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What do you love to mix and why?
I’m coming from a club DJ background – traditional style DJing. Over the 10 years now I’ve had long term residencies playing all sorts of genres – Classic Hip Hop, Disco, Modern Hip Hop, Classic Pop and of course House & Techno. I’ve had so much music I’ve loved playing.
Whatever genre, they’re almost always forward-grooving, minimalist tracks with an electronic touch. Whether it’s produced by Prince, Dr. Dre or Mathew Jonson. I play records with this touch as much as possible.
These days I’m only playing House & Techno, with the occasional off-genre track, and very happy about that but who knows where the future’s going to go.
Hardt Antoine has been DJing for over ten years now
Reculture has just had it’s 2nd birthday – happy birthday from whynow. What motivated you to set up your events night and how have you found running it, two years in?
Thank you for the Birthday wishes!
The motivation came from going out and, subconsciously over a few years, coming up with my idea of ‘the perfect music event’. Like anything creative, once you have a solid idea – you can’t sleep until you’ve put it together. We’re still getting there but I feel every event we get as step closer.
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t an ego factor as well – it feels good to say ‘it’s my party’. Even though it’s not just mine, there’s a whole team making this happen!
Reculture is Antoine’s “idea of the perfect music event. I feel every event we get as step closer.”
Others involved in Reculture include Maglia and Bazaar. Do you see Reculture as more of a collective, and is there anyone else you’d love to work with?
It’s certainly becoming like that and I’m very happy about it! I’m very particular about resident DJs musically – but their energy and persona is important to me too. Basically I try very hard to avoid any negative energy or oversized egos around ‘the brand’.
I’m very close with all the Residents we have. They’re super talented DJs as well as producers – as you’ll soon see. They all support the vision and I’m unbelievably happy and honored to have the crew we do.
Photography: LarryJ
How does a Reculture night differ from other nights in London and which DJs have you enjoyed hosting most?
We’ve booked a lot of my personal heroes but what I really enjoy is when different sounds come together to make something unforgettable. It’s something we always try to do. The event last June event was probably my favorite soundtrack to date. We had Mathew Jonson, Francesca Lombardo, Argy and Jenia Tarsol; four different styles but all with that electronic touch I mentioned. It came together so well.
I often refer to a ‘Touch of Culture’, purposefully never directly explaining what this or even ‘Reculture’ itself means. But the artistic touch and creative sprit can be felt in the crowd, DJ sets, décor, art instillations, team and every aspect of the events.
Photography: LarryJ
Which other DJs do you rate right now, and who would you love to have play a Reculture night?
I’m never intentionally looking at ‘who’s hot right now, or who’s relevant’ but when you’re out on the scene, it subconsciously happens. Roman Flügel is someone I’ve been a fan of for a long time love his cross-genre approach to electronic music.
As for newer talents Ańii and Masalo are two names I’ve got my eye on and would be keen to have in 2020. There’s a long, ever-growing, list of DJs and acts I want to book – as well as guests we’ve had I’m really keen to have back.
If you could listen to one track for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely not something for the a nightclub – I’d eventually get too stressed. Something that spring to mind is ‘Bobby Womack – Whatever Happened to Those Good Times’. The track and whole record was made shortly before his death – the guys a funk legend but was very keen to experiment on what he knew would be his last album.
Photography: LarryJ
What you have left is a Damon Albarn produced track with evolving synths, pain-filled yet uplifting vocals and lyrics about him coming to terms with his own end. It’s really special – go listen!
What have you got lined-up for the future, both as a DJ yourself and for Reculture?
We’re launching a record label. I’m not ready to talk too much about it yet but I will say it incorporates both our crew, as well as guests we book. This has been part of the vision from the get-go – I’ve just been waiting for the right time and the right music to lift off with. it It will launch publicly in early 2020 , so keep an eye out.
