What inspired you to become an artist?
Life is hard, and there are constant struggles. I want to give people a chance to breathe and be present; some distance from the challenges. I want people to better understand themselves and the world around them through the questions posed by my music, questions I certainly don’t have the answers to, but growing and learning together is what I think life is about, and I want to create a safe space for that.
How would you describe your music style or genre?
My music is a weird and constantly evolving collection of genres like melodic techno, ambient, synth pop and electronica, with big, lush, dreamy, emotive vocals sitting on-top. My background is as a folk songwriter, and that has become the main building block of which Blue Captive builds upon. At the centre of my music is a journey with myself, defined by thought provoking lyrical content and delivery. I find emotional intensity empowering, so many of my tracks build and build and take you to an almost overwhelming place where you are not sure what to feel, before guiding you back down to serenity, peace and bliss.
Can you share a bit about your musical journey and how it has evolved over the years?
I started as a young boy with a guitar and a lounge room piano, and over time, through endless jam sessions with my brother, I became obsessed with the songwriting process. I wrote incredibly depressing and sad songs up until I started university, channelling the emotionally complex questions life as a teenager unveils. Studying music production, my love for music evolved and transitioned away from the acoustic realm. I discovered a love for analogue circuitry, hardware, and anything I could use to make sounds that had only ever existed in my head. I took to synthesis, specifically pads, which are now the backbone of my sound. I was gifted a Behringer crave by my brother, an introductory semi-modular synth that sparked my interest in the world of eurorack, which has also since become an instrumental part of my live sets. Blue Captive was born out of a first-year live performance uni project, and has now since evolved into something I only dreamt of. Through my second year of uni, and numerous covid lockdowns, I spent every single day in a room, by myself, figuring out how to make my dream live set a reality. I started as a newbie to both Ableton and MIDI, but through what I can only describe as hundreds and hundreds of hours of pain staking problem solving, failures and irritating messes, the live set has become one of my proudest achievements.
What are some of your biggest musical influences?
As the tattoo on my knee would suggest, Tourist is one of my biggest inspirations. His ability to create so much space, and yet hold your attention for so long, is such a powerful thing. James Blake is also one of my favourite vocalists, and he has really influenced the way I sing. The same can be said about Thom York from radio head, but more so his solo music that has defined much of my sound.
Tell us about your creative process when producing a new track or mix.
A lot of the time when I write, I write for the live audience. Usually I will start by creating a cool patch on a hardware synth or a VST, something that moves, has some rhythm. Complex and layered grooves are then used to complement that one single patch, and once the groove is there, all the other elements usually just fall into place. That initial synth patch is crucial for me because it has to inspire me to sing. If it doesn’t, I find a new patch. Once the track is semi laid out, I will stick myself in a room, hit loop record, and sing across the whole track until I find something that, emotionally, feels right. Through the whole starting process I am trying to pin-point an emotion or feeling that I know I will connect with once the time comes to sing and right lyrics.
Can you share any memorable experiences or stories from your live performances?
One time I had someone lean over my whole case with all my hardware and everything in it with a drink in hand, get in real close to my ear, and shout at me something like ‘look man this music is great and all, and if I was 3 caps deep at revs it would be the best thing ever, but right now I am way too drunk and it is just a bit much..’ I still think about that comment, and it always makes me laugh.
How do you feel the music scene has changed over the years, and what impact has it had on your work?
Honestly I feel like I haven’t had enough time in the scene to really touch on that. The only thing I can say is that I wanted my set to be ready post-covid, because I knew the scene would explode after years of solidarity, and I really think that has been the case.
Are there any specific venues or festivals that hold a special place in your heart? Why?
Cercle. Something about the locations and the scenery hit home with me, and it has always been a dream of mine to do a video with them.
Lastly, what message or feeling do you hope to convey to your listeners through your music?
The fact that life isn’t pretty, and that’s okay, it is something that every human being can understand and empathise with. It’s okay if you don’t have it all together, none of us do. But being part of community of people that understand that and want to learn and grow together; that is where hope is found.
