byDJBLVD has been quickly making a name for himself within Electronic Music, developing, honing, and refining his craft to ensure that his productions and unique sonic persona consistently stand out. As he gains the attention and admiration of genre enthusiasts worldwide, presenting music infused with his signature sound, blending elements from Funk, Jazz, and Soul, byDJBLVD continues to prove his impressive talents, showing time and time again why his name deserves to be on everyone’s radar.
Today, byDJBLVD is here to talk about his musical journey; taking us back to the beginning, diving into his career so far, and teasing us with details about what’s to come next, byDJBLVD shares a glimpse into his excitingly vibrant and enthusiastically creative world.
Hi byDJBLVD, thank you for joining us. How are you?
Hey, thanks for having me. The honour is mine. I’m glad to be here with you and looking forward to discussing what it’s been like for me behind the decks and my journey. Let’s get into it.
Let’s start at the beginning – how did you first become interested in Electronic Music, what initially drew you to pursuing a career DJing and Producing?
Great first question; let’s set the stage. I remember my earliest introduction to Electronic Music being between the ages of 6-10. When I used to ride around in the car with my dad, he always had a Bargrooves CD on: for those unaware, Bargrooves is a timeless curation of bespoke Electronic tracks with compilations based on seasonal moods, it started as part of Seamless Records in the UK and was later sold to Defected in 2019. My dad had the “Cosmopolitan” CD at the time. I recently sat down in another interview, telling them I must’ve listened to that album hundreds of times.
I had no idea what drew me to continue listening to Electronic Music then. I didn’t understand it; it just sounded like the same beat repeatedly. As I took more time to understand how simplistic, yet complex, Electronic Music could be, that’s where the interest and love began. You can take Electronic Music in many ways; it sounds re-imagined with whoever touches the track. One person could flip a song soulful; another could flip it heavier and more emotional; the list continues. And this was back in the early 2000s when I started to pick this up. As I aged over the years, I silently grew my Electronic library in music apps, CDs and other forms of listening. It wasn’t until I started DJing in the mid-2010s that I started exploring the actual manipulation of how I could utilize electronic music in sets. Following that, in 2021, I decided to finally take the leap and learn how to produce and put my emotions into the genre that I grew up loving.
Taking a slight turn, what drew me to DJ initially had nothing to do with Electronic Music. I became interested in studying other DJs on YouTube and TV; it looked cool. All the DJs I grew up watching made the technical aspects of the craft look so easy, and I was amazed at how they did so. I wanted to learn and be a part of the culture, and here we are today.
Do you remember your first performance? Can you tell us about it, what was it like?
Oh wow, this takes me back. My first performance was at a college bar in Long Island, New York, USA, named “Catch.” At the time, I was an open-format DJ, spinning Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B, EDM, and more. Also, it was my first time DJing in front of a crowd, and it was extremely packed that night. It was a bit overwhelming; there was an intense light show, I was elevated over the crowd, and it was my first time DJing out to a crowd for hours. As you can imagine, I fumbled that night and did horribly. But that was a learning lesson for me.
Luckily, my good friend and fellow DJ, Jibz, was there to support and he took over. I spent the whole night watching him, learning how he worked the crowd with the mic, decided on his next song, transitioned from one track to the next and finally, how he changed the mood seamlessly across the night. Every weekend after, I came to watch and study him. A month later, I was back on the stage, spinning and getting in the groove of what it meant to DJ for an actual crowd. To this day, this is the same technique I use when I’m improving upon my DJing or production skills. I will watch a video a million times or study a DJ’s set repeatedly to analyse every part of what drove them to success.
All in all, I’d say that was an excellent first failure and performance. Failure humbles you, reminding you there is always more to learn in various areas.
What is your favourite part about performing live?
My favourite part about performing live will always be watching the crowd move to the music I’m spinning. Typically, I’m playing soulful, groovy or jazzy tunes you can’t resist tapping your foot to. When I see the music and groove completely take over folks, they lose their inhibitions and dance freely; it means the world to me and reinforces why I love what I do.
I think people consistently underestimate the power of music, and quite often. Historically, music has always been a tool to conjure nostalgia, allow us to connect deeper with one another and help us to learn more about someone else’s culture, whether new or old. I try to ensure that every DJ set of mine includes a variety of instrumentation that nearly forces you to get out of your seat, move, groove, and connect with others doing the same. As I like to say during my sets, “If you ain’t movin’, baby, what is you doing?”
How would you describe your style? What do you think sets you apart from other DJs in the genre?
I’d describe my style as the “Groove Operator” if I had to put it into one phrase. Everything is infused with vibrant instrumentation, melodies, and grooves that you can’t resist moving to, from my music productions to my DJ sets. If anyone has ever seen me, DJ, they can attest that I usually move and dance behind the booth the entire time. I have a pet peeve about DJs who stand still during their sets or only do light motions with their hands. I bear the question to those DJs: do you not enjoy the music you play? What is it about your set that doesn’t have you dancing? I don’t get it because I can never resist dancing while spinning.
A fun fact: when I started to grow in popularity during the live-streaming era of COVID, I actually took on the name “The Disco Don.” At the time, I spun a lot of Disco, Funk and Soul that influenced much of the House music we listen to today.
Regarding what sets me apart from other DJs spinning Deep House, Jackin House and UKG, I attribute my differentiating factor to the amount of thought and science that goes into my DJing. My sets are built around the psychology of music, consumer listening habits and emotions. I choose my tracks carefully based on the feelings I seek to evoke in my audience and the type of instrumentation and effects I’ll enhance the song with. DJ sets should tell a story; by the end, it should feel like the conclusion of an excellent film you sat through. It’s rare that I find a DJ whose set feels exactly like that for me. Having said that, I try to live by my own words and ensure my sets do that for listeners.
