Created by siblings, Eva and Philipp Milner, Hundreds is an invitation to experience a blend of electropop and orchestral art-pop. Functioning as a trio, with the drummer, Florian Wienczny, the band exists somewhere at the crossroads of genres, successfully escaping easy comparisons. Their latest album, “Sirens”, had been written over a five-year period. Bringing themes of the pressures of reality, grief, loss, or political tensions, it imagines humanity as an underwater society of aquatic creatures. This simple “concept switch” brings a lot of depth to the metaphor which is unfolding as the album’s songs unravel. The emotions feel heavier, denser, but also filled with symbolic poetry which works as a sort-of disguise for the subject matter. It is only when you allow yourself to fully immerse in the Hundreds’ aquatic concept, that you will understand the message behind the sounds. And this is exactly how I approached listening to “Sirens” before asking the following questions to Hundreds. If you would like to know more – read on!
Bartek: “Hundreds are made of deep sea, solace & light”. This is the opening line of your Spotify description. What is the meaning of this ethereal reference in relation to your band, your creative process and your music?
Hundreds: It’s an image more than a definition. The “deep sea” stands for the unknown, for things we don’t fully understand yet. “Solace” is the quiet space we try to create with our music. And “light” is maybe the hope that runs through everything. Our process often moves between those three states — going deep, finding stillness, and then trying to bring something back to the surface.
Fifteen years after your debut, you have been touring almost the entire time. From your own observation, how do you think the electronic music scene has evolved during this time?
It has become much faster and more fragmented. There’s a constant pressure to release and to stay visible. At the same time, the tools have become more accessible, which is a beautiful thing. But we try to stay a bit outside of that speed and work in our own rhythm.
It took five years to finish your latest album, “Sirens”. What was the main creative driver and the main hurdle behind the making of your record?
The main driver was curiosity. We didn’t want to repeat ourselves, so we kept searching. We wanted to make a very minimalistic record, sound-wise. We failed quite spectacularly. The biggest challenge was probably knowing when to stop. When you work on something for that long, it’s hard to let it go.
You titled your album in direct relation to the mythical creatures of sirens. Where do you think their mysterious songs lead humanity nowadays?
The myth is still very present. Today, the “sirens” might be the things that constantly pull our attention — screens, information, noise. They promised connection or meaning, but often lead us further away from ourselves and real community.
Your music exists at the crossroads of electronica, and atmospheric, cinematic vibes. With this fusion of sounds, where do you want to take your audience to during your live performances?
We try to create a space where people can slow down and let themselves go. Our concerts are less about distraction and more about immersion — somewhere between intimacy and something larger, almost cinematic.
How would you define the evolution of the storytelling on “Sirens”? Is there a common thread as the tracks progress from start to finish of the record?
It’s not a linear story. But there is a common emotional thread — a movement between searching, losing orientation, and trying to find a sense of direction again. All songs live in that same inner landscape.
With tracks such as “Walk on Walls” and “I See You”, the album, as a whole, sounds quite eclectic, yet surprisingly consistent at the same time.
Yes, that was intentional. We like contrast — different textures, different energies. But the emotional core stays the same, and that’s what holds everything together.
Let’s talk emotions. What is the main emotion or impression you would like to leave your listeners with as the album comes to an end? What should motivate them to play it again?
Maybe a quiet sense of openness. Not resolution, but the feeling that something is still unfolding. That’s also what might make you want to return — not everything is answered.
Now that “Sirens” is out and lives its own life in the headphones of your fans, what’s next?
For now, we want to let the album live. Playing it live in April in Germany, seeing how it changes in different spaces, with different audiences — that’s where it really becomes complete for us.
Photo: Album cover / press release
More info: https://www.hundredsmusic.com
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