HFN Music | NovaFuture Blog

out now: Justin Strauss – Restart EP [HFN Music]

Artist:
Justin Strauss

Title:
Restart EP

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN172

Release Date:
18th September 2026

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Restart

02.
Restart
(Joe Goddard Rеmiх)

03.
Restart
(Joe Goddard Rеmiх Instrumental)

Press Info:
Justin Strauss has been part of the fabric of New York club life since 1980, when he started DJing at the Mudd Club. Over the following decades he worked through rooms like the Ritz, Area, the Tunnel and Centro Fly, building a reputation as one of the city’s most consistent presences behind the decks. In parallel he established himself as a remixer and producer with a wide reach, working with acts ranging from Depeche Mode and Tina Turner to LCD Soundsystem and Beyoncé. Before any of that, he was the frontman of Milk ‘N’ Cookies, the cult glam-pop group that signed to Island Records in the mid-seventies and found itself caught between glam and the first wave of punk.

“Restart” came together in London, at the Relax & Enjoy Studio that Joe Goddard shares with fellow Hot Chip member Al Doyle. Goddard and Strauss have a working history, having collaborated alongside Marcus Marr as Extra Credit, and the session moved quickly. Goddard had an 808 running. Strauss suggested slowing it down considerably and distorting it. They built up bass lines and synth parts between them, with Goddard adding his own synth line.

As Strauss recalls: “The current state of the world was weighing heavy on mind which in turn inspired the lyrics, which I just started writing down as the track was playing. Recorded the vocals and added some live percussion the same day and the track was done. We were both really happy how it turned out.”

The release comes in three versions. The original carries the weight of that session directly, the distorted 808 at its centre and the lyrics grounded in the moment of writing. Goddard’s remix extends the track, bringing his characteristic sense of layering and movement while staying close to the original’s mood. The instrumental version of the remix gives the production space to make its own case.

Full Track Streaming:

Special:
“Live From The Adriatic 2026”

Recommendations:
Camouflage’s “The Great Commandment (Rmxs)” w/ Strauss remix
Kasper Bjørke’s “Tears We Haven’t Cried (Justin Strauss Rmxs)” on HFN Music
stuff on HFN Music we featured

Buy Download:
HFN Music @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
7Digital
Beatport
Apple Music
TraxSource
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Deezer
Anghami
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Booking:
Justin Strauss

Websites:
Justin Strauss @ Instagram
HFN Music

out now: Kasper Bjørke feat. Toby Ernest – Tears We Haven’t Cried (Justin Strauss Remixes) [HFN Music]

Artist:
Kasper Bjørke feat. Toby Ernest

Title:
Tears We Haven’t Cried (Justin Strauss Remixes)

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN167

Release Date:
15th November 2024

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist 1:
01.
Tears We Haven’t Cried
(Justin Strauss Remix)

02.
Tears We Haven’t Cried
(Justin Strauss Remix Instrumental Remix)

03.
Tears We Haven’t Cried
(Justin Strauss Remix Accapella)

04.
Tears We Haven’t Cried

Tracklist 2:
01.
Tears We Haven’t Cried
(Justin Strauss Remix)

02.
Tears We Haven’t Cried
(Justin Strauss Remix Instrumental Remix)

03.
Tears We Haven’t Cried

Press Info:
Following the warm reception of Kasper Bjørke’s album “Puzzles” which came out this summer, we now see one of its standout tracks, “Tears We Haven’t Cried”, reimagined by none other than Justin Strauss – a true icon in the New York music scene, boasting over three decades of influence and innovation.

The original, featuring Toby Ernest’s haunting vocals, struck a chord with its subtle groove and timeless hooks, and now, Strauss has given the song a fresh edge for the dance floors.

Strauss takes the original and toughens it up, infusing the track with a gnarly bassline and throbbing house beats. His additional vocal processing adds a touch of grit, transforming the song into something darker, suited for late-night sets. The raw energy here complements Ernest’s melancholic tones without overshadowing its emotional core.