Can you tell us, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned throughout your musical journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned across my musical journey, which I know has nothing to do with music specifically, is to be 100% genuine in your interactions with other artists. If you’ve been in this industry for some time, you understand how good some folks are at masquerading around as if they genuinely care about your work and journey. Also, you know how easily people will use you if the opportunity presents itself. As much as I love the DJ and Electronic community, it’s not incorrect to admit this harsh truth about the two.
I implore every artist to approach every person you meet with genuine intention and interest and seek not to take first but to look at what you can offer them. Showing real love and interest in someone’s talent, whether behind the decks, in music production, event curation, industry knowledge, etc., goes so far. And those who know this will recognize it quickly. The best part about leading with this mentality is that support doesn’t have to be monetary; it could be tangibly showing face at their events. Support can ensure you consistently promote their content and support future music releases.
In its simplest form, spread good and positive vibes. On a deeper level, think about how you can connect deeper with your audience, fans, fellow DJs and Producers, clients and team. It will open doors you never imagined were accessible.
Where would you like to perform in the future?
I’d love to perform in several countries in the future, and hopefully, that is soon. I got back not too long ago from spinning in Mexico – I’d love to return to spin in a place like Tulum or similar. Across the water in Europe, I have a dream of spinning in London. That will likely be the first to happen, considering my UK Garage catalogue and connections are growing relatively quickly. A couple of other countries I’d love to perform in include Amsterdam, Berlin, Italy, and Spain. Rome and Barcelona are two major dreams for me as well. I must continue pushing to make these dreams a reality – only time will tell!
What techniques, gear, or sounds would you like to experiment with next?
As far as techniques, gear and sounds I’ve been looking to experiment with next, I’m expanding my knowledge across a couple of different areas.
Regarding DJing, I’ve been focusing on my scratching more, practising some more challenging scratch techniques and integrating them across my sets in varying BPM ranges. From a music production standpoint, I’d love to start branching out into having more vocalists, including myself, featured in my music. I’ve done some adlibs on my tracks before and a bit of spoken word. However, I’m in a space where vocals plus instrumentation add another layer of depth to my music that I love. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear more vocals on my upcoming tracks. It might even be me that you hear.
What do you look for in a track to add it to a live set?
When digging for tracks to add to live sets, whether they are already in my library or if I’m scrolling through Traxsource or Beatport, I always begin with the mood or theme of the set. I build an entire storyboard, starting with what type of environment I envision playing the set. I ask questions like what will the environment lighting be? Is it inside or outside? Is there a lot of greenery/nature in the space? What are the characteristics of the people who typically visit this imaginary venue? What do they do on the weekends? My list of questions can go on forever.
While this sounds like a lot of thought to put behind a set, I can’t build a set any other way. As I may have shared, my professional background is in marketing. I’m always thinking of ways to better connect to my audience, engage with them, create memories, and evoke emotion, which brings me to what I look for. Another key component I look for when adding tracks to a set is the musical key. I build my music productions and sets based on a set of keys. These keys typically indicate the emotion I want to evoke from the crowd. For example, let’s say I am building a soulful, jazzy House set. I already know a handful of my songs will be either in the key of C or F minor, which are keys typically associated with love and longing. Also, I know some of those songs will be in the key of E minor and B minor, keys associated with hopefulness, patience, and submission. A lot of science goes into my choices, and this is the tip of the iceberg.
For those fellow DJs and Producers interested in this themselves, I implore you to read “On the Human Voice and the Characteristics of the Musical Keys” by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart and Ted DuBois.
What’s next for byDJBLVD? Do you have any goals in mind that you are hoping to achieve soon?
What’s next for me is hopefully booking my first Electronic festival slot in 2024, continuing to play on the road, and travelling to explore cultures and dance scenes abroad. The last time I was out of the country was when I spun in Mexico in June 2023. Sadly, I won’t be attending ADE 2023, so I’ll have to plan for next year.
It’s always been a dream of mine to spin my favourite Electronic artists who continue to inspire me alongside my tracks and move an audience the size of a festival crowd. I don’t want to do a major mainstream festival, though – I’m not too much of a fan of the Big Room EDM and whatnot that, in most cases, you have to cater to at those types of festivals. A more intimate festival abroad would be a dream. Until then, I’ll keep pumping out tracks, practising my spinning techniques and learning to be the best version of BLVD!
Finally, can you share a fun fact about yourselves that might surprise your fans?
Ironically, a fun fact about myself that coincides with my DJ career is that I care very deeply about clean/green energy, sustainability and working to ensure nightlife can become more eco-friendly. Outside of DJing, I’ve been a digital marketer alongside clean energy companies globally for nearly a decade, helping them leverage their technologies to reach aggressive climate action goals. In 2020, I joined forces with DJs 4 Climate Action, an international non-profit run by famed DJ and Producer Sammy Bananas and supported by prominent industry figures such as Soul Clap, Mira Fahrenheit, Lola Villa, Mark Funk and more.
Since joining, it’s become much more than engaging in work to make partying more sustainable. We’ve truly grown into a family. From gigs we’ve done globally to advocating for greener and cleaner policies and standards on a self, local and state-wide-level, it’s genuinely one of the best parts about combining my DJ efforts with doing what I love.
As we conclude our conversation with byDJBLVD, we thank him for his time and for sharing such a detailed insight into his musical journey; with such a clear passion and determined drive, there is no doubt that this is just the beginning for this talented DJ and Producer. Make sure to keep following him as he continues carving out his unique path, taking the Electronic Music world by storm.
byDJBLVD Online
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