Get to know 2022 Electronic Album of the Year nominee, Sydney Blu in our “7 Questions With” series where we speak with first-time JUNO Award nominees from all genres.
With beginnings playing for the LGBTQ2S+ community and Guvernment Nightclub, and then the following years touring the globe, Sydney Blu has released music on some of the most recognized labels including Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep in Sound, Deadmau5’s Mau5trap, Kevin Saunderson’s KMS Records, and Roger Sanchez’s UndrtheRdr. Her release “Give It Up For Me” on Mau5trap was one of Beatport’s highest selling songs, making her the female electronic music producer to have a top 10 hit on the platform. 2018 she hit Top 10 on Beatport with her single “Mind Games” on Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep in Sound and the song was premiered by Billboard Magazine.
The release of Sydney’s sophomore album Conviction was a meticulously produced dance floor-driven collection of electronic music, with synth-laden 80’s inspired lead single Monologue featuring Azari & III singer Fritz Helder. Conviction climbed Beatport Top 10 and her lead singles Conspiracy, Temple, and To the Ground were playlisted on Electronic Rising, Organica, and Housework.
1. How did it feel to be nominated for a JUNO?
It was pretty shocking! I wrote my album in Berlin and finished it during COVID. It was an insane amount of work to get it finished. Really grateful that it’s been nominated.
2. Which album made you want to become a working musician?
Electronic music has always been in my blood and the first electronic album that changed my life was an album called Danny Tenaglia Global Underground Athens. It’s still one of the most famous electronic album compilations of all time and I own it on vinyl. This was the beginning of my career in electronic music.
3. What are 3 items you require when you’re on-tour?
2 Pioneer CDJ 3000 Turbtables, a Pioneer 900 Nexus Mixer and Coconut Water.
4. What do you think is the best song you’ve ever released? What’s the story behind it?
Monologue featuring Fritz Helder is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written. I wrote it in Berlin Germany in 2019 and called Fritz who is an amazing Canadian singer and artist to do vocals and collaborate. We made 3 versions over the course of the year and it is the lead single on the album that is nominated for a JUNO for Electronic Album of the Year. Then in 2020, I flew back to Germany and we filmed the music video at a Berlin club called Urban Spree. The song is also influenced by the sound of the 1980’s new wave scene. The entire project was huge work but also a labour of love.
5. Which artist(s) would you like to collaborate with most?
Since I am an Electronic music artist I’d love to collaborate with Hot Since 82 or Maceo Plex. More mainstream artists I love would be Rufus Du Sol, Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem or Gladfrapp.
6. What has been your favourite performance of your career?
One of them was performing at The Rogers Centre with Deadmau5 for 35 thousand people another was Electric Island Festival in Toronto last year when the world finally started coming back to normal. It was so incredible to see everyone together again.
7. What’s next for you?
I’ll be touring for the entire summer and making and releasing a ton of new music. I’m also running a campaign for women, trans and non-binary artists that encourages record labels in dance music to increase their representation of women producers.
Tickets for The 2022 JUNO Awards are on sale now! Don’t miss out on an unforgettable night of Canadian music hosted by Simu Liu on May 15th.
