BLUFELD INTERVIEW

With a new release out on Green Martian in the beginning of this month, we took a couple of minutes to chat with David Hearn aka Blufeld!

Hi David, great to speak with you. How are you today?

B: Hello yes I’m great thanks

What sort of things do you like to do in your downtime?

B: Well I’m always looking really to work on the next loop or chord idea for my next production under one of my aliases, to which there are quite a few, just maybe lesser known than my main Blufeld project. I also enjoy various sporting activities.

How did you get into music production and who or what would be your biggest influences?

B: This could be a long answer but I’ll keep this one as simple as I can, 80’s electronic new romantic tunes, 90’s euro dance, which then led to my absolute love for trance which I really started to listen to closely from when I first heard System F “Out Of The Blue” on Judge Jules’ Radio One show back in 1999. Influences? there are many, but I would say the main few at the time which inspired me the most to produce were, M.I.K.E, Airwave, Plastic Angel and Quadran. Just a real combination of trance acts that were around at that time.

Your music is emotive and designed to provoke deep and thoughtful insight, how would you describe your own sound?

B: I would call it Deep & Emotive, with an ethereal lift. I think a lot of producers are pigeon-holed into a certain type of sound a lot, and I like to think I just create the music that I feel from deep inside on each and every production. It just so happens that I have a leaning to express myself in a progressive trance style of sound quite a lot.

We understand you have a new track out now which is a follow up to a track from your very first album, can you tell us more about that?

B: Yes this is a sequel track to my original single which came out on Bonzai Trance Progressive in 2009, it was well received and I felt it could do with a sequel. “Metrobot” is singular about a name I gave to my own imaginary robot. When I was a kid I used to be fascinated with them, so originally I wanted to bring this childhood fascination to life. The sequel single is entitled “Metrobot City”, basically it’s my finalising of my mind that “Metrobot” has to come from somewhere. I wanted to choose a completely new name for this, but at the same time I wanted people to totally recognise the fact that this is a sequel, so hence the title.

You have a very impressive back catalogue now with Bonzai, how did you first get signed to this label?

B: I had listened a lot to artists from Bonzai from way back in the late 90’s, as I used to buy white labels and vinyl from my local independent underground dance music shop. I still have those early vinyls from artists such as Airwave, Push, Blue Alphabet and Quadran to mention just a few. So when I had the right equipment and I had a track that I felt maybe good enough, I knew exactly where I wanted to send my first real demo. The very first tune that was signed to Bonzai was an EP called “Special” this featured two original tracks, “Special” and “Little Wonder” in early 2008.

There is a healthy demand for you to do remixes for other artists, what would be your favourite remix you have done?

B: Well I only ever agree to remix tunes that I feel I can add something to, I have had a fair few remix requests that’s true, but I always feel bad if I have to say no because it’s such a compliment to be asked in the first place. To be honest all the remixes I have done I have enjoyed, although remixing Quadran’s “Forgive Me” was a real delight and also the chance I had to remix Plastic Boy’s “Silver Bath” for a Bonzai remix competition in 2008 was also amazing. My remix went on to feature on a Cream compilation called “Cream Future Trance” in 2009, which was a great moment for me to see, this gave me a lot of encouragement to continue on my journey producing the best music I could.

Already you have three stunning studio albums in particular your latest “Thoughtscapes”, how do you get inspired to work on these and will there be a fourth anytime soon?

B: Thanks for the compliments. I only ever write music from the heart at that moment when I have an idea. Although I normally start with an overall theme or feel, I want to achieve from the album, as this helps me to focus on keeping it sounding like the tracks should be together as a final package. Although I think “Thoughtscapes” is the truest reflection of the journey of my life so far. This album was a concept album and was so easy for me to write as it was just a case of conveying my journey to sound and it felt so natural and fluid. I really haven’t given a fourth album much thought at this stage, although I never say never!!! I have a few projects forthcoming, and my albums have come out 2009, 2011,and 2013 respectively, so 2015? watch this space!!!?!!!?

Can you tell us a bit about what you are working on at the moment and maybe some upcoming projects?

B: Well I have actually had a little break lately from production, the “Thoughtscapes” album was a lot of work, and took a lot from me emotionally and was many countless evenings and nights of work to be honest. Although I have a few releases coming up including a couple of remixes, one for Philthy Chit and another for 06R, also a possible collab in the future with Manu Riga, working directly with him in his studio hopefully. And I have just started work on a new ‘Original’ so we will see how that goes.

Describe a day in the life of Blufeld?

B: I’ll keep this simple. Well I have a day job to earn my living, so I get up and start work for 9am and finish at 5.30pm so by the time I’m at home and showered etc, it’s gone 6 or 6.30pm. Then its food time, then a choice depending on the day, either see a friend or work in the studio. I keep a simple life.

If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be?

B: I would want to be climbing my favourite mountain called ‘Blencathra’ in glorious sunshine, with a sweeping and swirling breeze wrapping itself around me. It’s just so stunning and the beauty at the peak of the climb that surrounds you is just simply breathtaking, that it makes my heart flutter just digging back into my memories thinking about it.

Thanks so much for speaking with us David, take care.

B: Thanks very much for giving me this opportunity to have this interview with you, all the very best.