Name: Archie Hamilton (Extended Set)
Start: 2022-09-16T22:00:00.000-04:00
End: 2022-09-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Modern music writers love to misuse the term “long-awaited.” In our current age of streaming and insatiable single consumption, it’s not often that a piece of music truly is so anticipated. I’ll argue that Archie Hamilton’s debut album Archive Fiction, on the other hand, was not only long-awaited but very much worth the long wait.




By the time he released Archive Fiction in 2019, Hamilton had already cut his teeth in the industry for nearly 15 years. He’d also been running three separate record labels, each dedicated to a subset of killer house music. During his performances at the most prestigious underground clubs in Ibiza and beyond, he was dubbed an original voice in the “new European sound.” When he finally released his debut album, he channeled a decade of mounting skills and a lifelong dedication to electronic music.




Hamilton was already making a name for himself with his minimal approach to deep house. Archive Fiction marked a cumulative milestone, an homage to his musical upbringing and his newfound influences. From lo-fi house and trip-hop to ’90s tech as well as drum and bass, this is the London producer’s legacy.




Supposedly, the ten tracks on Archive Fiction depict a life-changing night on the dance floor — of which Hamilton has had many. The atmospheric, psychedelic opening tracks “Six Years Later” and “Lifted” are the low-key, slightly hesitant moments when you first arrive. A quick change of pace comes with “Relax Your Body,” a rugged, jungle-tinged banger. This eventually leads you to a pivotal moment with “Make the Difference,” which features legendary New York producer Mr. V. Towards the end of the album, the aptly titled “A Little Lower” uses downtempo trip-hop to coax you back to Earth before the victory lap of “Quicksand” and “Waisted.”




As the only original full-length album in his discography, Archive Fiction is a treasure for any Archie Hamilton fan. It’s an album that shows his full breadth as a musician and his ability to transcend music from the dance floor and into your life.

A Look Back at Archie Hamilton’s Debut Album, Archive Fiction

Archie Hamilton has made a name for himself through his prowess as a master selector and producer, maintaining a distinct sonic identity over the years, and bringing a fresh take to the world of minimal house and techno.




Archie’s signature sound can overflows with vigorous bass lines, out-of-this-world synths, and builds that give his tracks and sets an ethereal atmosphere. His new Motion Lotion EP is coming out soon and he spoke to Gray Area about the inspiration behind it, and some tracks he is currently loving to play out.




“I got married in May 2022 and had some time off with my beautiful wife, and spent quality time with family and friends,” he said. “But once reality kicked in and the summer touring was in full swing, I was so excited to head back into the studio that this EP basically just wrote itself. I guess it was itching to come out.”



In spite of this highly anticipated release, Archie Hamilton was more interested in talking about music from (mostly) other artists. Below are five tracks he’s been rinsing during his performances across the globe.



1. Local Dub - Bestnotask [HOARDER, 2021]



“I love the futuristic sound of this EP, and this track in particular has an amazing effect on the dance floor: everyone locked into a groove together having an eyes shut moment,” says Archie. The idea of such an instant is emblematic of the Archie Hamilton sound. His selections have the tendency to put you in a trance and will allow you to simply relax, enjoy the beats, and let go as the hours slip away.



2. Space Bunny - Space Bunny [Surreal, 1997]

“All time classic for me, this one!” says Archie. “Super fun, groovy, and twisted with a killer acid line — definitely something for the early morning.” One could imagine Archie dropping this track as the night turns into morning during one his many iconic Club Space sets. The track has a genuinely alien feel, with NASA-inspired vocals, a trippy bass line, and a rapid drum pattern to truly suck the listener in.



3. DJ Life - The Pluck [Lobster Theremin, 2021]

“This track is such a trip — so funky and groovy, which is great on the dance floor, but it’s also really introspective,” says Archie. “Music for the head and feet.” Cascading synths truly make this track pop. The sounds bounce up and down, and left to right throughout the six-minute masterpiece. A simply contagious beat gives the listener a feeling of distortion and energy in all the right ways.



