Following in the tradition of our Featured Artist of the Month, Blake was kind enough to take some time and answer a couple of questions we at United States Trance Movement had for him. If you’re anything like us and love to learn what makes these super talented DJ’s and Producers tick, then check out our interview below. From food to travels, to productions, gigs and even a special unannounced project, take a peak into the world of Blake Jarrell.
And if you haven’t already be sure to check out Blake Jarrell’s Featured Artist of the Month article we did earlier this month.
USTM: First and foremost, Happy New Year! How was your winter holiday? How did you spend it?
Blake: I had a really quiet holiday this year and it was nice. Usually I’m on the road as holiday season is a big time for events, but this year it was good to just relax with family and friends.
USTM: 2010 was quite a busy year for you. Your tour schedule alone had you playing over 60 gigs! Tell us a little bit about your travels last year. Were there any cities/gigs worth highlighting?
Blake: This year was amazing for gigs. Some highlights were definitely Cocorico in Riccione Italy (the Italians are the best party animals!), playing for 15,000 Russians in St Petersburg, playing for the 4th year in Ibiza at Amnesia, Brazil tour during Carnivale, my residency in Las Vegas, my Concentrate nights in Chicago…I could go on and on. I’m really lucky to have such a great team of booking agents that always put me in wonderful places and its also really nice to be able to tour with Armin Van Buuren from time to time and play some amazing places I don’t normally get to play on my own.
USTM: 2009’s Boracay (Venaccio Remix) is arguably my favorite Blake Jarrell track, but 2010 was another awesome year for you production wise. Give us your top 3 Blake Jarrell tracks from 2010.
USTM’s Top 3 Blake Tracks:
1. Blake Jarrell – Galapogos (Original Mix)
2. Blake Jarrell – Maresias (Arnej Remix)
3. TyDi – Calling feat. Audrey Gallagher (Blake Jarrell Remix)
Blake ‘s Top 3 Blake Tracks:
1. Blake Jarrell – Boom From The Amplifiers (Original Mix)
I like this one the most because it was just something I did for fun in between doing the Calling remix and my remix of Armin Van Buurens Youtopia. I was kicking around the sample and just built a nasty groove around it. I did the whole track in about a day. Its not my normal melodic sound or feel, but it’s nice to do something a little different from time to time for my own creative sake.
2. TyDi – Calling feat. Audrey Gallagher (Blake Jarrell Remix)
Tyson sent me this one and there was just something about the way Audrey’s vocals sat on top of the chords. I had to put my own personal touch on it.
3. Blake Jarrell – Maresias (Original Mix)
My follow-up to Boracay and Galapagos. I went to Maresias in Feb ’10 and it was so beautiful there I had to try and capture it in sound. The beaches were amazing and the club (Sirena) rocked. Now I have something that will help me remember it forever and also help people who have never been there experience it.
USTM: Tell us a little bit about how you got into DJ’ing/producing? What DAW(s) are you in, and what’s your “go-to” soft synth?
Blake: I got into DJing after hearing mix comps that my brother Shane would bring home from the local clubs. As soon as I figured out that the DJ wasn’t actually creating the music but rather telling a story with the tracks and mixing them, I immediately had to start producing it as well. I have used pretty much every DAW and program there is to produce music but I think I’m finally settled with Logic. I love the mixdown and the native plug-ins in Logic. The work-flow and the liquidy feel of the sound that comes out of it is just so nice. As far as synths go, I use Spectrasonics Omnisphere pretty much all of the time, but have been really liking how the filter in Sylenth1 sounds. I don’t use any hardware at all, nor have I ever owned a set of monitors. I’m all in the box and use headphones. Crazy but it works for me.
USTM: You’re earning quite a reputation through your legendary 8-hour extended sets at Vision, Chicago. What goes in to prepping for such a long night? How do you feel when you’re up there?
Blake: Thanks. I really don’t have to put a lot of planning into my sets there. Vision is one of those places that just “gets it.” I’ve been playing there for so long and know how to read the room, so its pretty much autopilot. I know a few key tracks that I definitely want to play, but everything else is pretty much on the fly. I get a special feeling when I play at Vision because it’s my current hometown, I know all of the patrons and staff like family, and Chicago is also the city that saved my life after Hurricane Katrina…the best way I can describe it is like it’s the best birthday party you’ve ever had.
USTM: Your style, while not classically defined as Trance, definitely blurs the lines of traditional categorization. Tell us a little bit about what influences you to play such a dynamic range.
Blake: I agree with you, I wouldn’t really call what I do “Trance” in the traditional sense and I think a lot of the Trance DJs that play my music would totally agree. I’m much more influenced by the classic progressive house sounds of the 1999-2005 era when guys like Sasha were playing these amazingly different sounding records that were bordering the lines of trance since they were so melodic and so epic. I like to think that what I do today in the studio is a fresh take on that. I’ve always liked the more intelligent and heady side of dance music more than the obvious and cheesy. I try to make records that put the listener some place else while still having the proper dynamics, groove, and arrangement that “work” on the dancefloor and create those explosive moments we all love about Trance music. Of course I’ve also done a lot of “fun” records like my bootleg remixes of Snow Patrol and Anna Nalick and definitely wouldn’t rule out doing something like that again.
USTM: When you aren’t touring or tucked away in the studio, what do you like to do for fun, or to relax?
Blake: Me relax? Ha! To be honest I’m so totally obsessed with music it’s all I really think about and do all day, 24/7. If I’m not working in the studio then I’m outside for a run listening to music or running errands listening to music or at a club with friends listening to music…it’s all I do and I’m totally OK with that!
USTM: Favorite place to eat in New Orleans? Best Pizza in Chicago?
Blake: My favorite place to eat in New Orleans is my mom’s house. Sure, New Orleans is known for its great restaurants and celebrity chefs, but the best New Orleans food is someone’s family recipe for Gumbo or Jambalaya etc. that’s been handed down and tweaked over generations. There is also something very social about New Orleans food that people don’t stop to realize. In New Orleans people plan their entire day around when, where, and what they are going to eat and with whom. A Crawfish boil is a perfect example of that. It’s the only food I can think of that you HAVE to have an entire party for.
People usually say the best pizza in Chicago is either Uno’s or Gioardanos but I personally like Pizannoson State Street. It’s first place I ate at when I moved to Chicago and their pizza is amazing.
USTM: Thank you again for your time and best of luck in 2011. Is there anything else you’d like to share with the fans of the United States Trance Movement?
Blake: Be ready for lots of new music in 2011!
Source: http://usatrancemovement.com/home/2011/01/17/interview-with-blake-jarrell/
