Sydney Blu’ – a proudly Canadian artist, Sydney’s success is largely attributed to her relentless touring schedule which she upheld for several years. In 2009, Sydney Blu founded her imprint, Blu Music, on the principle of authentic, dance floor rich house and techno, the following year she extended her brand to another branch introducing her legendary Blu Party series which curates some of the greatest names of the underground house.
2018 marked another milestone for the top-selling electronic artist, as she hit Top 10 on the Beatport Progressive House Chart for her single “Escape” on Underground Audio UK and earlier in the year she hit Top 20 on the Beatport Tech House chart with her single “Mind Games” on Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep in Sound.
One of Sydney’s greatest accomplishments to date has been her recent successful lobbying for a new category at Canada’s largest award show ‘The JUNO Awards’. For four years, Sydney gathered Canada’s top managers, agents, publicists, festival owners, club owners and artists in dance music to help urge The Canadian Academy of Arts and Sciences to make a new award that represents the origins of electronic music called ‘Underground Dance Single of the Year’. The category was successfully accepted by the JUNO’s in June 2021 and will present its first award in 2022 with Sydney Blu as its Chairwoman.
We were lucky to sit with Sydney Blu for this exclusive interview for our readers.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Joanne Hill and I go by the artist name Sydney Blu. I own a record label called Blu Music and I’m the chair of a category at the JUNO Awards called Underground Dance Single of the Year. I’ve been touring the world performing for the last 15 years and I’ve been actively involved in Electronic Music in Toronto for 22 years.
Tell us about your education.
I went to Algonquin College in Ottawa for several years for Travel and Tourism administration then I attended Audio Engineering School at Trebas Institute.
Tell us about your earliest musical memory?
Dancing to Cyndi Lauper, ‘She’s So Unusual’, the first record I ever owned.
How did you begin to get into electronic music? What was it that made you want to take it a step further and become a DJ?
I would go to a club in Ottawa called ‘Atomic’ and dance to House music and watch DJs perform and was always inspired. When I moved to Toronto I bought turntables and picked up the craft quite quickly.
For anyone that hasn’t heard it yet, how would you describe your sound?
My sound is Deep Hypnotic Tech house and Indie dance.
For How Long Have You Been Producing?
16 years I have been releasing and making electronic music.
What would you say are some of the highlights of your career to date?
In 2011 I performed with Deadmau5 at the Rogers Centre Stadium in Toronto and I have had incredible shows all over the world. Burning Man was extremely memorable as was Electric Island Toronto, Stereo Montreal, Avalon Los Angeles, Space Miami, and Pacha New York.
What Inspires You and what Makes You Want to Keep Producing Music?
I love dance music. It’s in my blood. I love discovering fresh new sounds and beats. It comes naturally.
What is that you enjoy most about DJing and producing? What do you find challenging?
I love performing in front of people and connecting with the crowd. I find it hard to do everything because I always have too many projects on the go.
Who are the artists that excite you and who do you count as among your influences?
I think Danny Tenaglia is my top influence as a DJ and Hot since 82 currently inspires me right now as a producer.
How do you define underground music and how do you see your work as part of the underground?
Underground dance Records have slow builds, hypnotic and repetitive arrangements that may or may not include vocals, they are often extended in length, and all developed for maximum utility on the dance floor by Club DJs. These songs are hypnotic, repetitive, the sound is focusing on the low end of the record (baseline, drums), and they are not necessarily played on the radio. Underground is noncommercialized electronic music.
Some of the subgenres are Techno, House, Tech house, Deep/Melodic House, Organic House, Classic/Detroit/Modern Electro, Progressive House & Trance, BreakbeaDrum’n’bass, Deep Dubstep, Indie Dance & Synthwave, Soul/Disco/Funk, and Afrohouse.
I make a lot of these sub genres so that’s why I’m part of these communities.
How do you feel about you newest record Conviction being nominated for “Electronic Album of the Year” at the 2022 Juno Awards.
I’m excited! I worked hard on this album. It took 2 years to write and I wrote half of it in Berlin then finished it during the pandemic in Canada.
How did you successfully campaign and managed to convince the awards ceremony to add the “Underground Dance Single of the Year” category?
I was on the Dance Recording of the Year committee first and realized the second half of the electronic music industry was not being nominated. They were only nominating commercial EDM. I got together with some key players in our industry and made a proposal, collected letters, and got the category in place. It took about 3 years of campaigning and we were the most submitted to category at The JUNOs this year.
Can you please describe your Conviction album?
It’s a combination of Melodic House, Tech House, Deep house, and Minimal House. The lead song Monologue also has an old-school 80’s vibe that’s similar to New Wave. Definitely influenced by Berlin.
How has the last year affected you, particularly where COVID has been concerned? Any positives from the experience?
I completed my album and released it during the pandemic. It was also great to re-connect with Canada because I had been living in Berlin. I’m excited to be back in Toronto now and head back on the road this summer.
What do you think is next for you in terms of projects? Anything exciting you’d like to share?
I’m going to release a lot of music over the next year and get reacquainted with Toronto because I haven’t lived here since 2018.
What are some of your other hobbies?
I love yoga, hanging out with my dog, and I love skiing!
What inspires you outside of music? What do you turn to when the creative well runs a little low?
I take time for myself. I go somewhere quiet, often in nature, and relax. Stillness is the key. I like to read books.
What are your favorite hangout spots in Toronto?
I love Trinity Bellwoods and all of the parks downtown. I also love Kensington Market!
Your message for our readers.
Support your local clubs and musicians now that they are open. They were closed for 2 years!
Your message for us at TOPS (TorontoPages) magazine.
Come see me play in Toronto this summer! Either at CODA Toronto or Electric Island Canada Day weekend!