4. Mennie - Fusion [Denser, Forthcoming - September 2022]

“This has been smashing every set for me,” says Archie. “Pair a sick groove, some triumphant, ravey lead chord stabs, and a catchy vocal hook, and you’ve got a winning combination.” On the more upbeat side for Archie, the unreleased “Fusion” by Mennie carries tones of ’90s rave music with its upbeat lead and Fatboy Slim-reminiscent vocal sample. This is a track for any time of night: a perfect party starter, peak time banger, or even a funky, late-night interjection if the energy in the room is dropping.



5. Archie Hamilton - Motion Lotion [MircoHertz, Forthcoming 2022]

“Bit of self-promotion here, but I am really happy with this track from my new EP on MicroHertz,” says Archie. “The funky bassline that comes from nowhere halfway through the track always catches people pleasantly by surprise.”


The unreleased “Motion Lotion” is simply a defining track of the Archie Hamilton sound. A jagged, funky bass line permeates the arrangement, forcing you to bob your head as you try and understand all of the intricate sound design going on elsewhere in the dynamic range. As Archie himself says, the track continues to surprise as each time you get comfortable, a new synth or vocal lead jumps in.



What's In Your Rekordbox with Archie Hamilton

London-based DJ Archie Hamilton travels internationally to deliver astounding sets to fans worldwide. He spoke to Gray Area about some of the most memorable gigs of his career, and how one in particular took him to a Star Wars set.




In 2019 Hamilton trekked to Tunisia for an exhilarating and unforgettable performance. When he first arrived at the location, it was too dark to see anything. Once the sun came up, though, Hamilton realized he was playing on the set of the fictional Star Wars planet, Tatooine.







“Crazy venue in the middle of the desert,” he said. “When we got there, it was totally pitch black, so you couldn’t really tell, but then as the sun came up, all of a sudden these objects started becoming more clear.”




Hamilton knew the set for the fictional Star Wars land of Tunisia was located near the venue, but he did not quite know how proximal. “As the sun comes up, you’re like my god,” he continued. “I’m in the middle of Star Wars.”















Hamilton explained that the buildings surrounding the venue had marks just like in the Star Wars movies and made him feel like a character in the franchise.




In addition to DJing on Tatooine, Hamilton mentioned two other standout aspects of touring in Tunisia. He remembered the vivid image of the Tunisian citizens racing their SUVs, mostly Toyota Land Cruisers, up almost vertical sandbanks.




The second image he recalled was a cuter one. Sandy desert foxes prowled the land behind his set with perked, prodigious ears. Perhaps they wanted to attend the festival, too.




Telling this story prompted Hamilton to reminisce on other memorable shows in recent memory. “I think it’s nice to give support to the promoters out there and maybe give a shout out about what’s going on in that part of the world, because there are some seriously good parts over there,” he said.




On Saturday, August 13, Hamilton took to the middle of Egypt for a gig. He felt discouraged after a six-hour drive from Cairo, but admitted once he arrived at the venue, “I’m not joking, probably one of the top five gigs I’ve ever played in my life. The crowd was so good, and the venue was so cool.”




Hamilton continues to explore the world, discovering new favorite venues. As his tour pushes on, he will soon have new music to share with fans. His two-track effort, the Motion Lotion EP, comes out on September 2.






























Archie Hamilton on Performing on the Star Wars Set of Planet Tatooine

In the decade since Archie Hamilton’s DJ career fully took flight, he’s found himself playing bigger and bigger stages. For him, this means it’s important as ever that he makes time for more intimate gigs — and he calls upon the most famous DJs in the world to do the same.




“I play a lot of big stages, but I came from the smaller rooms with a more intimate vibe,” Archie recently told Gray Area. “For the big festival shows, it’s big festival music. But for example, I play Fabric on Saturday. I’m closing room one, and I just spent a month going completely mad digging up tons of records from the early ‘90s. That’s my real love.”




Archie Hamilton has managed to strike an admirable balance between these two worlds. On the recording front, his early tracks like “I Forget” and “Two Time” represent house music’s more minimal, experimental spectrum. Even his more recent crowd pleasers like “Kick It” and “Our Time” featuring Molly Green bear plenty of the gritty, intelligent hallmarks of his longtime sound.




