As we gear up for another exciting year within Electronic Music, we’re taking the time to talk with the talented byDJBLVD to discover his musical goals and creative ambitions for 2024. With the past year seeing him keeping busy with numerous releases, dropping tracks like ‘The Genius Is Me’ and ‘Good Love’, byDJBLVD is sure to continue building momentum, keeping his drive and motivation high as we enter the new year. Now, as he joins SIX AM in conversation to delve into the ways in which he hopes to develop and grow as a Producer, byDJBLVD shares a glimpse into the direction he has planned for his signature sound and the career milestones he intends to reach through 2024. 

 

What musical direction or theme are you most excited to explore in your upcoming projects for the new year, and why does it resonate with you?

2023 was a very experimental year for me -- I stepped away from Deep and Jackin House a bit and leaned much more into the world of UK Garage. In 2024 and my upcoming projects, I'm excited to lean deeper into the world of UKG and combine elements of some of my other favourite genres, like Jazz, to create a unique style of grooves. I don't know about UK Garage, but that 2-step beat is infectious. I can't see myself producing any other type of music; believe me, I've tried.

 

As you enter the new year, what goals have you set for your music career, and how do you plan to work towards achieving them?

For 2024, one of my primary goals is to release at least two songs once a month. I am absolutely loving the amount of traction my music has been seeing in recent months, and I need to keep that train rolling. My audience can be on the lookout for plenty of new music in the new year. Also, I recently saw Traxsource's 2023 Best Of Artist list; another goal of mine is to end 2024 on that list. As far as how I plan on achieving that, I just have to "lock in" for lack of better words. I have a very high level of discipline, so it's truly a matter of recognizing where I want to be and the end goals and continuously striving to make it happen.

 

Can you provide a glimpse into any specific releases or milestones we can expect from you in the early months of the new year?

Of course! I'm working on a new release called "Lover's Groove," which is set to be one of the biggest releases of my career, potentially under a major label that we all know. We'll see how the cards play out, but I hope to finalize the track next week and have a date on it by the top of the year. Fans of my music can also expect a Jackin House track from me on Mango Sounds at the beginning of 2024. It's been a while since I dropped off their label, and I miss the family there. We have lots to look forward to at the beginning of the year!

Reflecting on your musical journey, what lessons from the past year do you intend to carry forward to ensure growth and success in the new year?

One significant lesson I plan to carry forward into the new year to ensure I continue to grow and succeed is allowing myself to rest, recuperate and take time away from working so hard. I work a lot, and it's easy for me to burn out from going so hard. This year, I saw the worst effects of that. I encourage all my fellow creatives to take breaks every once in a while. Don't worry; that audience will still be there. That label will still be there. If you overwork yourself, you might not be. Take care of yourself and your mental health, folks.

 

Are there any new techniques, equipment, or software innovations you plan to incorporate into your music production process in the new year?

I've mentioned this in a couple of other interviews. Still, this year, I became highly familiar with new production tools in my arsenal, such as my MIDI keyboard and the MPC workstation I recently picked up. Also, I got much more into plugin usage to spice up my tracks. Moving into 2024, I'd like to beef that up more and continue to explore using the iZotope Suite to bring my music to life and use it in conjunction with MIDI tools to get an authentic and human touch to my music.

 

Are there any artists you hope to collaborate with in the coming year, and what kind of creative synergy do you envision?

I'd love to collaborate with a couple of Artists next year, including Sebb Junior, SRRMN, JeSse and June Prod (again). I envision very jazz-filled UKG tracks utilizing different elements from their respective styles for all these collaborations. Sebb's style speaks for itself -- he's a household name, so I'd be learning from him in the process! SRRMN makes very dramatic Deep House, so adding a funky and jazzy take on his elements would be a pleasant surprise. JeSse is what real UKG sounds like, and I think our collaboration would give his elements a bit more "soul," not to mean that in a bad way. Finally, June and I collaborated earlier this year, but on a Deep House track. We need to run that collab back, but this time, the UKG way.

How do you see your sound evolving in the new year? Are there any genres or musical elements you aim to incorporate or experiment with?

Lately, I've been incorporating many R&B and West Coast G-Funk elements into my music, and it's been working surprisingly well. In 2024, I'd like to stay true to the music I love and listen to across my day and include those elements in my Garage tracks. Overall, I see my sound becoming more authentic and differentiating itself from the rigid sound you may hear across typical Garage tracks. I've often been told that my music isn't true Garage, which I agree with but also healthily disagree with. Who's to say Garage is one-sided and has a single sound? That's the beauty of music and different cultures creating new grooves. As long as it's done right, there's nothing wrong with positive experimentation.

 

How do you plan to manage your time and resources effectively to pursue your musical ambitions?

Time management has always been one area I continuously struggle with day-to-day. Between being a DJ, running a marketing agency for Artists and running my own career, I rarely find time to do things I love. What I've been getting better at is setting hard time blocks in my schedule that allocate specific periods to do a particular task. For example, I need to ensure I always exercise daily. So, from 5-7 PM daily, that's my exercise time. If I don't go to the gym within the frame, I miss it and try again tomorrow. I told myself that at least an hour of my night would be dedicated to my career, whether that's library organization, sending out emails, producing music or handling other items. I don't have all the answers but setting harsher deadlines in my schedule is a solid start to creating boundaries to pursue my ambitions and goals as an Artist effectively.

 

What do you hope your music will communicate or evoke in your listeners in the new year? Is there a particular message or emotion you wish to convey through your work?

It's funny; I've mentioned this before, but I begin my production process for each song by choosing a musical key tied to an emotion. In 2023, I feel the top of the year was closely tied to heartbreak and triumphant moments. The latter half of 2023 was very upbeat, happy, and hopeful. In 2024, I want all my music to convey happiness. I want listeners to hear every song, feel nothing but joy with where they are in life and what's coming, and be proud that they opened their eyes to see another day. We're talking nothing but good vibes, happiness, and success in 2024!

As you step into the new year, what are your overall aspirations as a DJ/Producer, and what impact do you hope to have on the Electronic music industry and your audience?

Moving into 2024, my biggest aspiration is to play my first major European festival. Playing a European Electronic festival has always been my #1 goal since beginning as a DJ and Producer, and I'd love to make that happen in 2024. 

As for the impact, I'd like to make, I hope to continue to inspire other Electronic Artists and my audience with my music and to demonstrate that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I routinely say that my story and journey as an Artist isn’t one of glitz and glamour. I wasn't given any handouts; I didn't ask for any co-signs. I worked for everything I have and continue to grind for everything I want. I speak for all the Artists who feel they aren't being watched or are bothered that they aren't where they want to be. I promise you, it will come all in due time. And when your time comes, don't let anyone make you feel bad for bragging about what you worked hard for. That's the envy in their heart speaking.

Keep staying true to yourself, being a student of the craft, networking and being willing to learn. I see your shine.

 

Connect with byDJBLVD: Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify