Exclusive Interview: Niko Hoffrén

Niko Hoffrén, born in Kuopio, Finland on June, 1986. Niko has played keyboards from about 5 years old and have been making some kind of music since. He started making trance music in 2018.

Musical influences are mostly on progressive metal genre, bands like Dream Theater and Sons of Apollo for example. On electronic music side most influential artists/dj:s have been Armin Van Buuren, Roman Messer and Gareth Emery.

-How did your career begin (and when)?
I was playing keyboard since I was 4 years old and have made some kind of music all my life, but started to make electronic music in 2018. Music has always been pretty much just a hobby, but in 2018 I decided to try to make music professionally and started to learn making trance.

-Which is your first track ever released and from which label?
My first signed track was called Dark Places with Alveda Music released in the spring of 2020.

-With which labels and artists have you worked on?
I have released tracks with Alveda Music, Yeiskomp Records, Neostatics Sounds and Trancespired. I have worked with artists/vocalists like IanT, Electric Clouds, Maya and Elania.

-What do you think about your favourite artists?
I have listened to a lot of metal music being a Finn, so my favourite band is Dream Theater from the progressive metal genre, but in trance music my favourites are artists like Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery and Roman Messer.

-Do you have any dreams and plans for the future?
My dream is to make all kinds of music and make a living from it. My plans are to release more trance music along with some metal stuff with different bands.

-Who are you inspired by?
I am mostly inspired by Armin van Buuren. I have watched his masterclass and tried to study similar techniques. I also like his composing style and the fact that he is so versatile.

-Please explain your creative process
It varies a lot, but most of the time Ι have the whole track already composed in my mind and then Ι try to just copy that in my DAW. It might not be the same as Ι imagined, but that’s what makes it interesting. Sometimes I just start playing piano and the melodies will come to me.

-What’s an average day like for you?
I’m not comfortable doing music in the mornings so at night I have the best ideas. My day starts at having a nice cup of coffee and starting making music or just trying to train some new keyboard solos etc. After a few hours of producing/training a nice walk outside is always a good idea to get some fresh air and let my ears rest.

-Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
There might be some meanings in my lyrics reflecting my past life but nothing too special.

-Do you collaborate with other artists?
I have collaborated so far with maltese producer IanT and russian producer Electric Clouds along with singers like Maya and Elania. I’m sure more collabs will happen in the future.

-Which DAW do you use to produce music?
I use FL Studio.

-Do you play any instruments?
I was playing keyboard since Ι was 4 years old, so about 30 years now. In school I also played some drums.

-How do you think the electronic music scene was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Electronic music scene definitely took a serious hit like every other genre in music because there weren’t really any festivals or other events, but I think that encouraged more people into making music, so in 2020 we will have a bunch of new artists and tracks which is great.

-On a personal level, what music do you listen to in your free time?
I listen mostly progressive/power metal but along with that uplifting/progressive trance and Ι think they balance eachother out really nicely.

Thank you for the interview! And many greetings to EDM Cave team!

Niko Hoffrén social links: https://my.alv.link/nikohoffren