Hot Sugar (musician)

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Hot Sugar | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Nick Koenig | alias = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | origin = New York City, New York, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = {{hlist|Electronic<ref name=noisey/>|hip hop<ref>{{cite web|url=http://potholesinmyblog.com/5-hip-hop-producers-you-need-to-know-november-2013/2/|title=5 Hip-Hop Producers You Need To Know (November 2013): Hot Sugar|work=Potholes in My Blog|first=Michael|last=Russam|date=November 13, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125074810/http://potholesinmyblog.com/5-hip-hop-producers-you-need-to-know-november-2013/2/|archive-date=January 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>|associative music<ref name=complex/>}} | occupation = Record producer | instrument = | years_active = 2008–present | label = {{hlist|Ninja Tune<ref name=vice2012>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-interview-with-hot-sugar-newest-addition-to-the-ninja-tune-roster/|title=An Interview With Hot Sugar, Newest Addition To The Ninja Tune Roster|work=Vice|first=Abdullah|last=Saeed|date=March 2, 2012|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222083047/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jpd49b/an-interview-with-hot-sugar-newest-addition-to-the-ninja-tune-roster|archive-date=December 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>|Hoko Sounds<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1692514/hot-sugar-your-nails-look-so-pretty-video-stereogum-premiere/video/|title=Hot Sugar – "Your Nails Look So Pretty" Video (Stereogum Premiere)|work=Stereogum|first=Miles|last=Bowe|date=July 16, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331053221/https://www.stereogum.com/1692514/hot-sugar-your-nails-look-so-pretty-video-stereogum-premiere/video/|archive-date=March 31, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>|Break World Records<ref name=consequenceofsound2015/>|Noise Collector<ref name=nylon2017/>}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|Antwon|Big Baby Gandhi|Heems|Kitty|Kool A.D.|Lakutis|Weekend Money}} | website = {{URL|hotsugar.bandcamp.com}} }} '''Nick Koenig''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/music-on-tv-hot-sugars-broad-city-beats-1421966844|title=Music on TV: Hot Sugar's 'Broad City' Beats|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Mike|last=Ayers|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214081945/http://www.wsj.com/articles/music-on-tv-hot-sugars-broad-city-beats-1421966844|archive-date=February 14, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''Hot Sugar''', is an American record producer from New York City, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/heres-hot-sugars-video-for-the-forest-nymph-that-lives-behind-the-school/|title=Here's Hot Sugar's Video for "The Forest Nymph That Lives Behind The School"|work=Vice|first=Kim Taylor|last=Bennett|date=August 21, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503230215/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/heres-hot-sugars-video-for-the-forest-nymph-that-lives-behind-the-school|archive-date=May 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the owner of the Noise Collector record label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com/features/2015/04/29/hot-docs-review-hot-sugars-cold-world-shows-the-irl-genius-of-a-bedroom-producer/|title=Hot Docs Review: Hot Sugar's Cold World shows the IRL genius of a bedroom producer|work=Chart Attack|first=Max|last=Mertens|date=April 29, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502123937/http://www.chartattack.com/features/2015/04/29/hot-docs-review-hot-sugars-cold-world-shows-the-irl-genius-of-a-bedroom-producer/|archive-date=May 2, 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref> He starred in the 2015 documentary film ''Hot Sugar's Cold World''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/hot-sugars-cold-world-film-837781/|title='Hot Sugar's Cold World': Film Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Frank|last=Scheck|date=November 6, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009225007/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/hot-sugars-cold-world-film-837781/|archive-date=October 9, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career== In 2011, Hot Sugar released his debut EP, ''Muscle Milk''.<ref name=prefixmag2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/features/hot-sugar-prefix-artist-to-watch/65437/|title=Hot Sugar: Prefix Artist To Watch|work=Prefix|first=Matthew|last=Ellis|date=June 6, 2012|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222151846/http://www.prefixmag.com/features/hot-sugar-prefix-artist-to-watch/65437/|archive-date=December 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In that year, he produced the Roots' song "Sleep", which was included in their ''Undun'' album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2011/11/video-the-roots-sleep|title=Video: The Roots "Sleep"|work=Complex|first=Jacob|last=Moore|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227155108/https://www.complex.com/music/2011/11/video-the-roots-sleep|archive-date=December 27, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, he released the ''Moon Money'' EP,<ref name=prefixmag2012/> as well as the ''Midi Murder'' EP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2012/10/hot-sugar-haleek-mauls-i-dont-wanna-be-judged-premiere/|title=First Spin: Hot Sugar & Haleek Maul's 'I don't wanna b judged'|work=Spin|first=Brandon|last=Soderberg|date=October 26, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223072221/http://www.spin.com/2012/10/hot-sugar-haleek-mauls-i-dont-wanna-be-judged-premiere/|archive-date=December 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, he released the ''Made Man'' EP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/news/listen-stream-hot-sugars-new-ep-made-man/|title=Listen: Stream Hot Sugar's New EP, Made Man|work=CMJ|first=Lizzie|last=Plaugic|date=October 1, 2013|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417053607/http://www.cmj.com/news/listen-stream-hot-sugars-new-ep-made-man/|archive-date=April 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In that year, he produced Kitty's song "Barbie Jeep".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/listen-to-kittys-new-banger-barbie-jeep-produced-by-hot-sugar/|title=Listen to Kitty's New Banger, "Barbie Jeep" (Produced by Hot Sugar)|work=Vice|first=Sasha|last=Hecht|date=June 14, 2013|access-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223160508/http://noisey.vice.com/ja/blog/listen-to-kittys-new-banger-barbie-jeep-produced-by-hot-sugar|archive-date=December 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, his debut studio album, ''God's Hand'', was released on Break World Records.