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THE HAIKU PROJECT |
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After Real Music merged with wellness music label Myndstream, Henrik took the chance to leave the fold and his first album after leaving Myndstream has just been released. The 10-track, 48-minute Håb translates to the word "Hope" in English. No matter what language you speak, the all-instrumental album has it covered when it comes to New Age electronica music. Some tracks on Håb (Hope) would fit right into the New Age / wellness sound of both Real Music and their inheritor Myndstream, yet a number of tracks are somewhat more cutting edged such as the title track “Esperanza”, which translates to Håb (Hope), yet the word is presented with a Spanish language title. Electric guitarist Kim Jeppesen adds some stirring edges to Henrik’s usually poised New Age approach, giving several of the album tracks an additional sonic edge including, “Serenity” and “Esperanza”. As Henrik notes, several other guest artists appear on various tracks, yet clearly Håb (Hope) is very much a signature Haiku Project album and would fit in alongside the classic New Age albums released on the Real Music label. Album highlights are plentiful and in the following interview, Henrik touches on a number of album highlights. For those that might have overlooked the Haiku Project albums on Real Music, 2025’s Håb (Hope) is a good place to start and catch up with Denmark’s electronic music instrumentalist Henrik Hytteballe.
mwe3.com presents a new interview with
Henrik Hytteballe: So nice to be in touch with you again, Robert. I was happy being part of Real Music and when Myndstream took over, I still enjoyed being part of the company, while they released both Life and Gratitude. But things changed when I released Joy, so I am very fine, being on my own now and releasing the new album Håb (Hope) myself. Unfortunately, I don’t have contact with anyone from the company. Would be nice, though, because they were fine people. mwe3: Your 2025 Hope, which translates to Håb in Danish, is that right? The two spellings are spoken the same way. That little circle above the a makes it sound like the letter o, right? Danish and English are kind of connected. Not all but some. You mention you wrote the music after you had an accident? Tell us about the accident and how it impacted the music? You had another accident before right, both involving mountain bikes? So, you’re not releasing hope on CD? Henrik Hytteballe: Yes… as the pronunciation is similar, I decided to use the Danish word for Hope. Also graphically, I like the Danish spelling; Håb. Now everything is digital. I know only 2 persons who can play a CD today, so it makes absolutely no sense releasing music on CD any longer. I have had many accidents during my life, starting with a scalding when I was just a one and a half year old. And yes, I had a severe bike accident in 2001, where I struggled 3 years of rehabilitation. Last November I had another accident on a bike, breaking my right elbow and my left hand and had operations in both arms. For more than 2 months I was depended on caretakers to help me being washed, getting dressed and prepare food. This new album I already started a year before the accident, but as I could do nothing for a long period, I had a long pause. During that period, I was grateful for all the help, I received from both professional caretakers and from my friends. Hope was essential to carry me through that period. Apart from wanting to be independent again, I was worried that I would never again be able to play music or paint paintings.
Henrik Hytteballe: Real music never made any restrictions on my music. I had my artistic freedom to do the music I wanted to. But I had to quit Myndstream/Real Music last year as they want the music to fit into playlists for the wellness industry. To keep my integrity, I had to quit. Besides making my own music, I play in 2 bands, and one of them is called ish! Ish is a hard rock band, where I mostly play organ and synthesizer. There is also a track with a German drum & bass artist Cabeabel, with whom, I have made 3 songs so far. I like working with him. Together we create something that none of us could have done on our own. This special blend of ambient music and really up-tempo drums and beats. On the Håb track “Night Watch”, French artist Christophe Luicano plays cello. This is the third time that we worked together. He also plays a wonderful cello on 2 of my other albums. mwe3: Tell us what instruments you play on Håb. Has your keyboard set up changed over the past 10 years? Are you playing other instruments too? I know you have played electric guitar in the past, right? Henrik Hytteballe: I play everything on keyboards, drums, strings, organ, beats, soundscapes etc. I was never good on guitar. In my younger days, I played the trombone, but it is impossible to rehearse a trombone when you live in a flat; Your neighbors would not like it. (lol) The keyboards, I can play wearing headphones. I use a lot of different plugins for my music. Both atmospheric and more aggressive sources. On most of my albums I have worked with guitarists and will continue to do so. I also hope that Canberk Ulas will have time to make more music with me one day. I love the way he plays the duduk. Luckily, he has a great career today. mwe3: How does the track “Flourishing” set the scene for the hope album?
