Sydney Blu - One of Canadas most popular djs.

6 Comments

Posted on July 8th 2009 by Owen Thomas

Who: dj Sydney Blu
Where: O Ultra Lounge
When: Saturday July 11th, 2008

Here's a quick interview with Sydney Blu, former resident dj and held it down for 6 years at the legendary Guvernment Nightclub.

How did you discover electronic music and when did you decide to become a DJ?
In Ottawa I used to goto a club called Atomic nightclub all the time and that was pretty much my favourite club for dance music. I mean, I didn't really know of any clubs before then cause I'm from Thunder Bay. It's a pretty small town. I went to college in Ottawa. It was pretty much my discovery of dance music and house music.

 So after you became Djing, what chain of events led to the decision of becoming a DJ for a full time career?
I was basically on my way to work at Walt Disney World. I had a job there. When I went to college I graduated from travel and tourism. After that I moved here (Toronto) and I was here for just a few months but I decided to buy turntables instead of to go to Walt Disney world and decided to give Djing a try. I got my first gig and I did really well, then they brought me back to play. I got a couple more residencies and then the next thing you know I was playing all over the city and there was no need for me to leave. So, that's kind of how it happened.

 You were obviously very successful as a DJ in the Toronto scene. What do you credit your success to?
Probably being really big at my self-promoting, branding my name and my companies. I have a company called Bitch Slap

Bitch Slap, ya I remember those parties. Do you still do the Bitch Slap events?
No, I don't because I got signed and started touring last year. I stopped playing locally in Toronto about a year ago now. I mean I still play locally but I only once maybe every 5 months. I like it like that. It makes my shows way more special now. You know? I'm out of town all the time. But anyways, it basically came from just throwing my own parties and building my brand that way and promoting myself lots. You know?

Do you think that's an important thing for DJ's to do?
Absolutely, absolutely for sure it's really important. If you don't tell people about yourself, nobody's going to know about you.

 Once you established yourself in the Toronto scene, how did you take your name to the international stage?
Pretty much writing music. I mean, I've been producing music for 4 or 5 years now. My first really big hit, "Give It Up For Me" was a huge track. It was a really big turning point in my career because it was one of the highest selling tracks of all time on Beatport. It really introduced me on an international level, to a worldwide audience. Then after that, I continued to release music on "Mouse Trap", and started my own record label this year.

 Tell us about your label "Blu Music"
I started it in March for WMC. I've had two releases on it and they've both done quite well. The first one as called "Instinct" it was just an original track done by me. Then the second release was called "Panic Attack". It's doing really, really well. It's had a lot of support by like artist like Funkagenda that plays it at every single set. The label is exclusive to Beatport right now but it will be expanding even more in the next few months.

Are you looking to break new artists with your label, or focus mainly on releasing your own tunes?
I don't think I'm looking to do that (sign new artists). I'm a pretty new producer to the international world, so I'd rather just let people know who I am right now. Once I've got the reputation for having a pretty well known label then it's time to talk about doing new releases. I get so many demos all the time, people sending music. As soon as I said I was starting a label an out pour of emails and files came in. It's just not that kind of label right now.

Your recent dj chart on beatport has a lot of tech-house. We're used to hearing you play more electro & progressive tunes. Do you feel you're following the current trend?
No no no no. It's just kind of the way I've evolved. I definitely think I've evolved out of the electro sounds just because I'm more getting into progressive. I play mainly progressive now. I still listen to electro, you know? I play "Give It Up For Me" in my sets. I dip into tech house a little but I mainly play in progressive. It's what I'm releasing as my music and that's what I'm enjoying the most. I just play what I enjoy, you know? I really like a cool, dancey melodic sound.

Your playing at Pride again this year and you've played there pretty much every year in my recent memory. Does Pride mean something personal to you?
It's definitely been something that's personal to me. I'm not actually playing the stage this year, which is a bit different for me. I normally close down the stage, but this year I'm doing my own show at "Footwork". It's more personal because I have a lot of gay friends and have been in the gay scene for quite awhile. My Bitch Slap parties were gay and straight people partying together. I have a lot of gay fans so I'm really excited about having my own show.

Who in Toronto has caught your eye and you think is working hard?
There is lots of people. MC Flip Side is a very good friend. I've worked with him in the past and I continue to work with him. He's amazing. Same with Matty O'Demar, he's a brilliant producer and we'll continue to do music together. I was on Deadmau5's record label "Mouse Trap" I work with him and its quiet known. Adam K, I think he does a great job. He's a really great producer.  I think Carlo Lio is doing a really wicked job right now. He's getting international people looking at his stuff and playing it, so I think that's great. You know those Number 19 guys I think there doing a pretty good job. There's a lot of people really working hard and it's definitely paying off. Hatiras obviously is a legendary producer, like I think he's great.

Do you have any advice for aspiring djs?
Music production is really good idea. Research your favourite producers. A lot of them have youtube videos and a lot of them have instruction videos, if you're playing on a certain program like Ableton live. They'll have their own website & their own message board and have their own instruction videos. As a DJ like I was saying is try and get your name out there. Promote yourself as much as possible, you know? It's a combination of a million different things you just have to put together all of it into one package you know. Promotion, marketing, working hard in the studio, all of that, you know? That's pretty much my advice and take on it.

