There aren’t many artists bringing performances as bold and original to the bass scene as HerShe. A self-taught producer, beatboxer, and unstoppable force of sheer hype, HerShe has been hard at work and recently blessed us with her latest hit, appropriately named “HIT MAKER.”
This self-released track pays homage to her beatboxing roots while showcasing her polished production and giving listeners a glimpse into the unforgettable energy of a live HerShe set. With every layer of the track, HerShe reminds us why her name keeps appearing on lineups alongside iconic names like Zeds Dead, Hamdi, Wreckno, and Of The Trees, and on highly esteemed labels such as Deadbeats, Hypnovizion, and Wakaan.
Hit ‘Em With the HerShe
We caught up with HerShe to dive into the inspiration behind “HIT MAKER,” the evolution of her live set (rumored to be unlike anything else in the scene), and the unique blend of creative chaos that makes her a rising star to watch.
Emma Greenberg, EH: Can you tell us a little about your artistic journey, from beatboxing to producing bass music? How did that evolution influence “HIT MAKER?”
HerShe: I mean, I’ve been a music lover ever since I can remember. I remember writing lyrics in my bedroom, thinking I was writing a song for Britney Spears when I was a kid, which I still remember the lyrics of! No clue how old I was, but shortly after that, when I was 11, I started beatboxing. I was inspired by hip hop, where I saw Blake Lewis and Doug E. Fresh on American Idol in 2007. I started doing open mics every weekend in high school just to get in front of a crowd. They even threw X’s on my hands so I could come perform with the adults!
I found the beatbox battle scene years later, through my friend Honeycomb. When I was 14, I started DJing, and I started dabbling in production around then. I used this website called soundation.com, where I made little beats out of loops. I remember my first “track” I made was called “Mellow Matters,” with a hip hop beat (I still have it)! Before I started working at Guitar Center (I worked in professional audio when I was 18-19), I was looking at this really dope production box, like a really big box. It was a bundle that included Ableton Live 8 Standard, an Akai APC20, and a dubstep sample pack on a CD! I wouldn’t say I started seriously producing until I was 19, though, where I was diving in and learning daily.
“I’ve always said beatboxing and production are a happy marriage. I can bounce ideas very easily by beatboxing and translating that to production, or just sampling the hell out of myself. Whenever I want to write a beatbox song for live shows, I structure it all and break it down in Ableton before I start practicing.”
This track is an homage to my beatbox battle days. I wanted a cool track for when I transition from beatboxing back into DJing. So “Hittem with the Jersey,” an elimination routine I performed at the World Beatbox Battle Championships in Berlin circa 2018, transitions into “HIT MAKER”.
EG: Sounds like this track has become a staple in your recent sets. Can you walk us through what that moment feels like live?
HerShe: The second I say “HerShe hit ‘em with the, hit ‘em with the,” I press the play button on HIT MAKER where my voice immediately says “HIT!” It gets lots of crowd cheers and “ahhhs.” Feels pretty cool! At the end of the day, I get to showcase different ways I make music from my brain. Beatboxing and production, the happy marriage!
EG: Were there any instrumental elements in “HIT MAKER” made entirely with your voice?
HerShe: For this track specifically, I only have my producer tag, it sounds like an “UH,” or “AH.” It’s called a vocalized cough snare. You can hear it repeated in the track, and it first appears at about 7 ½ seconds in. I put a fun, bouncy delay on it.
EG: What was your creative process like when making this track?
HerShe: I made a TikTok about it a year ago because I had never recorded a TikTok on my process before, so I figured, why not?
The vocals struck my idea at first, then the drums and swingy hats. I thought of the sub bassline first and then followed the same sub pattern as the “ooo” mid bass in Serum and processed the hell out of it (shoutout to the FabFilter and Soothe gods). Then I took my vocal idea, created the intro, and boom–HIT MAKER was born! I really enjoy fleshing out an idea from start to finish in Ableton.
I’m a big fan of writing in MIDI and audio. Depending on the sound, each project feels different, which is cool. There’s no “one size fits all” way to start a track for me. For HIT MAKER’s sound design, I was working with VSTs that are my essentials like Serum, Phaseplant, Pro C-2, GClip, Replika, Murdah Melodies, and of course, OTT. Fun fact, I also mix and master my own stuff, and I did so for HIT MAKER. All me, 100%, and I’m really happy with how it came out.
EG: Okay… we heard a rumor that you played Club Studio Time and Red Rocks sets back to back on the same day. Olympic-level performing. How do you maintain breath control and vocal stamina in such physically demanding sets? Are there any rituals or vocal secrets you swear by that you can share?
HerShe: Ha, fun fact–my first EP I ever made was called Breath Control (only available on Bandcamp)! And honestly, my cardio has been a lot better since I’ve been doing long daily walks! But GIRL… the heat and the altitude were no joke. At CST, it was about 100 degrees in that warehouse. I don’t know how we all didn’t melt, but I was dripping (thank god for dry heat). At Red Rocks for that crisp opening set, it was a solid 93 out and beaming. On stage for both sets, I just couldn’t stop smiling, though; adrenaline is my onstage lover and we dance and kiss until we collapse. I was a tad out of breath for my beatboxing/rapping, but nothing crazy, surprisingly.
Secret to vocal stability? I’m sober, which helps, and there’s no smoking around me until after I play. I have honey cough drops, dry mouth lozenges, gum, non-alcoholic mouthwash wash and electrolyte drinks on standby. Plus, ginger shots are a NEED in the green room before the set (shoutout Truth). Anything to help coat the throat and keep me from the deadly cotton mouth is a must.
EG: What can fans expect next from you?
HerShe: I have two super dope collabs coming out next month! One with Wreckno coming out on Jadu Dala called “JIGGLE” August 6th, and one with Luhv on Quality Good Records called “Don’t Talk” August 22nd. They’re super yummy and I’m hype!
Making Sound Waves
The music industry hasn’t always made space for women (even less so for queer women) to thrive on their own terms. But HerShe has been on an unapologetic rise, and it’s inspiring to see a self-made female artist electrifying the scene in a way that it really needs right now.
HerShe’s fierce dedication to her craft, creativity, and vocal athleticism makes her an extremely exciting voice on our list of artists to keep a Hawk Eye on. If you ever get the chance to see her live, you’re in for a treat. Until then, you can feel the force of her electric performances every time you press play on “Hit Maker,” out now on all platforms.
Listen to “HIT MAKER” by HerShe below!
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