At the start of 2023, an ex-chocolate factory in Berlin became home to Jim Hickey’s new studio, he called it ħelwa. “Ħelwa” means candy, sweet or beautiful in his semi-native Maltese, a not-so-subtle nod to the previous life of his creative space. He soon decided to use it for his new releases as well. The Maltese American songwriter and producer made Berlin his home after passing through on tour as a session guitarist. Its jagged music and art scenes became his biggest influences after a hazy Mediterranean youth spent between the island of Malta and Los Angeles. A passion for songwriting and experimentation forms his music in the same vein as Mk.gee, James Blake and Mild Minds, while a collection of old synths and studio gear weaves the fabric of his sound.
After years of writing music for film, fashion campaigns and self-releasing several singles, EPs and remixes, Love in Rewind, was used as the title track for the “Makel” series in Germany in 2020. Since then, Hickey has collaborated with House and Techno producers as a vocalist, notably with Santé and Re.You on Cave (2021) and Won’t Say (2023) with many more collaborations still to be released.