Canada’s leading lady changing the dance music game her way…
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Sydney welcome back to DMCWORLD. A big week for you with the release of your brand new ‘Change The Game’ album, a long player that you readily admit was hard work to accomplish – what was the toughest part, creating the five new tunes or the licensing?!
“I would definitely say the production part is always the most challenging. Those tracks were made over the course of a year and took a lot of work. The licensing however, was also a challenge but I had the awesome licensing team over at Black Hole doing that for me. I just picked what I wanted and they told me whether i could get those tracks or not. I did take a lot of time picking out the songs as I wanted it to be as diverse as possible and also flow smoothly.”
Let’s talk about the new music. You have the Buzz Chart team jumping through hoops with NYCMIA, loving the piano synths and groovy bassline. Talk us through the track which is really different from everyone else is doing right now…
“Ya it is very different and I honestly wrote that after being super inspired at a Deadmau5 concert on a plane ride from New York to Miami. I opened for him at the Rogers Centre in Toronto 2 years ago, there was 35 thousand people there and I started writing that track right after the concert. The crazy piano synth sounds were what I created first and I built the track around that. I felt like I wanted to do something different with it….I definitely succeeded! I am going to continue down the path of doing my own thing. The EDM thing is over for me pretty much now.”
I am going to continue down the path of doing my own thing. The EDM thing is over for me pretty much now.”
Some lovely collaborations on there, working with Betsie Larkin must have been wonderful…?
“I loved working with Betsie. She is SO talented and a great song writer. I met her many years ago in Toronto with Ferry Corsten and we discussed maybe working together in the future. A few years later we wrote Nightlight with James Doman and it was clearly a success.”
The album contains a serious amount of music genres in there, that must have been so hard to keep it flowing?
“It was hard. I used my own ear for the mixing and when it was done i checked it all with Mixed in Key. I wanted to make SURE the tracks were all completely flowing together as it was so many genre’s and could easily have sounded all over the place. I think i did a good job. Everyone who has commented to me about it has said they thought it flowed well together. This was also my way of showing people you don’t have to pigeon hole yourself into a corner of just one genre of music. I hate how eveyrthing is so segregated now…I love so many kinds of music…I want to be able to play it all without getting crucified by the genre police.”
You saw this project as a warm up for the next installment from Sydney Blu – the artist album! I believe you are already busy writing both on your own and with some other artists including Gina Star?
“Yes next is my artist album. I have already about 4 tracks that are collabs on the go and then I’m gonna hit hard with 4/5 solo tunes. The track with Gina is progressive and it’s gonna be amazing. I enjoy working with her…we definitely vibe in and out of the studio. I will also be focusing on some proper HOUSE records. This is my roots and I’m going back to it.
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
Sydney Blu – NYCMIA (Black Hole)
Eric Prydz – Rotonda (Pryda)
Riva Starr, Fatboy Slim – Eat Sleep Rave Repeat (Skint Records)
Haze-M, Enfants Malins – Keep Your Love (Frequenza)
Thomas Schomacher – Every Little Peice (Hot since 82 Remix)
Umek & Groovebox – Cause and Effect (Toolroom)
Phunk Investigation – Everybody (Tiger Records)
Alex Seda – Stranger (Dub mix) (Blu Music)
Josh Butler – Got a Feeling (Bontan Remix/Pleasurecraft Edit) (Kraftek)
Prok & Fitch – Can You Feel It (Toolroom)
One of the most exciting things consuming your life at the moment is the fascinating documentary series that your record label Black Hole is presenting at the moment. A kind of biographical travel show following you on tour, when did this idea come about?
“At the beginning of the year we started discussing music videos. I have music videos included in my record deal with Black Hole and after pondering over different possibilities of the video’s I decided I didn’t want to make a cheesy music video. Instead we agreed this documentary series would be MUCH cooler and out of the box. We then started prepping for Episode 1, which was when I was moving from Denver to Los Angeles. Since then it’s been a huge success and it’s definitely got people talking.”
Watch here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uOz5Q0jCDU
You have hit three cities so far, LA, Miami and Chicago – I suppose you didn’t need any research with those places!
“I havn’t done any research on these cities no! Moving to LA was the theme of Episode 1. Episode 2, I lived in Miami and didn’t have to research it, I just recounted my time there. Episode 3 Chicago, I already knew a lot about the history of the city and I interviewed Chicago natives on their experience there. The 4th Episode Toronto needs also no research..that is my home…and will be a VERY exciting episode. We start editing this week!”