When I first came to prominence, what we were doing in London was much more minimal,” Archie said. “We were playing very stripped-back music. That has now become much more popular, and I’m getting booked because of the notoriety I built up for that sound. But I’m getting booked on these big stages where I have to deliver a much tougher, bigger set.”




Archie was at pains to point out that he doesn’t mean to knock bigger sets, either. “I don’t wanna write off people who are primarily big festival DJs,” he said. “It’s really difficult to be successful as an artist nowadays, and if you have a team of people working on your brand, you do have to be business minded and take these bigger shows to bring in revenue and gain new fans.




“But no matter how big you get, stay true to your roots,” he continued. “In my calendar I try to have at least once or twice a month, one of those super cool shows, like on a desert island in the middle of a lake a few weeks ago put on by the people behind Sunwaves Festival. It was pretty much a friends and family crew, and that was four hours where I got to take them on a bit more of a journey.”




Archie doesn’t mince words when he says this is a call to other DJs. “Guys, we should all be doing these extended sets and reminding ourselves why we love what we do, still being connected to really digging deep and searching for music that’s gonna blow people’s minds,” he said. “That’s the emotional side, where so much of everything now is about videos of drops with everyone’s hands in the air. I think we forget why we’ve all gotten into this in the first place.”




As any music lover can attest, there’s nothing quite like losing yourself in the sensory overload of a massive festival. As you grow more embedded in dance music’s rich undercurrent, however, you might naturally find yourself in smaller and smaller rooms. Either way, you’re bound to run into Archie Hamilton — and chances are he’ll play the records you didn’t know you needed to hear.

Archie Hamilton: "No Matter How Big You Get, Stay True to Your Roots"

U.K. DJ and producer Archie Hamilton did not become a globetrotting act overnight. He founded Microhertz Records in 2009 and began releasing music after cutting his teeth as a DJ for many years — but it wasn’t until 2013 that he was able to quit his job in tech sales to pursue a career in music full-time.




Since he’s focussed all his energy on music, the hits have been many. From the darker tech house flavor of “Mind Blank” to the upbeat verve of “Kick It” to the singalong appeal of “Our Time” featuring Molly Green, Archie’s left an indelible mark on house music.




That’s not to discount his early music. Archie Hamilton’s early discography brims with quality releases and a distinct underground appeal that speaks to how refined his tastes were at the beginning of his career. Below are five tracks from that period that still hold up.




1. I Forget

Archie Hamilton inaugurated Microhertz Records in 2009 with the Introductions EP Part 1. His contribution to the effort was “I Forget,” a song whose smooth, resonant bass line was miles ahead of most music being released at the time. The EP was the first of many “focused solely on introducing fresh, young, creative producers to the scene.”




2. Two Time

“Two Time” demonstrated the versatility of Archie Hamilton’s inventive approach to sound design. An infectious groove suffused with organic percussive elements is punctuated every several measures by risers that give the track a psychedelic effect. Foley effects and reverb delays at the breakdown provide the listener an expertly timed respite.




3. Stathis Lazarides & Archie Hamilton - Monophonie

Stathis Lazarides pulled Archie Hamilton in a more experimental direction for the two artists’ collaborative Numbmania EP. Characterized by dense foley recordings and contemplative atmospheres, the 2012 record remains one of Archie’s most minimal to date. Of the three tracks comprising the EP, “Monophonie” has the closest thing to a melody.






4. Archie Hamilton & Patrice Meiner - Antithesis

Brooding and hypnotic, “Antithesis” by Archie Hamilton and Patrice Meiner goes through a series of novel changes throughout its seven-and-a-half-minute runtime. It appeared on a collaborative EP of the song’s namesake, marking the two artists’ first release together. It came out on Genial in 2013 and included remixes by Igor Vicente and Dubsons.




