IN CONVERSATION WITH BLKSMIITH
Interview by Samo Šajn
New York-based DJ and producer BLKSMIITH is back with his new album, NEW TYPE. The record marks a new chapter in his sound, bringing together club energy, jungle influences, and atmospheric production. We spoke with him about his creative evolution and the ideas behind the album.
Your new album NEW TYPE represents a shift toward a more rhythmic and physical sound. What inspired this new direction and made you want to rebuild your sound around the club experience?
I think the reason I moved in this direction is because I've been happier in life. I want to bring more people together through music. I feel like a lot of my older stuff was a little more depressive, it was just a reflection of how I was feeling at the time. If I can bring people together with music and leave them with a happy memory, that would mean a lot to me.
You’ve drawn inspiration from genres like jungle, Chicago house, French house, and electro. What is it about those sounds that has always resonated with you?
These were genres I'd always listen to with friends and growing up as a kid. I guess I just wanted a more playful, funky sound, even though I'm making breakbeat and jungle music.
You’ve said NEW TYPE works both on the dancefloor and in more personal spaces like home or in the car. How did you approach creating an album that could exist in both worlds?
I made NEW TYPE by simply living life and being influenced by what was around me. At the end of the day, I think it's easier to just live and create as you go rather than force something out. Whether I was going out with friends, playing shows, or just hanging out at home, it all influenced the music. Getting more sun definitely helped too! Haha.
The album feels inspired by movement, nightlife, and everyday experiences. How do the moments outside the studio shape the music you make?
What you surround yourself with influences you. Going out, driving, playing shows, attending shows, playing video games, or just hanging out with friends, it all has an effect. I think the music you make is basically the soundtrack to your life at that moment. It's like a diary of how you're feeling.
Even with the more minimal and club-focused approach, there's still a strong sense of atmosphere throughout the album. How do you balance energy and ambience in your productions?
It's all about knowing when to let things breathe and when to bring certain elements in or out. Sometimes it's just trial and error. You mute a track during a section and see how it feels. It's similar to Djing, you keep trying different transitions until you think, "Yeah, it's better if I mix the tracks here."
As a New York-based artist, how has the city's culture influenced your sound and creative identity?
I think the culture has shaped it more than anything. Rap has had a huge influence on my music. You've also got to have some swagger, you won't stand out by doing the bare minimum, and a lot of things can come across as corny. You need a proper aesthetic. I feel like a lot of music from New York has this feeling where you just think, "Nah, this is cool." I'm probably not explaining it very well! Haha.
Your music draws from classic dance genres while still sounding fresh. How do you strike that balance between honoring the past and creating something new?
Older music laid the foundation for what we enjoy today. I wanted to capture that old-school sound, so I looked at why those records sounded the way they did, whether it was specific production techniques or the limitations of the equipment. I went in with that mindset but wanted to make it hit harder than anything from that era. Having different influences also helps make the music your own. Technology has changed everything too. A lot of classic dance music was made on Amigas or Akai samplers with 12-bit limitations. Today we can make things as maximalist as we want, but sometimes you have to consciously hold yourself back and do less.
With NEW TYPE marking a new phase in your career, what are you most excited for fans to experience when they hear these tracks live?
I can't wait to see people's reactions to the bass on a proper sound system. The way this album was mixed is just demented.
