Interview + Mix: Sirius Hood on Hot Creations Yacht Week, production and more

Sirus Hood is a French producer and DJ whose House tracks are signed to CUFF, Dirtybird and Hot Creations and has held DJ residencies in Ibiza, London and Paris. From the age of 10, his musical tastes were pushed by his older friends, who offered him mixtapes recorded in a legendary club in Algiers.

At 18, he bought his first vinyl turntables and quickly became a regular DJ in all the Parisian clubs. From there, he became a self-taught producer, laying the groundwork for his new project under the alias we know as Sirus Hood.

Ahead of Hot Creations’ seven-day takeover of Yacht Week as part of the epic 10th anniversary world tour, we sat down with Sirius Hood to discuss production, travel, sneakers and the mix that he provided us.

Have you ever played a DJ set on the high seas?

I have played on many world beaches and cliffs. I also played on a boat in Buffalo, USA, which sailed towards the Canadian border and near the Niagara River which leads to Niagara Falls, but never on the high seas, which is very exciting to me. I have the impression that the atmosphere is more intense and energizing when we are surrounded by water. I love the sea so much.

What can the Hot Creations Yacht Week audience expect from your set?

We can expect positive energy and cool vibes but for the music it is better not to expect anything and to be very open because I plan to play with minds and moods. The only thing that matters to me is touching hearts.

Your first release on Hot Creations was a two-track EP titled “Rip Tide” in 2020 with Paco Wegmann. Something new on the horizon with the legendary label?

Rip Tide became a classic that is still played today. I don’t believe in releasing music too much, but I believe more in releasing music that will last. Jamie Jones has started playing one of my new songs which will be released on Cuttin’ Headz frequently. For months, this piece is played in almost every set of the Martinez Brothers. Lately I’ve been focusing on launching my label Mood Child with Manda Moor. We focused on creating music for our label. For Hot Creations, I’m currently cooking something.

Looking at your past and future gig history, you have a pretty illustrious and diverse list of travel destinations. What’s your favorite dish when you’re on tour?

Diversity is my favorite thing about music, people and food. I like to learn about cultures and the best dishes you can find in each of them, like the best burger in New York, the best tacos in Mexico, the best couscous in Algiers or the best pasta in Rome. I miss the fish shack in Ibiza right now. It’s a small restaurant on a cliff, no menu, just the catch of the day with steamed potatoes and a fresh salad. Meet me there on August 10 which is also the day of my concert at Paradise Amnesia.

Do you have any tips/tricks for traveling to new places while on tour? Do you research places to see/food to experience, etc., and ask the locals?

Instagram is very useful, so every time I see an article about a unique restaurant, I save it for my next visit to that city. Otherwise I trust locals and critics to discover new things.

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During production, do you have a sample pack, a VST or an analog synthesizer?

Lately I’ve been using the MPC Live 2 which is very useful for traveling as it has built in speakers and a battery. So I mainly use my own samples. I have created sample packs called Mood Edits sample packs on Bandcamp in very limited editions. I have included many sounds from my analog machines.

The flight. 2 will be dropped very soon because the idea is not for everyone to sound like me but rather to help a selection of people who like my sound achieve their goals by easily making songs they will enjoy without spending an eternity find the right samples. When I’m not on tour and have time in the studio, I love using my analog synth and drum machines to create magic.

I recently became a sneakerhead because of where I work. Do you have a favorite shoe?

Wow I’ll be honest with you, this hobby is dangerous and can quickly turn into an obsession haha. My favorite that I’ve wanted for years and I’m glad I have a pair now is the Air Max 90 Duck Camo. Good luck with your new passion!

You can check out the mix below. Here are some words from Sirius about this mix:

I recorded this mix 2 weeks ago during our Mood Child party at Hï Ibiza in the Wild Corner. You can hear the vibe of the crowd. With Manda Moor we had the club to ourselves all night and it’s only 1 o’clock from 6 o’clock at night. I am happy to share this with you as it was a magical night for us.