Leeds-based producer Hauswerks is on a bit of a roll of late, he’s recently joined the elrow family and will be performing during this year’s Sonar festival for the Barcelona-based confetti addicts.

He’s also a bit of a dab-hand on the production front too, having scored releases on the likes of Hot Creations, Viva, WOW!, Moda Black and more, whilst providing his engineering prowess to a number of a-list underground stars, too.  He’s also released tracks with fellow Yorkshire man Doorly, with their track ‘Illusionist’ caned by everyone from Annie Mac to Jamie Jones.

So we thought I’d be a nice to give Colin Barratt a nice, warm Lancashire welcome and then grill him like a cheese toastie to find out what makes him tick, what some of his favourite records are, and what he’d save from his studio, if god forbid it was ever to catch fire.

Can you please Introduce yourself.

Hi my name’s Colin aka Hauswerks.

Whereabouts are you today… ?

I’m based in the UK, more specifically sunny Leeds, even more specifically in my basement getting ready for the day ahead in the studio with my good friend Doorly.

And what’s the view like…?

The view outside from in here in pretty minimal, although after my last studio having no natural light at all I’m grateful for this little slot of sunshine now in my new space and working days. Slightly better views out the top of my basement windows haha….still….not the views I used to have when living in Ibiza but hey ho!

Gives us five words that best describes your new track…?

Ass-shaking groovy underground house.

Who inspired you into a life of music… ?

Many people and factors but mainly a good friend of mine called Tom Ingamells, you may know him better now as Tom Staar. He’s smashing it in his own right at the moment and was my doorway into producing when we were just 17/18… and we’ve both never looked back since!

Do you ever regret it…?

Not at all! I’ve spent my life doing what I love doing, can’t possibly regret that. Of course, there are times you worry with the uncertainties of this scene and career choice but I’ve always had faith and worked my ass off and I think with those 2 attributes you can’t go wrong.

If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why…?

If I could change one thing it would be to take things back to when music wasn’t so disposable, before the digital era when artists were artists who could make a living from their music alone without the need to fill the diary with gigs if they didn’t want to. Back then the truly talented ones shone through. All too often nowadays I’m seeing really passionate and talented people struggling whilst less musically or technically talented people, but with greater social media and marketing skills take center stage. It has become a lot more about the hype and your online shop windows. It would be nice to see the people who are dedicating their lives and studying their trade with real passion become the leaders again over the people with a regular 9-5 doing it on the side but smashing the socials and the gym more than the studio!

Who is your favourite artist…?

Non musical artist….hmmm it would have to be Banksy, maybe an obvious choice but the intelligence, power, messages and methods of his art I think are fantastic. One of my favourite pieces of his are the ‘mobile lovers’ featured at the top of this article.

What was the first record you bought…?

Origin Unknown – Valley Of The Shadows. A drum and bass classic! My first record shopping trip I went with the intention of buying house music and stumbled across this beauty, which led me to playing DnB on my first pair of decks for the first few years before I made the switch to house music.

What was the last record you bought…?

Errrrrrm, next question…..

What track do you wish you’d written…?

There are so many I could put for this but just the other day I was listening to an old favourite of mine by Mauro Picotto. It’s not a huuuuge track or anything but holds significance to me and I had forgotten how much I liked it, so I’m gonna say ‘New Time New Place’ by Picotto and Riccardo Ferri: an intelligently produced banger that I’ve had some proper ‘moments’ to in clubs over the years!

What track makes you happiest…?

This one. Admit it…you started bopping your head and smilin’ too, didn’t you???? Ha!

What track makes you saddest…?

I don’t really listen to music that makes me sad to be honest.

What’s your favourite club…?

Well, it was Space Ibiza…but that is no more for the first year this season so I’m open to a new favourite, unless of course the new Hi Ibiza proves itself to keep the venue my No.1.

Which of your own tracks are you most proud of…?

Probably ‘The Illusionist’, a collaboration with Doorly from a couple of years ago. It got a lot of love from a wide variety of DJs from Annie Mac on radio 1 to underground heads like Lawler and Paco Osuna, plus Jamie Jones named it his second favourite record of the year. The variety of appreciation makes that one my favourite!

What’s your current favourite record…?

I’d have to say this is still my favourite, from late last year on Moon Harbour. Cool, grimy grooves and synth work here!

If your studio was one fire and you go back in to save one thing, what would it be and why…?

My iMac with backup HD attached. I’m very much an ‘in the box’ producer since learning my trade at college within Logic, so all my clients and my music/projects would be top priority to save. No priceless antique synths here to worry about ha!