Saturday July 11th
SYDNEY BLU
www.sydneyblu.com
w. Pusherz, Jarod P

O Ultra Lounge
905-383-1494
612 Upper James
Hamilton

Free before 11pm
$5 before midnight
more aferwards

 

There are 6 comments so far. Add Your Own Comment

  • Posted by ugg boots 5815, Dec 9th 2011 (2 months ago)

    The most common Ugg Australia Boots would be the Classic Tall and Swift Boots, despite the fact that you can find now a huge selection of variations.Even Oprah Winfrey has liked the style assertion-Oprah highlighted the UGG Australia boot 3 moments on her displays and the resulting protection (and her substantial view of them) can be a single from the plenty of motives for your boot's elevated recognition.Even despite the fact that one particular would contemplate lined sheepskin is unbelievably sizzling, the best way they allow air to circulate prevents ft from overheating. And once the family members goes to hell, the mother takes the blame. It is possible to remain residence with your children and do one thing for your self, all at the exact same time.

  • Posted by ugg boots official website, Dec 9th 2011 (2 months ago)

    She never ever put in any time with those kids or her husband. Functioning at home is actually a excellent remedy." Often we lose sight of our priorities and forget exactly where our genuine wealth lies.Picking to work at your home could be a challenging financial decision."If we do decide to stay home with our children, we're blamed for throwing away our training. I love the Spanish proverb that states, "A rich little one typically sits inside a inadequate mother's lap.S.Soon UGG Australia Boots ended up viewed all above the U. and impressed California surfers.Jessica Simpson, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, just to name numerous. In basic truth, Oprah was so fired up by the ease and warmth of UGG Boots that she ordered them for her comprehensive personnel of 350 individuals. Even individuals who never personal a pair identify the models and make.The most common Ugg Australia Boots would be the Traditional Tall and Swift Boots, despite the fact that you'll find now hundreds of designs.Occasionally an actor is going to be observed in UGG Australia Boots, however there appear to become a lot more and a lot a lot more lately.S.These include Traditional Cardy Boots, Crochet Boots, Locarno Boots, Ultra Boots, Upside Boots, Greatest Boots, Wilshire Boots, Sandra Boots along with a large amount of, many much more, all inside a number of colours.

  • Posted by cheap ugg boots, Dec 9th 2011 (2 months ago)

    Sheepskin footwear has extended been well-known within the rural areas of Australia, and its recognition enhanced because the solution was discovered by surfers and also other people.These integrate Classic Cardy Boots, Crochet Boots, Locarno Boots, Ultra Boots, Upside Boots, Greatest Boots, Wilshire Boots, Sandra Boots and a great deal of, a lot of much more, all in a very number of colors., and UGG® Australia was bought by Deckers Out of doors Company (1995).S.UGG Australia has popularized sheepskin boots, slippers, and footwear and now distributes the merchandise throughout the entire world..Even Oprah Winfrey has liked the design assertion-Oprah highlighted the UGG Australia boot 3 moments on her shows as well as the resulting coverage (and her higher see of them) can be a solitary in the plenty of motives for your boot's elevated acceptance.

  • Posted by ugg boots cheap, Dec 9th 2011 (2 months ago)

    In straightforward reality, Oprah was so fired up with the ease and warmth of UGG Boots that she ordered them for her total personnel of 350 men and women. and impressed California surfers., and UGG® Australia was obtained by Deckers Outdoor Company (1995).The most typical Ugg Australia Boots will be the Traditional Tall and Fast Boots, though there are now a huge selection of styles. Swimmers and surfers also located the item in the 1960s and took to sporting them in public even nonetheless the boots had earlier only been worn around the property.The most common Ugg Australia Boots are the Traditional Tall and Speedy Boots, even though you'll find now hundreds of types. Sheepskin footwear has long been well-known from the rural locations of Australia, and its recognition improved as the solution was uncovered by surfers along with other folks.S.Jessica Simpson, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, just to name several.Even despite the fact that 1 specific would contemplate lined sheepskin is amazingly sizzling, the way they empower air to circulate stops ft from overheating.

  • Posted by liu cheap uggs, Nov 19th 2011 (3 months ago)

    Uggs come in a number of types.Present Affairs You may already know that Ugg boots are preferred because of its best excellent and ease and comfort but this Ugg bailey boots is mix of style, glamour, excellent top quality and definitely comfort.

  • Posted by cheap uggs, Nov 16th 2011 (3 months ago)

    Model: 5815
    The womens Classic Tall boot is one off UGG® Australia's most iconic silhouettes. Featuring genuine Twinface sheepskin and our signature UGG® woven label. Have fun with your style and wear the boot uncuffed up or cuffed down exposing the shearling. All boots in our Classic Collection feature a soft foam insole covered with genuine sheepskin and have a light and flexible molded EVA outsole designed for amazing comfort with every step.
    This style tends to run a size large. We recommend ordering a size smaller from your typical shoe size. If you are in-between sizes, we recommend ordering one-half size down.

RSS feed for comments on this page RSS feed for all comments

Post Your Own Comment