For the purists, the instrumental version lets the groove shine uninterrupted and the acapella version offers DJs the chance to manipulate Ernest’s vocals in any direction they please.

With this remix, Strauss once again proves why he’s a stalwart of the scene, balancing the original’s allure with his own innovative touch.

Justin says of the remix: “The first time I heard “Tears We Haven’t Cried” it really connected with me and I knew immediately that I wanted to remix it. I feel lucky that Kasper and Toby were into the idea as well and hope you like the result”

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Tears We Haven’t Cried (Justin Strauss Remix)”

“Tears We Haven’t Cried (Justin Strauss Remix Instrumental Remix)”

Video:
“Tears We Haven’t Cried”

Specials:
“The Ransom Note Mix”

Recommendations:
“Manuscript” by Kurt Uenala feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
single “Where I Wait” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
“Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.3)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN
“Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.2)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN
“Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.1)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN
album “Cryosleep” by Null + Void on HFN Music

Buy Download:
HFN Music @ Bandcamp (Tracklist 1)
Qobuz (Tracklist 2)
TraxSource (Tracklist 1)
Beatport (Tracklist 1)
JunoDownload (Tracklist 1)
iTunes (Tracklist 2)
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:Tidal (Tracklist 2)
Qobuz (Tracklist 2)
Apple Music (Tracklist 2)
Spotify (Tracklist 2)
Deezer (Tracklist 2)
Youtube Music (Tracklist 2)

Booking:
Clique Bookings for Kasper Bjørke
Sweatlodge Agency for Justin Strauss

Websites:
Kasper Bjørke
Toby Ernest
Justin Strauss
HFN Music

out now: Kurt Uenala feat. Dave Gahan – Manuscript [HFN Music]

Artist:
Kurt Uenala feat. Dave Gahan

Title:
Manuscript

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN145

Release Date:
16th December 2022

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Cracks Are Showing

02.
Longing

03.
Get Out

04.
G.O.D.

05.
I Think Not

Press Info:
Kurt Uenala has his fingerprints on more things than you may realize. While his name may be new to you, it’s possible you’ve come across collaborations he’s done under the moniker Null + Void, including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Moby, John Grant, The Kills, Woodkid and most notably, Dave Gahan and Depeche Mode

Having worked in Gahan’s NYC studio for years, and traveling with Depeche Mode, Uenala became aware of one of Dave’s rituals. Sometimes a notebook and pen would come out.
Something would get jotted down.

But what? That remained a mystery.

Uenala now calls Iceland home, so he’s no stranger to isolation, but what about city-dweller Gahan? The two kept in close touch during lockdown, sharing thoughts and ideas.

“I always wondered what he was writing in the notebook,” Uenala says, “but I never pried. During one of our check-ins I eventually asked what he was scribbling down when he was off in some corner, or standing on his own, next to a studio window.” Gahan disclosed that they were thoughts, feelings, and observations that would likely never see the light of day.

But then again, why not? Living during a lockdown is unquestionably difficult, but fortune also favors those who are bold in challenging times. Gahan sent Uenala a recording of him reciting something from the journal.

In his studio, a decommissioned hospital situated on an Icelandic Fjörd, Kurt sat in front of a classic Oberheim synth with the recording, reacting to anything from the timbre of Gahan’s voice, to background noise. Inspiration also came from ambience in the black chapel in Uenala’s town, which has often acted as a natural reverb chamber when one was needed. Songs started to take shape, through a modified form of call and response. The confluence of tone, poem, and tone poem.

Both artists were pleased with the results, and agreed that the prose had more of an impact in concert with the music than it did merely existing, on paper, hidden in a notebook. Work continued, and produced a collection of recitations set to soundscapes. “Longing,” “Get Out,” “G.O.D.”, “I Think Not,” and a piece born from the first recording Gahan sent, “Cracks Are Showing,” were completed, then assembled as the Manuscript EP.

