Helsinki-based producer HUMS has joined the roster of MOODS INTL., becoming the first external artist signed to the label founded by GRAMMY®-nominated producer Mild Minds. The Finnish artist's debut release "Fractures" is available now, introducing his atmospheric electronic sound to the imprint's growing catalog.
The project of 28-year-old Elias Durac, HUMS creates music that blends electronic and organic elements with an intimately personal approach. "Fractures" exemplifies this aesthetic, built around static drum machine patterns layered with organic textures and incorporating sampled voice recordings from Durac's personal collection.
Mild Minds founder Benjamin David was drawn to HUMS' genre-defying approach. "His sound felt like exactly what I was listening to, something that is hard to pigeonhole but carries influence from a range of genres from UK garage, darker electronica, to melancholy house," David explains.
For Durac, who relocated to Helsinki from Turku, the MOODS INTL. partnership represents significant validation. "It's a special thing to work with individuals that love music and embrace my own creative process," he notes. "Sometimes I forget how hard it can be to manage everything alone, without getting the help and feedback from amazing people."
The HUMS project emerged during a personally challenging period in 2022, when Durac composed an entire collection of tracks within a single week. This origin story explains the music's emotional authenticity and spontaneous quality, distinguishing it from his other projects including indie alter-ego Fabianossa.
Durac's production methodology emphasizes working with limitations rather than endless possibilities. "The best thing to work with is the few things you have rather than getting overwhelmed with so many options," he explains about "Fractures," which heavily features sampled vocals from old phone recordings.
MOODS INTL. was established by Benjamin David as a response to industry changes, designed to offer artists creative autonomy while leveraging his extensive experience in electronic music. Following his successful run with ODESZA's Foreign Family Collective and recent GEMINI album release, the label represents David's expanded influence in the electronic landscape.
The signing signals MOODS INTL.'s commitment to discovering under-the-radar talent, with David noting his continued surprise "at how many great artists are still flying under the radar." Multiple HUMS releases are planned throughout 2025 as the partnership develops.
