HUNTER/GAME PRESENT NEW STUDIO ALBUM, ‘VISION’
‘VISION’ – the highly anticipated new long player from Milanese electronic music duo Hunter/Game – is out now via their own record label, Just This.
The third full-length musical opus from partners Martino Bertola and Emmanuele Nicosia, follows the critically lauded release of their debut LP ‘Adaptation’ in 2016 and their second album ‘Silence’ in 2019. ‘VISION’ features ten new compositions, including the lead singles ‘Stars’, ‘Last Hour’, and ‘All I Wanted’, which dropped in May, July, and October, respectively.
Incorporating avant-garde electronic music production into their introspective and highly emotive dancefloor creations, ‘VISION’ sees the Italian double act transport listeners deep into their own reflective state of sonic exploration and experimentation as they present their most thoughtful and complex body of work to date.
The release of ‘VISION’ also coincides with the launch of Hunter/Game’s new AV concept show of the same name, which debuted at EartH in London’s East End on October 11, in partnership with Fabric London. Further ‘VISION’ shows are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
“Our new LP ‘VISION’ and the corresponding AV show is a project that we’ve been working on for a while now. ‘VISION’ explores the theme of our imaginary world and relates to how our music feels at this moment. We have the necessity to make something outside the frames of what’s current, while also trying to do something timeless. We are very focused on communicating to our listeners this imaginary world we created for ‘VISION’; a world coming from dreams, lights, and a romantic relationship with music and the listeners.”
Having emerged onto the global electronic music scene over the past decade, Hunter/Game’s rise to global acclaim has been studded with several impressive career milestones. The release of ‘VISION’ marks yet another career-defining moment for the duo, who return to Just This armed with a catalogue of career releases on the likes of Afterlife and Kompakt, among others.
We sat down with Hunter/Game for a Q&A about ‘VISION’, their creative process, and the evolution of their sound over the years.
Congratulations on your brand new album, ‘VISION’! What inspired the concept behind this new project?
There are two main factors that made us think it was time to produce a new album.
First, we were fortunate to meet the team from Valuart last fall. From there, it seemed like a good idea to connect their talent in video production and digital content with our music.
Secondly, we were lucky to collaborate with singers like Noah Kulaga and the German duo Ramverk. The tracks ventured beyond typical dancefloor electronic music, reflecting our desire to create music that can be enjoyed at home, in the car, and not just in clubs.
This summer, we released three singles, each paired with digital videos and cover art that embody the ‘VISION’ project and the imagery we wanted to express through our music.
What are your favourite tracks from ‘VISION’ and why?
Honestly, we don’t have a single favourite track on the album. We like to see it as a musical journey, where each track is a piece that helps build a cohesive path through our tastes and vision.
If we had to highlight one track that made us realise we had created something beyond just a club tune, it would be 'Stars.' With Noah Kulaga's vocals, we see it as more pop than techno, which was exactly the direction we wanted to explore with this new album.
We were honoured to have Mano Le Tough remix the track, adding a more club-oriented interpretation. His remix is always in our sets and has been played by artists like Dixon, Pete Tong, and Hernan Cattaneo.
You've been a key part of the electronic music scene for over a decade now. How have you as a duo and your sound evolved over the years?
Our sound is always evolving. We always try to do what we like and not what’s currently hyped. What we’ve always had in mind is to create music that stands the test of time.
Years ago, we started our record label, Just This, which has allowed us to be creatively free and release what we wanted our audience to hear.
Of course, we’re aware that the music from 10 years ago is different from what people listen to today, so we constantly work to evolve our signature sound with modern music production techniques, without getting too caught up in trends (which often last only a season).
How do you collaborate during the creative process? Do you each have defined roles, or is it more fluid when you’re working on new music?
Emmanuele and I (Martino) have known each other for over 15 years; we're like brothers, and we've developed a strong artistic and professional bond. When it comes to creating tracks or working on a project like Hunter/Game, our ideas rarely conflict. Between the two of us, I'm the one who spends more time in the studio, but the evolution of the project and the artistic direction are decisions we make together. Emmanuele often brings fresh ideas and perspectives, which are important to our creative process.
What’s next for Hunter/Game after the release of ‘VISION’; and the AV tour?
We want to dedicate more time to releasing music on our label, Just This. We're constantly seeking out new talent and aspire to build a collective of like-minded individuals who share a unified musical vision.
Having both been born in Milan, we aim to take the emotions and influences of our city and share them on a more international stage.