Hugo Hamlet on His “Ecstatic” New Single Don Juan and the Energy of Pleasure

Multi-disciplinary inventive chameleon Hugo Hamlet is again with new music, which is a pure disco-fuelled ode to pleasure. Devoted to his late buddy Chris, Don Juan is Hugo’s newest work launched with the performer, actor and It’s A Sin star Omari Douglas. The duo’s world is one in all playfulness, magnetism, and communion with nature; a fairytale of pure positivity.

We meet on a crisp Monday morning in September – within the decadent but majestic deserted Twyford Abbey in north London – to speak in regards to the new single. Wrapped in a flamboyant Louis XIV-inspired outfit, Hugo offers me that glowing look of somebody who has the key to discovering pleasure in life, and introduces me to his newest alter-ego, Don Juan.

Valeria Della Valle: Inform me about Don Juan? Who’s he? 

Hugo Hamlet: I used to be in Wales all on my own on this previous barn vale … and it simply got here into my head like an epiphany: I’m Don Juan! He’s The Dancer – he offers me a pirouette. As a result of, , you dance once you’re alive, when your complete physique is engaged.

VDV: And the way does Don Juan move on this vibrance to everybody round him?  

HH: It’s about bringing the female into the alpha, bringing it on the surface. Taking that sensitivity and placing it outdoors for everybody to obtain it and you’ll see the transformation of the boy coming by, ? Don Juan is robust however not in a hurting means as a result of his straightness comes from the notion of humanity round him. Like once you go to the membership and the DJ performs Michael Jackson and one thing occurs to your physique and you’re feeling it within the area, related, pushed.

VDV: You stated you might have discovered pleasure in a pure type. How did you get there? Is it like an orgasm – a second of depth?

HH: I feel it occurred after I went inside moderately than wanting outdoors. See, what we do is look outdoors and purchase – a vacation, a wonderful costume, a brand new haircut, pondering that these issues would carry us pleasure. And it really works for a second as a result of that impacts the within, however the issue is we at all times need increasingly of that sort of pleasure, it’s addictive and we by no means attain the final word level, as a result of there’s at all times one thing extra to purchase, to improve to. I can’t bear in mind what the second was, I used to be alone so much, and I went inside and meditated intensively. It grew to become clear to me that our thoughts is filled with patterns, of repeating habits or addictions – no matter you wish to name them – so if we grow to be conscious of ourselves and meditate, we enter into the spirit inside us and we discover pleasure – which is the place I’m going and I write my music.

VDV: By breaking these patterns? 

HH: Precisely. Simply since you’re in a behavior, it doesn’t imply that that motion is serving your soul. By breaking the patterns, I come to this place of pleasure which might be extra ecstatic than orgasmic. It’s a connection to every thing and exists throughout the current. A beautiful technique to put it’s by saying that in case your cup is full, you’ll be able to fill different folks’s cups too. I feel it’s essential to really feel full, . Pleasure is a resonance inside. We’re going up and we now have to go down, we’re the mountain, . 

VDV: It’s about appreciating and being content material with what you might have.

HH: Yeah, that’s superb as a result of when you might have satisfaction and gratitude, you’re mainly telling the universe: I don’t want something, and that’s a pleasant feeling. That defines relationship to me, . We’re not collectively as a result of we’re each missing one thing however as a result of we’re each full. That is lovely: we may help one another as a neighborhood. Gratitude is certainly the perfect place to be.

VDV: Don Juan is called the final word seducer and I feel it’s actually essential as we speak to speak in regards to the wholesome facet of seduction. 

HH: It’s like once we have a look at a wonderful cat sleeping. The cat will not be asking so that you can have a look at him, however it’s lovely and it’s full of affection and it resonates very excessive inside you as a result of the power is gorgeous. That’s the nice facet of seduction. Don Juan will not be about going on the market and taking every thing he needs, it’s [about] an inside pleasure. I spent numerous time dancing on my own. I’m dancing by life. While you put that track on, one thing occurs inside you and also you abruptly stand straight and stroll higher. 

VDV: I feel a false impression about seduction is that it’s one thing that’s obtained passively, though the motion of seduction may be very lively. For those who settle for it, you might be invited into one thing very important.

HH: Precisely, that’s incredible. It’s a very nice expertise to be getting the power from somebody after which giving one thing again. That makes us people, it’s about compassion and connecting.

VDV: How does the persona of Don Juan and his angle in the direction of life translate into the music?

HH: Nicely, that’s fairly attention-grabbing. I sang it multi functional go. I feel it’s query as a result of that’s a method query. Like with garments, every single day we really feel completely different and put on a unique outfit. You would possibly put on a protracted costume, then transfer on to leather-based. Generally we simply wish to keep in mattress and put on pyjamas or nothing in any respect, which is my case. I really like being bare, I can really feel actually deep. I feel that’s the identical with music, too. I’m at all times making completely different variations. Once I play reside, I can do it otherwise. I can have it stronger or deeper. I assume the purpose is that it’s by no means completed for me. Don Juan will not be completed. It’s at all times altering, morphing. In order that’s fairly troublesome for me, , to outline the final word Don Juan as a result of he’s not completed till we’re there with the viewers and we have interaction with it.

VDV: Do you take heed to numerous music as an act of remedy? I image you listening to one thing like Bach however I is perhaps incorrect …

HH: I grew up with classical music and Opera in order that’s a part of me. So intense, romantic, very deep. Harmonic music may be very attention-grabbing. I’ve tried to avoid it for a short time as a result of it’s too emotional. Lately I have been desirous to take heed to issues that made me really feel good, makes me really feel like I wish to reside. I feel that is a very powerful factor. Music has the facility to shift your temper, change your perspective, the power inside you in a selected second. 

VDV: The therapeutic energy of music. 

HH: Certainly. I take heed to numerous African music. Highlife, a lot of lovely, uplifting, wealthy, deep music. I’ve bought numerous unhappy music which I’ve made however by no means launched as a result of it feels too emotional and I’m not certain that’s the fitting factor for me to place on the market. I ponder whether it’s a matter of fashion, . For those who take heed to Abba, as an example. These are very unhappy songs however the music may be very uplifting. I feel I wish to discover that kinetic match sonically within the cyber world and discover that. I really like taking part in the piano as a result of it’s like getting related to actuality through the fingers.

VDV: When music seems to you, that’s fucking superb. 

HH: It’s true. It’s attention-grabbing, I don’t spend that a lot time making music although. I spend extra time portray. 

VDV: Actually?

HH: Yeah, I paint on a regular basis. It’s a unique power as a result of it’s extra everlasting. You’ll be able to’t simply change it, it’s important to keep there in it. It’s actually essential to encompass your self with the fitting energies. I’m very fortunate to have a spot the place I can simply be pure as a result of I’m very delicate and I grow to be just like the issues round me. 

VDV: What’s your favorite poetry line? 

HH: ‘Every thing modifications, every thing change is every thing’ by Lily Ashley.

Don Juan by Hugo Hamlet is out now.