[Exclusive] Hermitude (Luke Dubs & El Gusto) 獨家訪談 2019

這次email訪問的對象是來自澳洲的Hermitude

Hermitude是來自澳洲的雙人團體，由Luke Dubber (綽號Luke Dubs)以及Angus Stuart (綽號El Gusto)所組成，融合了電子舞曲、嘻哈、放克等多元曲風。

兩人最早在1994年就一起組團玩音樂，當時他們都才是十幾歲的青少年。多年下來，二人的默契、技巧也逐漸精進，於是在2000年開始正式組成Hermitude，2002年與Elefant Tracks簽約。

一路以來Hermitude的風格變化非常大。草創初期，他們的風格還是相當濃厚的電子嘻哈風格，例如首張專輯"Alleys to Valleys"。兩人出色的製作功力，讓他們得到海外歌手的注意，擔任了Dizzee Rascal、RJD2、DJ Krush等人的開場嘉賓，也曾受到西岸地下歌手Aceyalone和Abstract Rude的邀請一同巡迴，逐漸在國內外累積人氣。

Hermitude的音樂從來沒有墨守成規，從早期的深沉嘻哈路線，在邁入成軍的第二個十年之後，逐漸添加進更多電子舞曲的元素，更加貼近市場的變化。例如2011年的第四張專輯"HyperParadise"，這成為了他們生涯的轉捩點，主打曲"Speak of the Devil"奪得了澳洲J Award的年度最佳音樂錄影帶，該張專輯隔年更獲得AIR Awards的最佳電子舞曲專輯獎(Best Independent Dance/Electronica)，表現相當不俗。

"HyperParadise"在各方面都得到空前的成功，由Flume混音過後的同名單曲同樣也是大受歡迎。即使作品風格與之前明顯不同，甚至可說轉變得非常大，但事後證明這樣的轉變算是正確的，讓他們成功打入主流市場，人氣扶搖直上。

2019年下半年，Hermitude預計發表最新專輯"Pollyanarchy"，搶先釋出的多支單曲已經得到不錯的迴響，同樣也是囊括不同曲風，例如貼近電子舞曲、與Bibi Bourelly(曾幫Rihanna、瑪莉亞凱莉等人寫歌)合作的"Stupid World"，或是嘻哈風格的"OneFourThree"和"Dusk Till Dawn"等等，讓人眼睛為之一亮。

1. Can you introduce yourself? (請做個自我介紹)

• Luke Dubs (以下簡稱LD)：I’m Luke Dubs, one half of the world dominating electronic music group Hermitude!
• LD：我是Luke Dubs，全世界最威的電子音樂團體Hermitude的另一半。

2. When and How did you guys meet up? (你們怎麼認識的?)

• LD：We met as kids and just started hanging out, listening to the same music, playing video games, that kinda thing. Then we started making music together as we were both producing music separately anyway, we thought it would be a good idea to collaborate… and here we are!
• LD：我們從孩提時代認識、開始一起混，聽著相同的音樂、一起玩電動玩具等等。後來各自都在做自己的音樂，我們覺得一起合作會是很棒的點子，於是就決定一起做音樂....一直到現在！

3. I heard that you start playing music at a very young age. What was the motivation to make you want to be a musician? (我聽說你們很小就在玩音樂了，當時想成為音樂人的動機是什麼?)

