By Ron Powers

From Classical to EDM/ Dance Music – an Interview with G.H. Hat

G.H. Hat is a rising star – a multi-genre producer, remixer, composer and performer having released songs in the Classical, EDM, Pop, and Dance Genres. Though he has released over 290 classical tracks, he is best known for his last two releases which have both charted on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs TOP 50 chart – “I Got a Problem (I Wonder…) [feat. Mickey Shiloh] and “Sukiyaki (feat. Alina Renae)”. 

I chose to interview G.H. Hat as he is not the usual major label promoted success. A seasoned music veteran who travelled from classical releases to charting Dance Club hits, his success is the product of a small low budget indie label, Viscount Productions, Ltd. And his story is inspirational as according to G.H. Hat there has never been a better time in modern history for an artist to be an artist and make a decent living doing so.

Ron: GH., in the last 6 months you have had two hits both in the Top 20 of the Dance Club Songs TOP 50 chart. How did you move from classical to EDM /Pop-Dance tracks? You were once in the company of Beethoven and Mozart and now you are competing with the likes of Bieber, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

GH: Well as you probably know, a lot of things have changed in the music industry over the last few years. The big three and radio stations no longer exclusively control the promotion of music to the retail public. I think any musician and, for that matter, any artist with just a smidgen of business savvy can now carve out a fanbase and a career by promoting him/herself via the internet.  And yes, if done properly, it is even possible for a small upstart artist, like myself, to find himself competing with major artists.

Ron: Is that what you did, promote yourself via the internet?

GH: Well not necessarily promotion through the internet, but I signed with a savvy indie label, Viscount Productions Ltd, who understands the new era of music promotion and we get seen in a way that doesn’t depend solely on radio and major labels. We use the internet to get on internet radio, InStore radio, InStore video, cable TV and specialty TV channels. Our Music is currently in 105 countries with retail outlets in the 800,000+ range.  We promote directly to DJs and others. Streaming platforms like Spotify have playlisted 66 of my songs on 97 official playlists as well as Spotify fans have placed my songs on over 7500 fan playlists. As a result of all of this, we get heard without having any of our music go through traditional radio or Major Label channels.

Ron: If you could say anything or give advice to someone who is interested in a music career, what would you say?

GH: First of all, just do it. I think you’ve got to just follow your heart, your dreams. Don’t listen to people who say you can’t. My label just signed four new artists who are over sixty years old and just starting their careers. At one time this would have been unheard of. They have charted two of these artists in the last 4 months on 7 Billboard Classical and Jazz charts.  I think the new Internet age is wide open for anyone who really wants to be an artist, get themselves known, and make a full time profitable career for themselves. But think outside of the box. The field is wide open for anybody to do it. It helps if you have some expert guidance as I do, but even without that, if you have the time, you can learn.

Ron: Do you have a musical hero?

GH: A musical hero…I don’t know. I look backwards for my heroes. I look back into the rock era and I love what I call the “classical: rock era. Not classic rock but there was a time probably in the late 70’s, to 80’s where bands like “Yes”, and “Styx” and band’s like that came up and some were classically trained musicians. They were excellent rockers, classically trained. It was very instrumental, they would sing too, but it was very instrumental. When you go back to that era and you have songs like “In-A-Gadda-Davida”, bands like Led Zeppelin, and some of these acts, they just had some of these big long interludes that were killer dance music. It was heavy dance music. So, I think that I don’t have anyone in particular in mind, but I think that era when rock went from three chords of the 50’s to the Beatlemania of the 60’s to the classical influence of the late 70s and 80s, I think that’s a beautiful period of time that I look back at.

Ron: What does it mean to you to be an artist?

GH: Living life is an art. I really like to call myself a creator rather than an artist as people typically use the word “artist” in a very narrow sense – like you are a painter, or musician, etc. In actuality, the guy who creates a monster successful business is an “artist” and the man who is a loving father and teaches his kids to love and respect as he does, is an “artist”. Anyone who is a master “creator” in any direction in life is an “artist”. We just don’t always acknowledge them as such.

Ron: Well said, GH. Any parting words of wisdom, for those young or old who want to follow in your footsteps?

GH: Yes, if you are an artist and have a dream, no matter how old or young you are, no matter how much the naysayers try to discourage you, now is the time to do it. So, just do it

You can hear G.H. Hat’s music on Spotify, Google, Tidal and any of the major stores. Visit his website at www.GHHAT.com.