BLUCK & BLINKIE
Rising star of dance, producer James Bluck, has teamed up with hitmaker Blinkie to make one of the tracks of 2021, On Your Mind (featuring vocals by Taet). And between them, they not only have a ton of software, but advice too…
James Bluck has been producing music and DJing at some of the biggest venues including Ministry of Sound, XOYO and Fabric, while Blinkie has millions of streams for his tracks including over six million alone for the track Don’t Give Up (On Love). And as well as producing their own music, both Bluck and Blinkie have remixed a huge number of acts between them, including Fleur East, Disciples, Varski, Mabel, Craig David, KSI and Sam Smith. The two producers have even remixed each other’s tracks so it was really only a matter of time before their production worlds collided and they ended up in the studio together, producing one of the house tracks of 2021 , On Your Mind, featuring vocalist Taet. Here they reveal more about their studio setups, give song-starting – and finishing – tips, and some of the best advice we’ve ever featured in these 15 Questions interviews. Well, two heads are always better than one…
1 Tell us how you got into music
James Bluck: “I’m a DJ and producer who specialises in electronic dance music. I got into music at the age of 5. I was really interested in DJs and I’ve always wanted to become one. Throughout my school life I was in various bands and started to make my own music later in college when I learned how to make music in Logic Pro.”
Blinkie: “I’m a music producer, DJ and founder/ co-owner of PXL Records. I first got into music in my early teens, started off MCing to garage and grime because I wanted to be like Heartless Crew, Pay As You Go, Roll Deep, Nasty Crew, Ruff Squad and all of the other crews around at that time. I remember when I fell in love with the feeling of getting a reaction from my friends from dropping my favourite 8-bar or 16-bar. However, then I got introduced to Steinberg Cubase and Reason and that changed my whole life. I carried on MCing and rapping into my late teens but eventually dropped the mic for a MIDI keyboard and laptop and started to explore all genres through music production and now we are here!”
2 When did you get successful?
JB: “I don’t think I’m that successful, more lucky to be able to make music and perform. When I think about it, I always had the goal of making a living somehow in the world of music. For me it all started with DJing.”
B: “I started making a living from music when my first single, Don’t Give Up (On Love), was found on Soundcloud in 2015. I started out by practising, mastering my craft and making as much music as I could, connecting and collaborating with other great writers, musicians and like-minded people and figuring out different ways to put music out and get it heard. In the end putting a song out on Soundcloud and being patient worked. One of my good friends messaged me one day and asked if she could send the song to someone. Then two or three days later, I got an offer to sign a deal for the track.”
3 What is your production philosophy?
JB: “When I approach a track I think: does it make me smile? Does it make me want to dance? These are the main things I think about.”
B: “If it moves me emotionally and physically and if the lyrics grab me, it’s a match. Everything has got magic in that moment.”
4 When did you discover the computer music route to music production?
JB : “After being in various bands at school, I started to think, ‘There’s got to be a way to do this on my own’. As you can imagine, being in a band there are lots of opinions, which are good and bad. For me, I felt like I needed to find a new avenue so I turned to making music on the computer and from there I went to college to learn music production.”
B: “The first time I recorded a song, I connected two tape players/tape recorders and mixers together to create a recording system, but other than that I’ve always worked from a computer. I first got introduced to computer music when I was in school, in year nine, during a music lesson. My teacher introduced me to Cubase and that changed everything for me. I was hooked; and I started making my own beats.”
5 Tell us about the gear in your studio
JB: “I’ve got a 2018 MacBook Pro running Logic Pro X. I use PreSonus Eris 8 monitors and a PreSonus Temblor 10 sub, plus I have a Focusrite 18i20 interface.”
B: “Mine is a quite simple setup for production and recording vocals. I have NI Maschine Mk 2 for my drums and samples, an NI MIDI keyboard, Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity and Apollo Twin, plus a Neumann U87 mic.”
6 What are your favourite plugins?
JB: “FabFilter ProQ3. An all-round amazing EQ – very clear and clean.
Waves PAZ Analyzer. I always have this open, to keep an eye on what frequencies are there and if anything needs levelling. Nicky Romero
Kickstart. Great sidechain plugin; makes my life so much easier rather than routing a bus from the kick to the synth. Three clicks and it’s ready.
iZotope Nectar 3. Great to get a quick and good sound for vocals. I look for plugins that make the process easier and don’t take me away from the idea in my head. This is ideal for when I need a vocal to sound good fast. Sonalksis Creative
Filter. Sounds smooth, very clear, doesn’t distort which I found on other filters I was using. When I need a filter, this is my go-to.”
B: “Nicky Romero Kickstart. One of my favourites, not only when I’m making house music but for all genres of music. I use it wrong on purpose to create a new vibe, a groove or just to mess with the sound a bit and it works. Korg
M1. My go-to piano plugin. I layer with a Logic stock piano when I’m working on some piano house; h it sounds great and cuts through the track tr nicely. Lennar Digital Sylenth 1. My favourite fa synth plugin. It’s easy to navigate around, a especially when I’m trying to create and tweak tw the sound to create my own vibe. It’s what used u to make my track ‘what you want’. XLN
A Audio Retro Color. I love this, as it makes a basic b Logic feel and sound cooler with a few clicks c and tweaks. It really helps when I’m trying to t create a certain mood in my music. NI
M Massive. Just one of the best bass synth VST plugins p for electronic music in my opinion.”
