were both interviewed before!) - how did those come about? Are you always seeking out opportunities for collaborations?
It has actually been so long since both of those splits released that I do not remember that well how they came to be. I think for both of those I just decided to hit those people up and see how it goes.
I was in a mutual discord server with Sam, so it was easy to go from there. We both did our own thing, so the sides sound completely different, he did his usual style, while I stuck with my lolicore/CDR inspired sound. I still listen to my side of the split sometimes, it did not come out half bad, heh. Shoutout Wubman for the tape release of it! I still have my author copy of it on my tape pile.
For my split with PAWC, I remember finding his music really cool and I thought I would just hit him up with an offer to do something together, not expecting much, but it ended up happening! I find my side of our split to be very amateurish nowadays, but it was fun to make and I look back to it very fondly. It even got released on a label, which I found cool and exciting at the time.
I tend to be a bit timid, so I do not look out for opportunities that much, unless it is a friend or someone who I know enough that I feel comfortable asking for one.
In my interview with Sam, I had mentioned that there seemed to be an influx of experimental musicians relying on the internet to publish their stuff online - do you feel that you identify with that? What are your views on there being an online scene?
I identify with that too, given how all of my musical output has been put out on odd internet labels, I find it very cool and motivating that people have been able to create and cultivate such labels and places where people can have their sound heard. Especially since we live in such an age where the presence of the internet overwhelms everything, even real life communities and places.
Going back to your music, what do you use to make your tracks? Do you think it's the most suited for you? Does it even matter in the long run?
I use Ableton for my music, since it is the DAW I am most comfortable with. I do not think what you use for making music matters at the end of the day, the tools are only as the good as the person wielding them.
What is your creative process like? Do you elaborate on ideas you think of or is it far more open?
It really depends on whatever I am making, something I have an idea straight off the bat that I build upon, like a sample or a melody, other times I just wing it and see where it goes. Most of my early (non-noise) tracks were sampled, but nowadays I am trying to write my own melodies more.
Since you mentioned the fact you also do graphic design, would you be able to elaborate on what you do within that? Does it link into your music in any way?
I have mostly done album covers for other people, but I have also worked on a lot of different things like shirt designs. It does not really link to my music, besides some releases of mine - I prefer to have those two paths separated, so to say.
Why keep them separated?
I do not really have a reason for it, maybe it is because I want to pursue graphic design as a career path and I do not want my music to be connected to my name. I have not really given it thought.
Fair enough. Compared to most experimental musicians online I've noticed that you have a much smaller discography - are you more selective of what you make? Or was this just unintentional?
I would say it just has come out that way accidentally. I am kind of selective, but it does not get much in the way of me releasing stuff. I experienced a huge burnout from making music a few years ago, which caused me to not make or release anything for a long time. That will change soon though, hopefully!
Thanks for answering my questions! To finish off, do you have any future plans or last words you'd like to include?
I do have quite a few plans! Firstly, I have a split planned with someone, which should come out soon - both of us are wrapping up the tracks. I also have a project with my friend, we have not done much yet, but we have a few demos and such. Lastly, I have a few ideas lined up for some of my aliases, hopefully I can get them out.
As a finishing message, huge thanks to everyone who has listened or released my music, WTC included! It has been an honor to have my music on this label.