<ref name=consequenceofsound2015>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/02/album-review-hot-sugar-gods-hand/|title=Hot Sugar – God's Hand|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Pat|last=Levy|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429195959/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/02/album-review-hot-sugar-gods-hand/|archive-date=April 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred in Adam Bhala Lough's ''Hot Sugar's Cold World'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Film/article/hot_sugars_cold_world-adam_bhala_lough|title=Hot Sugar's Cold World - Adam Bhala Lough|work=Exclaim!|first=Michael-Oliver|last=Harding|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510153123/http://exclaim.ca/Film/article/hot_sugars_cold_world-adam_bhala_lough|archive-date=May 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> which received an honorable mention at the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hot-docs-closer-we-get-792909|title=Hot Docs: 'The Closer We Get' Earns Top Prize|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502232840/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hot-docs-closer-we-get-792909|archive-date=May 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, he released a studio album, ''The Melody of Dust''.<ref name=nylon2017>{{cite web|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/hot-sugar-the-melody-of-dust-virtual-reality-album|title=Hot Sugar's 'The Melody Of Dust' Is The Future Of Music|work=Nylon|first=Hayden|last=Manders|date=March 23, 2017|access-date=April 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429232110/http://www.nylon.com/articles/hot-sugar-the-melody-of-dust-virtual-reality-album|archive-date=April 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hot Sugar's music has been used in ''Broad City''.<ref name=noisey>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hot-sugar-interview/|title=Hot Sugar on His New LP, Betrayal, 'Broad City,' and James Van Der Beek|work=Vice|first=Luis|last=Paez-Pumar|date=February 5, 2015|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506181839/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/hot-sugar-interview|archive-date=May 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He has collaborated with Antwon, Lakutis, Heems, Big Baby Gandhi, and Chippy Nonstop, among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/hot-sugar-made-man-stream|title=Premiere: Hot Sugar "Made Man"|work=Complex|first=Lauren|last=Nostro|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007010252/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/hot-sugar-made-man-stream|archive-date=October 7, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He has also directed music videos for Lil Peep's "Awful Things",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/video/2017/08/lil-peep-awful-things-video-lil-tracy/|title=Watch Lil Peep Set Himself on Fire in 'Awful Things' Video With Lil Tracy|work=XXL|first=Lindsey|last=India|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022222257/http://www.xxlmag.com/video/2017/08/lil-peep-awful-things-video-lil-tracy/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Marshmello and Lil Peep's "Spotlight",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-peep-marshmello-spotlight-video-2240619|title=Watch the video for Lil Peep's posthumous Marshmello collaboration 'Spotlight'|work=NME|first=Luke Morgan|last=Britton|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412021122/https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-peep-marshmello-spotlight-video-2240619|archive-date=April 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Smashing Pumpkins' "Solara".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/smashing_pumpkins_ready_solara_single_accompanying_video|title=Smashing Pumpkins Are Teasing Their New Single "Solara"|work=Exclaim!|first=Calum|last=Slingerland|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815222404/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/smashing_pumpkins_ready_solara_single_accompanying_video|archive-date=August 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Style and influences== According to ''Complex'', Hot Sugar's music is called "associative music, where he pulls in a ton of sounds from instruments, found sounds, and non-traditional places to sample them into his own melodies."<ref name=complex>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/hot-sugar-trauma-premiere|title=Premiere: Listen to Hot Sugar's "Trauma"|work=Complex|first=Lauren|last=Nostro|date=December 10, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403090643/http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/hot-sugar-trauma-premiere|archive-date=April 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He has been perfecting the technique since the age of 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/05/hot_sugar_interview.php|title=Q&A: Hot Sugar On Associative Music, Working With The Roots, And Sampling A Rat Who Played Keyboard (1/3)|work=The Village Voice|first=Phillip|last=Mlynar|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301111757/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/05/hot_sugar_interview.php|archive-date=March 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a 2015 interview with ''NPR'', he described associative music as "try[ing] to capture sounds the same way a photographer would capture an image: If something looks poetic, I'll record it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/10/31/453157113/hot-sugar-makes-music-out-of-anything-and-everything|title=Hot Sugar Makes Music Out Of Anything And Everything|work=NPR|date=October 31, 2015|access-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207040241/http://www.npr.org/2015/10/31/453157113/hot-sugar-makes-music-out-of-anything-and-everything|archive-date=December 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a 2015 interview with ''Nylon'', Hot Sugar stated that Kenneth Anger and John Waters are very important to him.<ref name=nylon2015>{{cite web|url=https://nylon.com/articles/band-crush-hot-sugar|title=band crush: hot sugar|work=Nylon|first=Ben|last=Barna|date=February 23, 2015|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222151851/https://nylon.com/articles/band-crush-hot-sugar|archive-date=December 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He said: "Their influence on modern culture is incalculable and their work is timelessly innovative."<ref name=nylon2015/>

