Remix or rip-off? Hugo Granzner and the art of balance
At 22, Hugo Granzner has already carved out a distinct space for himself as an Argentine multidisciplinary artist, blending music, visual art, and storytelling into a body of work that defies easy categorization. From his early childhood at the piano and easel, Hugo’s creative curiosity has led him to explore new forms and ideas, drawing inspiration from both avant-garde pioneers and contemporary innovators. Throughout his journey, he has embraced experimentation across genres and disciplines, always seeking deeper meaning in the connections between sound and image. With the release of "Liebe," Hugo offers a concept album that layers emotional richness over immersive textures, inviting listeners into a world shaped by both personal reflection and artistic risk. His approach is marked by a willingness to push boundaries, guided by a deep respect for the process of creation itself. In the conversation that follows, Hugo shares how his multifaceted background influences "Liebe," the value he finds in embracing the unconventional, and his advice for artists striving to stay true to their own unique paths—even when the world urges them to fit in.
"Liebe" explores love as a universal, almost mystical force. How have your experiences in music, painting, and storytelling shaped how you express this theme in your album's sound and visuals?
All the different arts I have explored have led me to the concept I'm exploring in my latest albums. I want to approach the concept of love not just as something between two people—which is part of it—but as something deeper and cosmic. In the past two years, I have focused on reading philosophy from mystic and esoteric thinkers who see love as an abstract connection and unity with the divine. That abstract and mystical relationship is what I try to express through my music.
Your work crosses genres and disciplines. How did your “all over the place” approach shape the unique sound and feel of "Liebe"?
That “all over the place” quality is probably one of the most important things that makes the album sound unique. Creating collages helps inspire me, and most of the time I try to make collage-like sounds with structure and a clear direction, not just random samples playing occasionally. I think I'm not afraid to mix things because it’s simply who I am—it’s what’s inside my mind. If I censored this, my music would be soulless.
"Wczyk" moves through both dark and hopeful moments. Did embracing your unconventional style lead to any creative breakthroughs or surprises during its creation?
Well, yes. At first, it was going to be only a five-minute track without the entire final section with samples. As I was producing Wczyk, many ideas floated through my mind. I had to decide what to do because if I included all the ideas, the track would have been endless or would have required more tracks. So, I decided to shape the track as a short journey from a dark soundscape to a mysterious and surreal acid trip. The first part was very inspiring, and I plan to explore that kind of sound in my next album.
Your visuals are minimalist but impactful. How does your visual art background connect with your music, and what advice would you give artists feeling pressured to fit in instead of embracing their unique style?
My visual side has a strong connection with my music. Creating a mental image of how a track will sound is a crucial part of my creative process. Although the process of making an album often remains unseen, I believe glimpses of it can be found in the final result. For every track, I have an imaginary image that I try to express through the music. My advice is to find balance—try to pursue something that sells while also enjoying what you do, at least in the beginning. Fame today is fleeting and ephemeral; recognition is satisfying, but it shouldn't be your only goal. I see music as a continuous journey where I discover myself and new concepts that I incorporate into my musical vision, allowing me to reach a wider audience while still finding joy.
"Liebe" contains references from many genres, eras, and even video games. How do you balance honoring these influences while keeping your music cohesive and true to your own voice?
That’s a really interesting question. Most of the time, I have to plan how I’m going to work with the samples. I usually use samples to honor and reinterpret the original tracks, but I need a plan to ensure the honoring doesn’t end up as just a bootleg or an edit. Although I sometimes enjoy making bootlegs, for my bigger projects, I incorporate samples as part of the album’s concept. I mix those samples with various textures and ambient sounds to create a new track. Sometimes the samples are obvious, and other times they’re quite subtle. I think what keeps my music feeling true and authentic, despite all the samples, is how I use them. I make them an integral part of my tracks, as if they’ve been reborn.