Without plants there would be no life. I am convinced that we are connected to all living things – humans, animals and plants. But we live as if we are separate from them and I believe that is a major reason why so many people are feeling miserable today. If we lived in that connection with all living things, we would not be destroying the earth and eradicating species, as is happening at an alarming rate. mwe3: You can feel the heaviness of hope on track 2 “Serenity”, which I guess is a funny name for a heavy sounding track. Henrik Hytteballe: Another inspiration is the German sociologist, Hartmut Rosa. He writes about resonance. He calls our modern society the acceleration society and this fast speed in our lives destroys our resonance in life. “Serenity is being in resonance”. Growth is not the way to the good life. We need being in resonance with the world to create peace, fullness of life and balance in modern man. So yes, “Serenity” has this duality of heaviness and lightness. mwe3: Track 8 “Esperanza” has rock guitar on it? Probably Real Music wouldn’t let that one get that heavy, right? Henrik Hytteballe: Another inspiration to me is the British guitarist Steven Wilson – both his solo career and as a leader of the band Porcupine Tree. I must admit that “Esperanza”is inspired by his music… especially the last part with the wall of guitars. I wanted “Esperanza” to be a song with strength and power. To illustrate how Hope can help you survive challenges. And I think Kim and I succeeded in doing so. I think you are right – that heavy rock guitar would not fit into the wellness industry… mwe3: Is there a form of experimentalism on hope? “The Beekeeper’s Son” is rather wild. What inspired that one? Lol, great title. Bee’s make honey…
The title is curious. It is a way to show dependence. The son of a Beekeeper is continuing a traditional work. A beekeeper is a person who keeps honey bees. The bees are not under the full control of the breeder. The bees are not kept in confinement. The beekeeper does not have full control over the breeding either. I must quote Hartmut Rosa again: “Humans' significant moments arise in the uncontrolled, unknown and unforeseen moments, where a resonance and touch occur between the individual and the world. Modern society constantly tries to shut down the uncontrolled, and thus vital aspects of being human disappear.” The track “Vesuvio” is another example of what we cannot control. A volcano may sleep, but when it starts to spread lava, smoke and ashes, we can´t do anything – only hope that it won’t destroy too much. But it is interesting that after a volcano has erupted, the soil Is fertilized and give growth to new life. mwe3: The closing track, “Circulation” has a kind of Mike Oldfield effect. Did Oldfield influence you, both the New Age and his rock stuff. I always say that Pekka Pohjola taught Oldfield to rock on the 1976 album he produced for Pekka on Virgin Records. Keesojen Lehto. Pekka Pohjola is wild. He and the Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal impressed me in the 1980’s. It is funny that you say that “Circulation” has a kind of Mike Oldfield effect, because there are no guitars on that track.
Henrik Hytteballe: This track is a collaboration between me and the German drum ‘n’ bass artist Cabeabel. It is a track where ambient music meets dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass. It is totally out the genre, but I have never limited myself by genres as I like various kinds of music. It is an uplifting track, illustrating my wish to fly away when I was almost not able to move. mwe3: So the single from hope is “Esperanza”? That word is hope in Spanish? Tell us about that track. The track really ranges in emotion and dynamics. Henrik Hytteballe: “Esperanza” is a kind of title track. There is no track called Hope nor Håb, but Esperanza means hope. mwe3: You also reissued an album you made in the 1980s? I saw the album cover on your facebook page. What was that band like? Dora & Dåserne? Was it ever on CD? Henrik Hytteballe: Dora & Dåserne was a very special band with a strong political message. We existed from 1980 until 1986 and released this album in 1985. It came out in a time when being gay was not accepted and was a part of the struggle for more freedom and acceptance in society. Because of the identity of the band as being an openly gay rock band, in the beginning we could only play the big cities, but after the album came out, we reached a larger audience. Unlike many artists today, who invites other people on stage to demonstrate activism, we were personally involved in our activism with the strength that gave us and with the attack we had to endure. Our concerts were sold out, because the rumors about our outstanding scenography and very energetic music spread. Our concerts were like huge parties and a lot of fun. The re-release is to celebrate the 40 years of the album and make the music available digital as it only came out on vinyl in 1985.
Henrik Hytteballe: I still paint a lot and have had various exhibitions during these years. Like my music, the paintings are inspired by nature. 3 years ago, I made a book with a Colombian writer, Héctor Castillo. He writes some very poetic essays about various themes such as The Night, Light, Loneliness, Compassion etc. I painted 11 paintings for the book. The book was published in Spain, as it is written in Spanish. Right now, we are making a new book together. This time Héctor writes fairy tales about how everything in nature has value. An example is a conversation between a dandelion and a butterfly. The fairy tales are both simple and very profound at the same time. I have chosen to illustrate with drawings in black and white. Like the cover I have drawn for this album. mwe3: What plans do you have for the album in 2025 into ’26? Is it possible for you to get airplay or exposure and reviews in other countries? Henrik Hytteballe: I certainly hope to reach a new audience with this album as well as keeping the listeners, I already have. I am aware that I make niche music and probably will not enter any hit lists, but many people are curious to listen to music that is a bit different from the mainstream scene, so I am confident. When “Esperanza” came out it got some attention from bloggers in France. The tracks from Håb are various, so I think it is possible to reach out to a larger audience and not only to those people who are into ambient music. I will do what I can to meet listeners around the world. Black and white photos by Johan Leí Gellet
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One of many great artists on the original Real Music roster, keyboardist and composer Henrik Hytteballe, founder of The Haiku Project, was one of the highlights of the Real Music heyday, having released a number of instrumental electronic music albums. That style of New Age electronica was a trademark of the label’s identity and Henrik truly lived up to their mission.
mwe3: If I remember correctly, in early 2020, Real Music closed down. Can you reflect back on what was your favorite period album during the Real Music years? I remember the interview we did for your last 
mwe3: Is Håb heavier sounding than the Real Music albums? Because of their New Age connections did Real Music constrain you style wise? On the new album is there more rock based drumming and there’s even some track with a rock guitar sound? Are you playing everything and is anyone else performing on the album with you?
Henrik Hytteballe: “Flourishing” is a good opening track as it describes my view of nature. I have always been inspired by nature in all my work. Flourishing is the reason we can live. Emanuele Coccia, an Italian philosopher, whose work are very similar to my perception writes: “Plants build the world in which humans live. They are the foundation of our lives – but we don’t know it because modern philosophy and the modern university have excluded plants and natural science from our thinking,” 
Henrik Hytteballe: I have always experimented with both forms and texture. Again, we are back to the importance of nature. Without the bees, we could not grow all the plants we need to survive. 75% of the world's most important commercially grown foods depend in whole or in part on animal pollination, of which the bees are the most important. 
mwe3: Tell us about track 7 “Swimming In The Sky”. It sound like a religious choir in the background. Interesting beats. What style of music would you call this?
mwe3: Are you still painting as much as you did? I remember your NYC show in Soho. Was that in 2014? Have you done any show for your paintings in Denmark or elsewhere over the past 10 years?