So everyone wants to know, what’s it like having a film crew hanging around all of the time, have there been any ‘and you can cut that part out straight away!’ moments?!?!
“Yes, totally and the guys cut out the parts if I ask them too (thank god). I am heavily involved with editing…this is not a reality show….it’s a documentary about my life. I definitely want people to see me for exactly who I am though. It’s been really fun…there are times when it has been definitely awkward having the camera’s following me around but I’ve gotten used to it. The guys also have a good way of not making it look like the camera’s are filming.”
Has this given you a passion for more TV work in the future?
“We are actually discussing turning this into a show. We need more funding to go abroad and we also would like to make it much bigger. The response is huge so far so expect for it to definitely grow.”
Where have some of the recent great stand out gigs been on your Change The Game Album Tour?
“New York City/Brooklyn I played a rave called BangonNYC . It was incredible. 2000 people in a warehouse and i played with Felix the Housecat. Toronto was and always is incredible. I play Footwork which was voted #4 club in North America this year. I get to play from my heart when I play there which is a rarity in North America these days. Also I headlined Pride Central Stage Toronto and this was also amazing. Thousands of people in the street and it was certainly epic. Avalon in Los Angeles also a recent AMAZING show. It was the first time I had played the late/closing slot and I decided to play techno and house and it went OFF. I was so happy because in my previous times I had played the bigger room stuff because I played earlier in the night. This time I went on at 3am and it was no-holds barred. I will definitely be playing that slot again next time.”
Looking at some of the pit stops on your tour diary, it still amazes me how far the US scene has come these last two years. Alberquerque, New Haven, Hamptons – how do these pockets of club culture differ in the clubber’s knowledge to the big cities? Do they still know their stuff?
“They do. New Haven I play next week and it’s an afterhours…Albequerque…you’d be surprised how knowledgable these people are with Electronic music. It’s actually one of my fav places to play.”
It seems the American scene is fragmenting with people now up for experimenting with different genres other than EDM. House music for instance seems to be back in vogue?
“Yes absolutely. I think that finally the EDM thing is fizzing out a little (it’s gotten so ridiculous). I do like some big room records but so much of it makes me cringe lately.”
Who is the person from history you would most like to have a glass of wine with?
“I would really like to have a glass of wine with Madonna. She is alive…and I still think there might be a chance!”“
The film you can watch over and over…
“Ok don’t laugh…but I’m a girl…and Eat Pray Love is one of my favorite movies…yes I know 99% of people who just read that are laughing their asses off at me right now…but the reason I love it is because she travelled to the most amazing places! and I would love to go to all of them. I’m also a bit of a Yogi so that’s another reason.”
It may not be good for my image, but I really love…
“Once again Eat Prey Love haha!…ok also Hot Dogs…most guiltiest pleasure ever…but they cause cancer and I dont want that so I try to stay away…’
The last great album you listened to?
“Album start to finish…Florence and the Machine Ceremonials & MTV Unplugged. I also just bought the Best of Depeche Mode which has been on repeat.”
What is the best and worst thing about living in Los Angeles?
“Best: It’s beautful and sunny almost everyday, it’s warm, gorgeous scenery, the music industry is here and I get to hang out with great people I have a lot in common with….and people love to be healthy…I hike a lot. That’s more than one thing I know but I love it here lol.
Worst: the Cheesy side of the club scenes…I hate cheesy clubs…but I just don’t go to them.”
Who are some of the producers you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Hot Since 82, Tube and Berger, Prok and Fitch, Phunk investigation, Umek, Eric Prydz, Fehrplay, Gina Star.”
What is the 1 festival you cannot wait to hit this summer?
“Burning Man. I’m going and I’m performing Friday night in the Apex Coliseum. Also a couple more gigs coming up too at the festival.”
Best ever festival experience?
“Probably Ultra Music Festival Miami last year. I played for an insane crowd and it was amazing. Also a festival I played in Egypt with 5000 people was pretty incredible…and then there was the Deadmau5 concert at Rogers Centre with 35000 people. My whole family was there…amazing experience.”
What is the song you cannot get out of your head right now?
“Josh Butler – Got a Feeling (Bontan Remix/Pleasurecraft Remix).”
Best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Don’t settle for mediocrity.”
We hear there are rumours of a European Tour later this year…?
“Yes, I’ll be at ADE and will let you guys know about that very soon!”
And finally, what song means more to you than any other?
“Moody – BPT feat DM Binxter. The main song that really got me into house music.”