Robin Hunt (1984) is a mixer and producer from the Netherlands, working both in Berlin as in the beautiful Sauerland. His decision to pursue a career in music was unexpected: ‘I didn’t grow up in a particular musical family, but I realised that making music was the only craft in which I could channel the emotional as well as my love for taste and my technical skills. I decided to give it a go, and I auditioned successfully at the the Dutch Minerva Academy for Popular Culture’. During his studies, Robin worked as an intern with Dutch hardcore and gabber legend DJ Promo: ‘I learned a lot that year, especially about minimalism in production and sound-design. Electronic music made him understand the undeniable energy the genre has. During his studies he used the time to discover the emotional and taste in more songwriting based genres. After successfully finishing his studies, Robin decided to make a move, moving to Berlin and building a new studio by hand in an old casting-factory from GDR times.
Within half a year, Robin found himself working on Thomas Azier’ critically acclaimed debut album ‘Hylas’. The succes of the album in France brought new opportunities. Always eager to for new experiences, Robin decided to jump in the deep again and moved to Paris to work as an ‘engineering producer’ for the freshly founded Universal Africa department in studio Ferber, owned by French legendary producer and mixing-engineer Renaud Letang (Feist, Jean-Michel Jarre, Manu Chao). ‘I spent three years in Paris, doing sessions with French and African pop stars during the day and hang out in Renaud’s studio in the evening. I saw him mix and produce incredible records. I just soaked everything up, as I realised it was a once in a lifetime opportunity’.
After three years in Paris, Robin decided to move back to Berlin in 2017: ‘I founded a production and artist development team called Atlas with two longtime friends (Isa Azier & Ferran Huijsmans). After years of working together we decided to make it official, combining our experience of songwriting, A&R, studio and live-music. The timing was perfect. I got to expand my old factory studio and I’m working with special artists every day, always looking for authenticity before genre’.
Around 2022 he realised that it was time for a new challenge: 'Being too comfortable is stagnation waiting to happen. I like the "sink or swim" concept: When I am forced to work hard I feel I grow exponentially. I experienced that new opportunities will present themselves automatically'. The decision to build a new state of the art mix room in the beautiful Sauerland was a result of this philosophy. 'This time I wanted to build a studio build to the highest standards where I can work the rest of my life.'. For this he worked with renowned acoustician Jochen Veith (Max Martin / Wisseloord) and PMC loudspeaker manufacturers.
Nowadays Robin spends his time between mixing, and when needed (co-)producing: ‘I absolutely love finishing songs and help the artist to amplify their sonic vision. Sometimes a song is on 80%, and it’s a lot of fun to finish the track; the vision is almost there and I can come in with fresh ears and suggestions. Other times there are multiple versions of a track that I have to blend together, cherrypick the best ingredients of a song.
A small selection of artists Robin works or has worked with: Faber, Aloe Blacc, Son Mieux, Niles Rodger, Anouk, Zeeba, Fireboy DML, Ronnie Flex, Roxy Dekker, Stevie Bill, The Indien, Blaudzun, Remme, Mdou Moctar, Woodkid, Cracker Mallo (Tiwa Savage), Bonaparte, Gary Go, Michael Patrick Kelly.
Co-produced and/or mixed music for brands / feature films: Yves Saint Laurent (La Nuit de L’Homme campaign), Divine (2020), Jerks Season 3 & 4
Picture by Chloë Lewer
Pictures by Jochen Veith