ARC Music Festival, Chicago’s flagship house and techno festival, has announced the ARC After Dark afterparty lineups for its 2023 edition taking place September 1-3. ARC heads into its third year firmly rooted as a fan-favorite in the global festival circuit, continuing to bring internationally renowned talent to the birthplace of house music.
ARC will take over the city with its wide-reaching after-party programming across iconic Auris and ARC partner venues RADIUS, Cermak Hall, Concord Music Hall, PRYSM, Spybar, Smart Bar/Metro, and Smoke & Mirrors.
Ahead of his performance at Cermak Hall as a part of ARC After Dark, EG caught up with Moritz Hofbauer to learn more about his preparation, future endeavors, and more.
EG: Hi, Moritz! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Moritz Hofbauer: Thank you for the invitation, It’s a pleasure for me too.
I’ve been doing great. I had some weekends off this month that I spent at home in my studio in Mannheim, so I could work on new songs and my live set. Right now, I’m in Mannheim too, but I will be back on tour this weekend.
EG: First of all, congratulations on being a part of ARC Music Festival’s return to Chicago’s Union Park this Labor Day Weekend! You must be very excited about this one! Is this your first one?
Moritz Hofbauer: Thank you. I played at ARC last year already and also at the afterparty that followed. So, I’m even more excited to be a part of it again, as I already experienced the big stage and the huge sound system. That was really massive last year.
And it’s always very thrilling for me to perform in the US, so far away from home. I’m excited to see how people will react to my music there.
EG: So, what can fans expect from this particular performance? In which ways do prepare differently for a festival when compared to a club night?
Moritz Hofbauer: I’ll definitely play a lot of new songs from my upcoming album. I’ve made significant changes to my live set compared to last year, replacing most of the tracks with new ones that I haven’t played yet. So, I’m very curious about the audience’s reaction to that.
Actually, my preparation for a festival performance isn’t that different compared to a club night. However, the audience at a festival can be quite large, which definitely gets my heart pumping even more. So, thorough preparation becomes even more important to help me get a little bit more relaxed.
EG: You will also be joining us at Cermak Hall for ARC After Dark along with Boris Brejcha and the rest of the FCKING Serious crew as well! Is there anything you can anticipate on that front?
Moritz Hofbauer: Yes, I think it’s just going to be as massive as last year, I’m really looking forward to this!
“I played at ARC last year already and also at the afterparty that followed. So, I’m even more excited to be a part of it again, as I already experienced the big stage and the huge sound system”
EG: Are you a big festival person yourself? Do you try to make time and catch other acts?
Moritz Hofbauer: I’m a big music fan myself and of course, I enjoy listening to other acts. However, before my own performance, I’m sometimes a bit too nervous to fully enjoy it, that’s why I tend to relax and focus on my own performance instead. Then, I need some time for myself. After my performance, I often stay a bit longer to party with my label mates or check out other acts. As long as the flight isn’t too early the next day.
EG: Are there any acts on the ARC Music Festival roster that you’re looking forward to?
Moritz Hofbauer: There are many outstanding artists that I would love to see. If there’s the chance, I’ll catch the Eric Prydz show, Tale Of Us, and of course Boris Brejcha and my labelmates Ann Clue and Deniz Bul.
EG: As a live act, in which ways would you say the format “restricts” you and in which ways does it “liberate” you as a storyteller? What’s the best bit of advice that you can give to someone diving into the world of live performance?
Moritz Hofbauer: I would say a live set primarily requires a lot of preparation. When a new song is finished, I can’t just play it at my next performance; it takes a lot of additional time to prepare it and to integrate it into my liveset. This does restrict my possibilities in terms of song selection. I’m not as flexible as I would be with a DJ performance.
Moreover, I need to practice a lot and many things can go wrong. But when everything works out, it’s all so worth it. I just really enjoy playing melodies and synthesizers on stage.
My advice would be: Since the possibilities of structuring a live set can be endless, start by limiting your possibilities in the beginning (i.e. with the selection of the equipment), and focus on the essentials.
EG: Right now, social media seems to play a completely prominent role in the development of an artist’s career. What’s your stance on this? Is the bringing us closer than ever, or is it drawing our attention away from the actual music?
Moritz Hofbauer: I think there are both negative and positive aspects. Of course, sometimes it’s a bit annoying to have to stay up to date on all social media channels every day. That requires a lot of time. However, I see it as part of an artist’s profession nowadays, and for me, the positive aspects outweigh the negative ones by far.
You can easily connect with your fans and stay in touch with them. And you receive immediate feedback after shows or when you release new music. Additionally, I enjoy it to give insights into what a day on tour looks like and take fans along on the journey.
And it’s a great way to use the time while waiting at the airport or sitting in the car.
“I’ll definitely play a lot of new songs from my upcoming album. I’ve made significant changes to my live set compared to last year, replacing most of the tracks with new ones that I haven’t played yet”
EG: What’s next for Moritz Hofbauer? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
Moritz Hofbauer: A significant milestone this year will be the release of my first studio album in November. I’ve been working on it for over a year now, and I’m already really curious how people will like it. I’ve already tested most of the songs live several times, and I really like them. I think especially the first album is something very special for any artist.
Furthermore, I’ll be on tour every weekend. I’m really looking forward to being back in the US and in Mexico this September. Also, I’ll be part of the upcoming In Concert shows by Boris Brejcha, and two shows in Cyprus and Izmir are scheduled.
EG: Thank you for your time, Moritz! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take care!
Moritz Hofbauer: Thanks to you, it was a pleasure!
Moritz Hofbauer is set to perform at this year’s edition of ARC After Dark this Labor Day Weekend on September 1st-3rd, 2023. Purchase your tickets here.
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