5. Stathis Lazarides & Archie Hamilton - Untold Drama

“Untold Drama” appeared on an EP of its namesake via Body Parts Records, marking the second collaborative EP between Stathis Lazarides and Archie Hamilton. It shows a refinement of Archie’s unconventional approach to sound design, along with a luminous synth that rings out intermittently for added ambience. This was the period in which Archie’s career took flight, and the inspiration is evident in the music he released at the time.



Early Archie Hamilton: 5 Cuts that have Stood the Test of Time

London-based house and techno DJ Archie Hamilton’s music is as distinguishable as his name. A permanent fixture on festival lineups, the UK selector, is known for producing some of the most illustrious house records in the last decade. His recently rebranded imprint MicroHertz is where you’ll find his latest original minimal-house releases and plenty of internationally sourced cuts—the best in alternative house and techno.




We’ve chosen five of our favorite Microhertz Records releases to give you a sampling of what the imprint has to offer.




1. Floog - Sepe Patru




The Bucharest-based artist—heavily inspired by musicians of the likes of Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Jean Michel Jarre, and Pink Floyd—began his career in the 90s by toying with a friend’s Roland analog synth and experimenting with the sounds on his computer’s production software. In the years that followed, Floog has honed his sound into one that’s distinctly his own. “Sepe Patru” is a deeply melodic tech house cut encapsulating his minimal approach to the genre while providing a uniquely immersive listening experience.




2. Archie Hamilton (feat. Molly Green) - Our Time  


“Our Time,” released in 2021, is an intensely euphoric house cut. With a winding bassline, resounding kicks, and jazzy, soulful vocals from Bristol-born songstress Molly Green, “Our Time” is essential listening for fans of Hamilton and the MicroHertz label.




3. Dos Equis - Archie Hamilton




Re-released on the label’s tenth-anniversary compilation, “Dos Equis” is sensual, trip-hop-infused tech house. Initially released in 2018, the song is a blazing dancefloor cut. Hamilton demonstrates his mixing prowess on the updated iteration. The track’s soundscape, while atmospheric, simultaneously drives listeners on a journey—syrupy vocal loops intertwine with organic samples to create one unforgettable tech house tune.




4. Toman - Guarulhos









This heady, synth-heavy release was one of three tracks unveiled by the imprint less than two years ago from Toman’s critically-acclaimed Feel for You EP. The Amsterdam-based DJ’s career took off in 2017 in a meteoric fashion upon the release of his debut via the revered Cyclic label. His second EP further cemented the prodigious talent, who would go on to perform at Awakenings, Straf_werk festival, and various venerated German clubs of the likes of Leipzig’s Distillery and Berlin’s Watergate.




5. Archie Hamilton, Benson Herbert - Swerve









Featuring meticulous production from Miriam Records label founder Benson Herbert, “Swerve” is an enchanting collaborative house tune between the two UK-based DJs. Herbert, a frequent fixture at numerous revered institutions Rex Club and fabric, had produced house music under a plethora of pseudonyms and stage names over the years. It wasn’t long until he began to take producing seriously—releasing projects on Hamilton’s label garnered him the support he was missing to launch his own label and establish his solo project.



5 Tracks That Define Archie Hamilton’s Microhertz Records

London-based Archie Hamilton has a palate that was heavily influenced by the sounds he consumed growing up in Wales and clubbing in London—The Prodigy’s discography was one insatiable obsession. House and trance records were another.



The minimal-house selector has over a decade of experience curating and creating dynamic techno and house records. Hamilton’s love for producing irresistible cuts over the years has led him to create two successful imprints—MicroHertz and Moss Co.—all the while performing at some of the most esteemed international festival stages and music venues of the likes of Circoloco, Parklife, Amnesia, elrow, and fabric.



We asked Archie to share five tracks that shaped and inspired his journey to becoming the acclaimed label boss and DJ we know today.



1. Leftfield - Storm 3000






Pick any track from this album, it was the soundtrack to my youth! Storm 3000 was an early intro into drum and bass for me, which I then got much more into when I started going clubbing in London. I remember constantly tapping the drum rhythm with my fingers in my classes at school, and getting lost in the pads when I walked home.




