Respect My Region Interviews Southlvnders and Haakeye

What inspired you to get into music? What artists do you draw the most inspiration?

Alex: I have been playing the drums since I was 8 and I love all styles of music from jazz to metal. I started producing like 4 years ago after seeing Baauer play at Sasquatch 2013, I thought that trap sound was the dopest thing ever. Biggest inspirations: EPROM, Bleep Bloop, G Jones, Buku, Baauer and literally anything from SATURATE Records

Haakon: Similar to Alex I grew up playing drums since kindergarten, but am not nearly as good as him. my dad played guitar and my sister always sang, so we would all jam regularly and drive my mom crazy. I started producing about 6 years ago. My biggest inspirations are Porter Robinson, Crankdat, Just a Gent/Tune, Herobust, love anything with a some amazing sound design or melody layering.  

Is there a story behind your stage name? 

Alex: My last name is Sutherland and one day my friend Tegan called me “Southlander” and it stuck. I added the “V” as an “A” because I was an edgy 19 year old.

Harken: My childhood friend started calling me HAAKEYE like the marvel character Hawkeye, it stuck through high school and when i thought of a name it was the first to pop in my head. 

How did the process go about with the remix of Doozy’s track? How did it become a remix from both you and Haakeye?

Alex: Haakon already had a sick start on the remix and he asked me to join in on the process. I was definitely honored. My main job for all our collabs is drums and mixdown, and Haakon is the sound design god. But any good duo is a system of checks and balances so we got each others backs and are always supplying that crucial second set of ears.

Haakon: We had been working on music for a couple years here and there and had just been getting better and better together. I started the Doozy & Asylum track right when Ryan released the stems and after I worked on some sound design for it i sent it to Alex to help me with the missing components that he is so good at. WE always work so damn well together so it was smooth sailing from there!

What has been your greatest experience in the music industry?

Alex: Most definitely opening up for BUKU or Luca Lush.

Haako n: Probably opening for Instant Party and getting to learn and discuss production with some amazing producers. 

How long have you been producing?

Alex: About 4 years

Harken: about 6 years now

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Alex: Cliques within genres and the idea that you have to belong to some sort of group to enjoy quality music.

Haakon: trying to hide knowledge for personal gain, I always think music is about sharing and learning from each other rather than trying to beat the others in our community. 

Favorite Food/Least Favorite Food? 

Alex: I could probably eat a Carne Asada burrito for every meal, and I really like everything except for super exotic seafood.

Haakon: I would have to say a really in season Artichoke I go nuts for. and least favorite is definitely anything warm that has pineapple on it, not cool. 

What are a couple of talents/things that nobody would know about you firsthand?

Alex: I like to cook food of the dank variety and I know a lot about cannabis.

Haakon: Night hearing and dogs understand where I point.

Anything else you’d like to say? 😀

Alex: This experience was so pleasant that we have officially started our own project. Follow us on Soundcloud, check our new Gucci Mane remix, and stay on the lookout for HEIRZ releases in the next few months. 😉

soundcloud.com/heirz

Haakon: Also we want to say Thank you again to Ryan and Connor for a sick original track and the opportunity to work with it! Definitely ,advise checking out our new project as well, we have a lot of new, very unique music on the way!!