==Personal life== Hot Sugar has dated Molly Soda<ref name=vice2012/> and Kitty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1338771/kitty-on-danny-brown-sharpening-her-rap-skills-and-whats-next/franchises/interview/|title=Q&A: Kitty On Danny Brown, Sharpening Her Rap Skills, And What's Next|work=Stereogum|first=Claire|last=Lobenfeld|date=May 6, 2013|access-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002064906/https://www.stereogum.com/1338771/kitty-on-danny-brown-sharpening-her-rap-skills-and-whats-next/franchises/interview/|archive-date=October 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversy== In June 2018, Hot Sugar filed a defamation lawsuit against Ricky Eat Acid and Fish Narc, stating that they "are co-conspirators who have engaged in libel and slander, among other unlawful acts, against [Hot Sugar] over the course of years including recently through various social media publications such as Twitter and Wikipedia."<ref name=pitchfork>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hot-sugar-accused-of-abuse-sued-ricky-eat-acid-and-fish-narc-for-defamation/|title=Hot Sugar, Accused of Abuse, Sued Ricky Eat Acid and Fish Narc for Defamation|work=Pitchfork|first1=Matthew|last1=Strauss|first2=Amy|last2=Phillips|date=November 16, 2018|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref> He initially sought at least $100,000 in damages, and reached settlements with both of them in August 2018.<ref name=pitchfork/>

In November 2018, multiple women, including ex-girlfriends Molly Soda and Kitty, made posts on social media accusing Hot Sugar of "sexual misconduct and abuse." Hot Sugar issued a statement on Instagram which referred to these allegations as "false and disparaging." In response to these allegations, the record labels Ghost Ramp and Ninja Tune removed albums by Hot Sugar from their respective online catalogues.<ref name="pitchfork" />

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''God's Hand'' (2015) * ''The Melody of Dust'' (2017) * ''Candlelight'' (2020) * ''Torchlight'' (2020) * ''Atlas'' (2020) {{small|(with Vulax)}} * ''Screenlight'' (2022) * ''Creation Myth'' (2024)

===Compilation albums=== * ''Solid Steel Mix'' (2012) * ''Seductive Nightmares 1'' (2013) * ''Seductive Nightmares 2'' (2014) * ''Skeletons'' (2014) * ''Seductive Nightmares 3'' (2016)

===EPs=== * ''Muscle Milk'' (2011) * ''Moon Money'' (2012) * ''Midi Murder'' (2012) * ''Made Man'' (2013) * ''Mob Mentality'' (2019) * ''Life Support'' (2019)

==Filmography== ===Feature films=== * ''Hot Sugar's Cold World'' (2015)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|www.nickkoenig.rip}} * {{Discogs artist|Hot Sugar|Hot Sugar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hot Sugar}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Musicians from New York (state) Category:American hip-hop record producers Category:American electronic musicians