One of my favorite artists is someone who makes me feel like I’m going nowhere. Haywyre (real name Martin Vogt), born in Minnesota, then raised and trained in Austria before returning to the United States at age 17, is a 22-year-old electronic music producer that was classically trained on the piano.
Beginning in 2009, Vogt dubbed himself Haywyre and began professionally producing electronic music with hip hop, classical, and jazz influence, culminating into a sound that can only be described as unique.
Having released eight albums over seven years, two of them stand out to me the most. “Two Fold Pt. 1 & 2” are what I believe to be Haywyre’s greatest works yet. Both albums are drastically different from each other, despite their names linking them together. There’s an intended narrative between the two, and they’re both journeys in their own way.
In “Pt. 1,” Haywyre’s classical training and affiliation for jazz and hip-hop shine through, with Electric Dance Music (EDM) being the medium he communicates them through in this eight-song album. Piano is a large part of the album, as Haywyre’s been trained on it since he was a child. Improvisation is one of Haywyre’s main focuses, and he manages to work it into nearly every track with keyboard solos. Aside from a few tracks, Haywyre works alone.
Like I said, the album is a journey, taking us from a smoky lounge in “Prologue (Part One),” to an energetic romp through the Middle East in “Dichotomy (Soft Mix).” Every single track on this album is memorable. From beginning to end, the music flows together so well, and goes between calm and energetic without being jarring.
Personally, my favorite track on the album is the house-inspired “Sculpted.” The vocals in this track are pitched lower than natural, and the lyrics are about the importance of individuality in our society, and how easily influenced people are when it comes to changing themselves to conform.
After “Sculpted,” the next best track is “Dichotomy.” It gives such an incredible look into how talented Haywyre is as an artist and how much experience he has as a musician. The amazing blend of genres and culture in “Dichotomy” is awe-inspiring, and the chord progression throughout is euphoric. I’m in love with it.
From the first track to the last, every song is danceable, but also something to sit back and listen to, take in, and admire. Haywyre is a great artist, and I’m probably one of his biggest advocates.