2. The Prodigy - Voodoo People









The Prodigy was my first electronic music obsession. The first three albums absolutely blew my mind—the energy is just unreal and I loved their personalities and the whole band aesthetic. Hard to choose a favorite from their catalog, but I chose this one because the video is so totally amazing!




3. Chemical Brothers - Chico’s Groove









I think Exit Planet Dust was the first electronic album I ever bought—I got it on tape from Woolworths (a now non-existent chain of stores that sold absolutely everything). Chico’s Groove really reminds me of driving ‘round the countryside where I grew up in Wales in the summer with my mum and cousins when we were kids. It’s got a really familiar and comforting feel to it.




4. Nalin and Kane - Beachball









I absolutely love this and still play it today. It hits that sweet spot between deep melancholy and joyful abandon. Soft M1 organ, loose percussion and the vocal is ace—so many fond memories of this record!




5. Three Drives on a Vinyl - Greece 2000









I went through a huge trance phase as a teenager—I think most DJs of my generation did. I could have picked a hundred tracks, but I think this has to be the winner.




The Tracks That Made Me: Archie Hamilton

United Kingdom

Archie Hamilton

 headlines at Quantum Brooklyn! The London-based artist descends on NYC September 16, 2022, for a night of underground vibes. With over a decade behind the decks, Archie Hamilton was one of the first to curate and embrace the “new European sound,” melding minimal house with techno. Thanks to his signature rugged basslines punctuated by ethereal atmospheric notes, Hamilton also heads up A&R for his 

ARCHIE HAMILTON at Music On Festival 2022

ARCHIE HAMILTON at Music On Festival 2022
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A master selector, Hamilton’s live gigs include classic gems from the ’90s expertly mixed with club bangers and a plethora of his own IDs. As a fixture in Ibiza, he’s played some of the island’s biggest soirées at Amnesia, Circoloco, and Music On, to name a few. Hamilton has also spun regularly in the UK at London’s Fabric, Frequency, his residency at the legendary FUSE nights, numerous events in both North and South America, as well as Sunwaves in Romania, Manchester’s Parklife, and recently at Glastonbury.

, Pete Tong tapped Hamilton to create a coveted 

 on Radio 1. Remixes include offerings for Djoko, Oden & Fatzo, and Toman. And Hamilton has even collaborated with Arts Council England for a livestream in his hometown at the Clapton Round Chapel.

Fresh off his latest EP for Dansu Discs, 

, audiences on September 16 at Quantum will be permeated with the stellar sound system at the venue, complete with four nine-foot speaker stacks encircling the dancefloor for music you can feel vibrating throughout the building.

Archie Hamilton (Extended Set)

Let the music move you when DJ/producer Archie Hamilton headlines at Quantum Brooklyn! The London-based artist descends on NYC September 16, 2022, for a night of underground vibes. With over a decade behind the decks, Archie Hamilton was one of the first to curate and embrace the “new European sound,” melding minimal house with techno. Thanks to his signature rugged basslines punctuated by ethereal atmospheric notes, Hamilton also heads up A&R for his MicroHertz record label.




A master selector, Hamilton’s live gigs include classic gems from the ’90s expertly mixed with club bangers and a plethora of his own IDs. As a fixture in Ibiza, he’s played some of the island’s biggest soirées at Amnesia, Circoloco, and Music On, to name a few. Hamilton has also spun regularly in the UK at London’s Fabric, Frequency, his residency at the legendary FUSE nights, numerous events in both North and South America, as well as Sunwaves in Romania, Manchester’s Parklife, and recently at Glastonbury.




After his first LP in 2019, titled Archive Fiction, Pete Tong tapped Hamilton to create a coveted Essential Mix on Radio 1. Remixes include offerings for Djoko, Oden & Fatzo, and Toman. And Hamilton has even collaborated with Arts Council England for a livestream in his hometown at the Clapton Round Chapel.




Fresh off his latest EP for Dansu Discs, Kick It, audiences on September 16 at Quantum will be permeated with the stellar sound system at the venue, complete with four nine-foot speaker stacks encircling the dancefloor for music you can feel vibrating throughout the building.








Archie Hamilton (Extended Set)

Lineup