7 How do you tend to start a track?
JB: “I always start a track from the first build b or drop, then I build it out from there, as it’s easier e to make a drop big, then take elements away a from it to make the rest of the track.”
B B: “Each time it’s different. Sometimes I start by messing m around with a drum loop, sometimes I start s with a melody, bassline, a sample or some chords, c then start to work out the feeling of the track, t then structure and eventually song and lyrics if it needs any. Then sometimes I have musicians in and I have a concept, a feeling, a conversation or chords that I share with them. I
“My track was found on Souncloud and I got offered a deal”
“Find someone to carry the load, someone you trust”
get them to play something that’s aligned with what I’ve shared and we start to build from there. Finally, sometimes I hear the whole song in one go and I have to rush to get the idea down before it disappears.”
8 How do you know when a track is finished?
JB: “It can depend on the project. Sometimes it just feels finished and other times I need an outside perspective. My advice is to not over think it too much. If the music feels/sounds good then test it out at shows or to your friends and see what they think. I feel it’s always good to hear what others think.”
B: “I don’t! I’m always sure about what I’m trying to hear and feel when I’m creating. When the song has everything I feel it needs, I send it to my manager and my engineer so we can go over the final process of the song. If they feel that there is something missing or there’s too much going on, I am always open to their suggestions and I explore them, but I have to be the one who has the last say.
“Sometimes I finish a song straightaway, then sometimes it takes me days of coming back and listening with fresh ears, tweaking and chipping away at it slowly until I feel like it’s done. Then sometimes with songs I take them to my engineer and he helps me with smoothing things out when we work on the final mix.”
9 Talk us through one or two of your production tricks.
JB: “One production trick I use on all my tracks is using automation on the master volume and filter on the buildup on the track before the drop to give the illusion of the drop sound bigger than it really is. Taking the volume down by 1dB and filtering the low end out of the track before the track drops always gives more energy to it.”
B: “When I’m working on a single, once I have the core of the track, chords, lyrics and structure, I tend to start having an overload of ideas of the song and how it could sound. I make different versions of the same song until it feels right. It’s a bit long but I enjoy the process.”
10 How was the collaboration experience between the two of you?
JB: “Collaborating on projects is great. I’ve found it quite easy. On the single On Your Mind, with Blinkie, we started with an idea I made and from there we were bouncing ideas back and forth over email. Once we got the main idea we jumped into the studio together to do the final touches to the track.”
B: “It was great. Everyone who’s been involved in the creation of the track are all masters at what they do, so it’s been an easy, enjoyable experience. Everyone gives each other space to be who they are and play their positions and flex their strengths.”
11 What’s on your wishlist in terms of studio gear?
JB: “I have a massive list of equipment I’d love to own as you might expect, but here are just four: SSL Compressor, Universal Audio Apollo interface, a pair of Yamaha NS10 monitors and a pair of Genelec 8341 APM monitors.”
B: “A Roland TR-8, a Moog Subsequent 25 paraphonic analogue synth, Behringer Poly D polyphonic synth and a Korg MS-20 Mini.”
12 What would you like to see developed in terms of studio technology and why?
JB: “At this moment in time I’m pretty happy with the technology I use. I can’t think of anything to add.”
B: “An FL Studio loop plugin for Logic Pro that works exactly like that one in FL Studio because it has one of the best drum sequencers. If I could have that inside Logic Pro, that would level my production and workflow like crazy!”
13 What advice have you picked up from playing live?
JB: “It’s always about having fun and being in the moment, so live in that moment because you can never recreate it.”
B: “Practise a warm-up set leading up to your gig. Film yourself if you can and identify and name your habits; learn your equipment and have fun in the process. Always aim to take the crowd on a journey.”
14 And from working in the studio?
JB: “Always take breaks. That way you will give yourself time to get inspired for new ideas.”
B: “Leave your ego at the door. Give everyone space to be themselves and show their creative side freely. True creativity is freedom, and do what’s best for the song; be open to suggestions and most of all laugh and have fun. Creating shouldn’t feel like work.”
15 Any advice from being in ‘the industry’ you can pass on?
JB: “Believe in the process – it doesn’t come overnight. Enjoy your journey and grow as an artist because when you look back you’ll be amazed by how much you’ve achieved and how far you’ve come.”
B: “When it comes to the music business, always remember that it is just that: business. It can feel personal as it’s what you love, but learn to keep your feelings separate and not take anything personally. Let your manager deal with business for you so you can focus on being creative. If you don’t have a manager, try to find someone who can help you carry the load, someone who you trust. Study and learn everything you need to know about the business side of music.
“This book helped me: All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald Passman. It has everything you need to know to navigate through the business. When you’re signing deals, get a lawyer and make sure you go and find your own one. Don’t sign a deal without having a music lawyer look over your contract. Also, make as many connections as you can and try not to burn bridges. The music industry is a small place and people move around a lot. Build yourself into a person of value and know your worth.” Bluck and Blinkie’s track On Your Mind, featuring Taet, is out now. Both artists are planning live shows throughout 2022 and Blinkie has also started a YouTube series called Note To Self Daily