Blake Strange is a rising artist from the Australian underground scene. He first broke onto the scene in 2020 and has since played at some of Sydney’s biggest clubs, events, and venues. In recent times, Strange has received a lot of positive attention from overseas artists and labels. Some up-and-coming highlights include signing his latest EP ‘Phantom’, with Berlin powerhouse label Jannowitz Records. He will be joining the likes of some of his artistic heroes who’ve released on the label such as Alex Stein, Andre Winter, Teenage Mutants, and Township Rebellion, to name a few. Now, Blake is behind the drop of his new collaborative single alongside Jakob, ‘Taboo’, which is a part of Recovery Collective’s ‘Alliance’ VA, the label’s latest compilation.
EG caught up with Blake Strange to learn more about the release of ‘Taboo’, his summer, upcoming releases, his views on the state of the scene, his process in the studio, and more.
EG: Hi Blake! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you based right now? How have things been going this year?
Blake Strange: Hey EG, thanks for getting me on board! I’m based in Sydney, Australia (the land down under). This year has been special, I’ve been incredibly lucky with many career opportunities happening in my life.
EG: What was your summer like? Any particular highlights?
Blake Strange: Summer was a lot of fun, with everything starting to heat up, both venue and festival-wise, it’s been nonstop busy, a very different experience from recent years. I have just played at Amnesia’s takeover of the club Ivy, which was pretty special. I joined the lineup with Alan Fitzpatrick, Pig & Dan, and Gregor Tresher, some of my artistic heroes and giants in the world of techno. Also, supporting Thomas Schumacher and Bart Skills when they came here, was also up there. On the production side of things, I put out a bootleg remix of ‘Billie Jean’ a few months ago, which has been a crowd favorite and secret weapon of mine when playing around the traps.
EG: Congratulations on the release of ‘Taboo’ on Recovery Collective! What has the initial reception been like?
Blake Strange: Super positive so far, over the weekend I saw that my grandmother liked a Facebook post about the release. When I asked her if enjoyed the new track, she said she loved it, then I heard her saying to someone that the video didn’t have any sound to it, haha! Nah but, in all seriousness it’s had a great reception, the release as a whole is currently at #3 in the Top 10 releases chart on Beatport. Pretty wrapped about that.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Taboo’, sonic-wise? How would you describe this particular piece?
Blake Strange: Straight off the bat, dark, moody, and being played at a 50-person afterparty somewhere in Newtown (Sydney). That’s actually where it was first heard by an audience and that’s also when I knew how special this track was. Music-wise, it’s gritty, dark-natured, and, at least to my ears, doesn’t really sound like anything else I’ve heard before. Which is hard to achieve in today’s competitive music industry.
“I treat the studio role like a full-time job. I’m in there at 9 am with my morning coffee in hand, working away till whenever my brain and ears can’t take the continuous thump of the 4×4 anymore”
EG: Is there an emotional trigger or concept behind ‘Taboo’? Do you tell stories through your music? Or do you see them more as emotional expressions?
Blake Strange: Not really per se, the track was written by myself and my friend JAKOB, another Sydney DJ/Producer. When creating it, we just wanted to make a “dancefloor whopper”. Something with dark grooves that moves your hips and a subtle acidic touch to keep it naughty.
EG: You also have upcoming releases in the next few months, right? What can you anticipate on that front?
Blake Strange: Yes, that’s right, lots of new tracks are incoming. Next month I’m putting out a single with Berlin-based imprint Jannowitz, then to finish off the year an EP with Music4Aliens in December. Then, at the start of 2023, I’ve got another EP coming out again with Jannowitz, featuring a cool remix of my track ‘Phantom’ by gizA DJs.
EG: What is your process in the studio like? Do you have some kind of “blueprint” by now? Inspiration, is it overrated or underrated?
Blake Strange: I treat the studio role like a full-time job. I’m in there at 9 am with my morning coffee in hand, working away till whenever my brain and ears can’t take the continuous thump of the 4×4 anymore. No real blueprint, as I like to keep it spontaneous. Some days are dynamite and I’m dancing around the studio for hours on end to a 16-bar loop, screaming that this is my best track ever!! Others I just hang out, usually getting distracted by the necessary but not always so-fun tasks that keep the groove running.
Inspiration to me comes in many forms, it can be from playing at a party, or on a wild night out, hearing a new track from one of my favorite artists, and just pondering on how the hell they made that sexy bassline with those mind-bending stabs.
EG: What are your current thoughts on the state of the scene? What would you like to see more and less of?
Blake Strange: The scene where I’m from is still recovering from the government almost strangling it to death, due to many years of lock-out laws where Sydney lost a bit of its edge. Only now would I say that it’s starting to feel like it once was, like when I was an adolescent raver. Though some good did come out of it as the defiant ones went underground and began creating illegal raves and warehouse parties. That’s where I cut my teeth and was heavily influenced style-wise.
As a whole, I feel the electronic music scene has never been stronger and will continue to be so, more and more people are finding out about the music that we love so much and are embracing it like never before. One thing I’d like to see less of is the constant phone presence that seems to be shooting an Instagram story from every angle possible on the dancefloor. I mean these videos will most likely just end up either nowhere or on your phone never really to be seen again. So, may as well put it away and just enjoy the moment with the artist who is creating this incredible experience for you.
“I’m also working on an album, which has been a super exciting experience, and is coming out May next year with Jannowitz”
EG: What’s next for Blake Strange? What new milestones are you looking forward to now?
Blake Strange: Next for me is moving overseas to Berlin mid-next year. I’ve already got a few friends who are there, and it being the mecca of electronic music, it feels like the right next move. I’m also working on an album, which has been a super exciting experience, and is coming out May next year with Jannowitz. The album has a collaboration track with the label head, BOHO. It’s a really dark and cool tune, plus I’m a big fan of his work. So working with Lars (BOHO) has been a dream come true. He’s already tested it out and reported back saying that the crowd really loved it. I’ve got a show in November coming up, where I’ll be playing it for sure. Will be a moment!
In saying that, I also have a DJ set I recorded for you, and I have a cheeky unreleased towards the beginning in there.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Blake! We wish you all the best for the future.
Blake Strange: Thank you so much guys, appreciate it! It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Enjoy the mix
Blake Strange & Jakob’s ‘Taboo’ is out now via Recovery Collective. Purchase your copy here.
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