Hansel! is Bumbu Andrei, hailing from Suceava, Romania. He started his career a decade ago in his home town, but only focused on producing in the last year. The Hansel! project went big when he decided to collab with Cosmin Nastasa as Hansel und Gretel! His debut release was “Domeniul Public”, a track included on VA – Focus on Bucharest, out on Kina Music this year. Followed by RAW EP, a six track release out on Leone Music in August, Hansel! is one to look out for in the near future !
Tzinah Records: So how did all begin for you?
Hansel!: It all started 12 years ago when my hometown Suceava opened a club electronic music, and soon I started mixing.
Tzinah Records: Where did your name came from?
Hansel!: Hansel name came from a play so when I started music production with a good friend Cosmin Nastasa
Tzinah Records: What role does the artist have in society in your opinion? Why do you do what you do?
Hansel!: Hmmm artist in society depends on the society in which it is, I do this for fun and love to make music for about 12 years and this music produce I started about 2 years but as I said depends on the company in society where I am now in this town has no role the artist.
Tzinah Records: Why did you chose to play this music?
Hansel!: I started to mix what attracts me, those songs and sounds seemed something new and exciting
Tzinah Records: Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.
Hansel!: When I met Cosmin who was living 2 steps from me and did not even know he was from Suceava and when our styles met we created Hansel and Gretel.
Tzinah Records: What is your point of view on labeling genres? Music is so complex and genres get intermingled so often these days. What is your opinion regarding this blend and you think we should find names for them or just let them be?
Hansel!: Music genres can be interpreted by each particular person depends on how each understands, how music happens. On online shops are releases that are at a store house, techno to another, so the people can categorize genres for pleasure and how they understand the music.
Tzinah Records: What do you think about the music scene in your country? What is your opinion about European underground music scene, new talents, old producers, what do you think about Romanian artists?
Hansel!: Underground scene in Romania has grown enormously about 7 years now towards better then stalled a little and then went forward again but also because arpiar guys, the guys have very high standards and we are propelled in front.
Tzinah Records: If you could pick one place you would like to play where would it be and why?
Hansel!: I would like to play in Chicago, Chicago House:)
Tzinah Records: If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry what would it be?
Hansel!: If I were to change something, rotten, make them disappear or some artists who have no place in this industry.
Tzinah Records: Out of all tunes you have made, which one you think ‘never fails’?
Hansel!: Of all the songs that I like most is the Longest Road and will stand at more than before, will be the edit for La Funk Mob – Ravers Suck Our Sound (Hansel! und Gretel! Edit)
Tzinah Records: How do you see yourself changed over the years, both personal and music-wise and what did you learn?
Hansel!: Considering that I play for 12 years and have gathered some knowledge over time, two years ago I also produce music, started to do what I would like it to hear, not to making music after a certain pattern. I like to make minimal house and dub and even Jackin House, I can not say I’ve changed but I think I progressed a lot and learned some things.
Tzinah Records: What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?
Hansel!: Just music
Tzinah Records: What else do you do besides playing music?
My second passion is cooking, I love to cook and I attended some training courses and I even worked in Italy as a chef in a restaurant during the summer season, last year.
Tzinah Records: What makes you angry?
Hansel!: If i run out of cigarettes and the people who listen ,,manele’’ in the car or on the phone.
Tzinah Records: What is your favorite food?
Hansel!: Romanian traditional soup (many)
Tzinah Records: What computer/gear do you use?
Hansel!: I am using a normal PC with Ableton , that’s all
Tzinah Records: It sounds quite easy to make music today, with the amount of software programs/synths being readily available for everyone. What do you think about this evolution?
Hansel!: I think it’s good because anyone can make music and can make good music, because not everyone can afford to buy equipment to make music and there are talents undiscovered and misunderstood can use this business to share their work.
Tzinah Records: Dark electronic music has been never as “popular” throughout the scene as it has been in the past few years. Why do you think there is this newfound fascination for darker music?
Hansel!: However, is not new but people are always on the move and also needs some changes like the weather changes all the time so are ordinary people or the consumer’s electronic music needs something different, states for each state, and music sometimes needs a little dark for his state of mind
Tzinah Records: Do you have the fondness for playing vinyl or have you developed a preference for new media, such as CDs or a purely digital format?
Hansel!: When I will afford to buy only vinyls I will mix only with that , but for the moment we are good with what we have.
Tzinah Records: What are you working on at the moment? Any present and future projects that you want to share with us?
Hansel!: I started a project with another 2 friends, going to be something super cool, that’s all I can say and I focus on Hansel and rest as much as i can.