• LD：Both of our Fathers are musicians. Gusto’s Dad has done a lot of compositions for film and my Father was session musician in Sydney for many years. We were both surrounded by music from a young age and curiosity got the better of us. Gusto came up playing the drums and I the piano, and then we eventually gravitated towards electronic music and production.
• LD：我們兩個的父親都是音樂家。Gutso的爸爸替許多電影編曲，而我的爸爸則是在雪梨擔任多年的錄音室樂手(session musician)。因此我們倆從非常年幼的時候就有音樂圍繞在身邊，激發起我們的好奇心。Gusto開始打鼓、我彈鋼琴，然後最後逐漸演變成為電子音樂的製作。

4. What albums did you grow up listening to? (你從小都聽哪些專輯?)

• LD：My parents loved Jazz and Funk music so I listened to a lot of Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat and Tears etc. Then when I could afford my own albums I‘d listen to Michael Jackson, A Tribe Called Quest, Primus, Herbie Hancock and The Prodigy to name a few.
• LD：我的爸媽喜愛爵士和放克音樂，所以我會聽許多Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat and Tears 的東西。後來當我可以有能力購買自己喜愛的專輯時，我會聽Michael Jackson, A Tribe Called Quest, Primus, Herbie Hancock, The Prodigy等等。

5. You are about to drop the new album “Pollyanarchy” this Fall. Can you talk about the concept of the new album? What can we expect from this new album? (你們即將發行新專輯Pollyanarchy，可否談論專輯的概念、以及值得期待的地方?)

• LD：We wanted to write an album that was more vocal heavy compared to our previous releases. Our music has primarily been instrumental up until now. So this album is a bit different for us because thematically, instrumental music can be interpreted any way you wish. Whereas working with vocalists and lyrics sets the subject matter in stone. Also working with vocalists has allowed us to make an album that is more collaborative, which has been really fun. Expect that signature Hermitude sound but with some incredible vocal talent sprinkled on top!
• LD：我們想要做出一張比以往更著重在vocal的專輯，勝過以前所發行過的作品。一直到現在，我們的音樂仍是以樂器演奏為主體，所以這張新專輯會有些許不同。因為就主題性來說，instrumental的音樂可以讓你用自己想要的任何方式演奏呈現，而如果要和歌手去搭配、以及填上歌詞之後，就會讓你被框架，不過和這些歌手共事、創造出一張更具合作性的專輯，也是真的很有趣。請期待招牌的Hermitude風格，但上頭可是增添了棒的令人難以置信的vocal

6. It is great to see that you worked with the upcoming star, Buddy & BJ the Chicago Kid, on your new song “OneFourThree”. How was the experience of working with them? (能看到你和Buddy以及BJ the Chicago Kid合作是相當棒的，這次合作經驗如何?)

• LD：Amazing. Those guys are highly skilled vocalists and writers. Buddy wrote all of his raps in the booth over the course of a couple of hours and BJ layered up those soulful harmonies like only he can. It was an experience we’ll never forget!
• LD：令人驚豔。這些傢伙是非常厲害的歌手、作詞功力高超。Buddy在錄音室現場，在幾個小時的過程中直接寫下他饒舌的部分，而BJ則是用他充滿靈魂韻味的和聲鋪陳上去。這次合作的經驗我們永遠不會忘記！

7. What hip hop artists you want to work with next time? (下次想和哪些嘻哈歌手合作?)

• LD：Wow so many. J.Cole, YBN Cordae, Leikeli47, Young Thug, Goldlink, Lizzo and too many more to mention. 
• LD：哇太多了，像是J.Cole, YBN Cordae, Leikeli47, Young Thug, Goldlink, Lizzo 太多了說不完。

8. Hermitude started from Australia. Now your music is expanding to Europe, the US and Asia. Do you think the audience or the music taste are different from Australians? (你們的生涯始於澳洲。現在已經逐步進入到歐洲、美國以及亞洲，你覺得不同國家的音樂喜好會和澳洲人不同嗎？)

• LD：I think everybody reacts positively to good music. Some songs are bigger than others in different parts of the world, but if we can motivate people to shake their behinds either in the club or in their lounge room in any part of the world, our job is done!
• LD：我認為只要是好音樂，每個人就都會有正面的回饋。即使有些歌曲在不同國家受歡迎的程度不同，但只要我們能夠讓世界各地的聽眾都手舞足蹈，不論是在夜店還是自己的房間裡，那麼我們的任務就達成了！