Gahan says, “I’m not sure why, or when, exactly, I wrote these short pieces. I knew they were never to be songs. I do know that they were written when I was alone. Sometimes in a hotel room. Where? I can’t recall. Sometimes standing by the ocean, or walking the beach in winter. Sometimes on the empty streets of New York City, during the lock-down. Always whilst feeling the beauty, power, and loneliness of a world beyond me.”

Snippets:

Video:
“Cracks Are Showing”

Special:
Kurt Uenala aka Null+Void – “Obedient Citizen Mix”

Recommendations:
single “Where I Wait” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.1)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.2)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.3)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
album “Cryosleep” by Null + Void on HFN Music
“The Light The Dead See” by Soulsavers feat. Dave Gahan on V2 | Mute
“Angels & Ghosts on Columbia Records
“Imposter” by Dave Gahan & Soulsavers on Columbia Records

Buy Vinyl:
soon

Buy Download:
Kurt Uenala @ Bandcamp
JunoDownload
Beatport
TraxSource
Qobuz
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Deezer
Youtube Music
Apple Music

Websites:
Kurt Uenala
Dave Gahan
HFN

out now: Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan – Where I Wait (Remixes Pt. 3) [HFN Music]

Artist:
Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan

Title:
Where I Wait (Remixes Pt. 3)

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN82

Release Date:
25th May 2018

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Where I Wait
(Alva Noto Reduxmodel)

02.
Where I Wait
(Alva Noto Remodel Dub)

02.
Where I Wait
(Aristókrasía Version)

Press Info:
Building on the remix project of Null + Void’s ‘Where I Wait’, the third part of the project invites the one and only Alva Noto to provide his magic to Kurt Uenala’s standout track from last year’s album.

Carsten Nicolai needs little introduction, but it is fair to say that his Alva Noto project has collapsed the boundaries between techno, noise and soundtracks over his long and illustrious career.

Here he dives into ‘Where I Wait’ with precision tools, producing a thick, atmospheric electro rhythmic bed for Dave Gahan’s iconic vocals. The track finds a deep groove and sticks to it – the analog richness of the synth pulses a result of his unending quest for sonic brilliance.

The Alva Noto remodel dub strips away much of the vocals, but leaves fragments in place, dubbed out and sparse.

Also included on this release is the Aristókrasía Version in collaboration with Iceland’s Úlfur Eldjárn – previously surfaced towards the end of last year following the Cryosleep album, but here given a new lease of life in all its rich, neoclassical grandeur. Sweeping strings replace the electro pulses, and provide a totally new perspective on the track.

Full Track Streaming:

Video:
“Where I Wait (Aristokrasia Version)”

Specials:
“Obedient Citizen Mix”

Buy Download:
>HFN Music @ Bandcamp
Qobuz
JunoDownload
Beatport
iTunes
TraxSource
Bleep
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Deezer
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Websites:
Null + Void
Dave Gahan
HFN Music

out now: Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan – Where I Wait (Remixes Pt. 2) [HFN Music]

Artist:
Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan

Title:
Where I Wait (Remixes Pt. 2)

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN81

Release Date:
20th April 2018

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Where I Wait
(Null + Void Rework)

02.
Where I Wait
(Kasper Bjørke Rework)

02.
Where I Wait
(Kasper Bjørke Instrumental Rework)

Press Info:
Following on from the first tranche of remixes of Null + Void’s ‘Where I Wait’, this extra package pulls out yet more big guns.

For Null + Void, the project of Kurt Uenala, the Swiss born producer and multi-instrumentalist who has a long history of working with synth legends, ‘Where I Wait feat. Dave Gahan’ was a straight up highlight of last year’s album ‘Cryosleep’.

Here Null + Void himself takes on one of the reworks, twisting the original into a hard hitting electro bomb. Dave Gahan’s vocals float over the pulsing and punchy blips and bleeps to form a striking partnership.

The other two mixes are by Danish legend Kasper Bjørke, who opts for a more laconic pace – a chugging and playful groove provide the bedrock for the iconic vocals.

Bjørke also supplies an instrumental version to please the DJs, giving space to his exquisite production, right up to the compressed vinyl samples and detuned, fuzzy synths.

Full Track Streaming: