Johan Cederberg, known by his stage name HNNY (pronounced “honey”), is a Swedish ambient and house music producer and DJ. Born in Malmö, Sweden in 1988, his family moved to Stockholm when he was five years old.
Musical Style and Influences
Johan began listening to hip-hop in Stockholm, inspired by Swedish groups and American artists such as De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. Later, he developed an interest in electronic musicians like Four Tet and Manitoba. One of his main influences is the American minimalist composer Steve Reich, whose samples featured in one of HNNY’s earliest releases.
HNNY’s production style often incorporates vocal sampling from American R&B tracks alongside various esoteric samples. While he was initially immersed in house music trends, his work also includes ambient and downtempo pieces, reflecting his evolving musical perspective.
Producer and DJ Career
HNNY has been active since 2012, releasing music on numerous labels including Anjunadeep, Local Talk, Let’s Play House, Loft Records, Omena, Puss, Permanent Vacation, Pets Recordings, White Label, and Studio Barnhus. Currently, he releases material on his own label, Puss.
His releases are often accompanied by illustrations of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, a symbol he calls his trademark.
Career Highlights:
- In 2011, HNNY released an edit of Mariah Carey’s “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which received mixed reviews.
- In 2012, he signed with Local Talk for his debut EP, whose title track “For The Very First Time” contains a vocal sample from Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love.” That year also saw the release of a popular Steve Reich edit.
- In 2013, HNNY performed a live DJ set for Boiler Room Stockholm and released singles including “Mys/Kela,” “No,” “Boy,” and “Exactly,” featuring vocal samples from hits by TLC, Brandy and Monica, and Christina Aguilera.
- In 2014, he released singles “Sneeze” (sampling Beyoncé), “Always,” and “Most Really Pretty Girls Have Pretty Ugly Feet.”
- In 2015, HNNY was featured in Vice’s “Noisey You Have To Hear This” series, creating a track sampling city sounds from Stockholm. He regularly updates his SoundCloud with new releases and a series of mixes called “Music for Listening.”
- In 2016, he canceled planned shows due to personal health issues, later revealing struggles with mental health.
- In 2017, HNNY returned with the EP Ta Paus (“take a break”) on the Swedish label Omena, shifting from typical house and disco productions toward a more ambient sound.
Popular Tracks and Legacy
Among HNNY’s most popular tracks on Last.fm are “Most Really Pretty Girls Have Pretty Ugly Feet,” “Sunday,” “Cheer Up, My Brother,” and “Kindness.”
Final Thoughts
HNNY’s career is a testament to the fluid nature of electronic music — a journey that effortlessly moves between house rhythms, ambient landscapes, and unexpected sonic experiments. His unique ear for sampling, deep musical influences, and playful artistic identity have made him a distinctive voice in Sweden’s vibrant electronic scene. Whether reimagining R&B hooks or weaving intricate textures from everyday sounds, HNNY continues to prove that music can be both familiar and surprising — a warm, ever-evolving conversation between artist and listener.
