[INTERVIEW] Bleu Clair Discusses His New Track, "Aura", First US Tour,

Hailing from Indonesia, Bleu Clair is pioneering a new era of house through his dynamic energy and eccentric sounds. Each one of his tracks possesses the ability to captivate dance floors. With over 450k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, Bleu Clair's iconic tracks such as "Make You Mine" and "PWR" instantly infect listeners with shuffle fever.

The house wizard has released songs on Insomniac Records and collaborated with the likes of AC Slater, Matroda, and Ytram (the alter ego of Martin Garrix). He has also gained support from electronic music's top artists, such as Skrillex, DJ Snake, Diplo, and more. Over the last few years, Bleu Clair has been on an absolute tear, performing at some of the world's biggest festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Seismic Dance Event in Austin, and San Diego's CRSSD Fest. iEDM had the chance to inquire Bleu Clair about his Indonesian roots, accomplishments, and upcoming releases.

Check out iEDM's exclusive interview with Bleu Clair below.

iEDM: Bleu Clair means “light blue” in French. What is the significance of this name to you and what is the story behind its creation?

Bleu Clair: I randomly found the name on the internet and I thought it might be cool for my project name, so I just went with it. Ironically, I chose the name without knowing the actual meaning behind Bleu Clair itself.

iEDM: What role has your Indonesian roots played in your passion for music?

Bleu Clair: I think as an Indonesian it feels special to tour the US, because as far as I know, I’m the second DJ to do it (the first was Angger Dimas). I am super proud to wave the Indo flag here in the states and hopefully around the world soon.

iEDM: Your merch features the expression, “keep it at hundred twenty five". Why is 125 BPM the sweet spot for you? How do you utilize BPM to guide the audience in the direction that you’re aiming towards?

Bleu Clair: For me, it’s the best BPM to start a song with. I got a lot of tracks that range from 124-127, but my favorite one is definitely 125bpm. Not to mention that the expression is quite catchy to put on merch.

iEDM: After the amazing reaction from your B2B set with Matroda at EDC Las Vegas 2022, you will be performing in LA together in November. Why do you think your styles resonate so well together and what was your favorite highlight of the EDC set?

Bleu Clair: Doing a B2B with a talented guy like Matroda at a big festival like EDC feels amazing. I’ve been a fan of his since a while ago and we’re super happy with the works that we’ve done so far. I think we both always try to create something different when we get in the studio together.

Bleu Clair · Bleu Clair live from EDC Las Vegas 2021

iEDM: What has been your favorite venue to perform at and why?

Bleu Clair: Stereobloom EDC Las Vegas 2021 is my number 1 without a doubt. This is because that was my first ever festival gig.

iEDM: How do your festival sets differ from your club sets in terms of your song choice, transitions, and overall energy of the set?

Bleu Clair: For festival sets, I tend to play a lot more of my tracks (released records & unreleased IDs). But for club shows, I usually play 50:50 of my own and my favorite tracks from other artists, mostly because I get to play longer in clubs (90-120mins).

iEDM: What rituals do you have to prepare for a set?

Bleu Clair: I sleep like six or seven hours before my sets because most of the time I am jet lagged quite heavily when I’m in the states. The time difference between Jakarta and LA is 14 hours and can be tough to adjust to. It might sound harsh but actually, I like it because I can go to the venue feeling fresh and well-rested.

iEDM: Your new track, “Aura” features a hypnotic vocal stem that is perfectly placed within the track. How do you decide when a vocal fits in with your track or that you want to center a track around a vocal? What techniques do you use to manipulate the vocal with effects and loops that will complement the rest of the track?

Bleu Clair: I think what I look for in vocals are mainly characteristics and color. I really like dreamy vocals like the one we used in “Aura”. I often loop some parts of the vocal randomly to try and decide whether that part can be something catchy or not. The final drop of “Aura” is something that was done accidentally when Jargen and I were working on this track.

iEDM: What inspired “Aura'' and what was the process taken by you and Jargen to create it? What did you each bring to the table to produce this masterpiece?

Bleu Clair: I work with a publisher (kudos to Georges) and he often sends me packs of toplines from amazing vocalists. Annaca’s topline of “Aura” was one of them. I tried working on it when I first heard it because it sounds super awesome, but I was stuck when working on some parts. That’s when I asked Jargen to help me work on it and he did an amazing job.

iEDM: You have accomplished so much since the launch of your career as an artist. What milestone or accomplishment are you most proud of and why? What was the toughest obstacle you have faced on your journey as a producer and a DJ?

Bleu Clair: My first tour in the United States definitely feels super fantastic. This was the first time I went to the states. I’ve been dreaming of being a touring artist like this since a really long time ago. Actually, I went to an accounting school in Indonesia and it was a very tough decision to quit the school to pursue my musical career. But, I’m sure I will never regret that decision.

iEDM: What advice do you have for producers who are just starting out and are trying to get their tracks released on a label?

Bleu Clair: Never stop learning, keep being humble, and try to make something different and unique.

iEDM: What future projects can you hint at for your fanbase to get excited about?

Bleu Clair: I’m finishing up a couple of collaborations with Dances With White Girls and I think I’m going to release it pretty soon. I have played them a handful times on tour and the crowd reaction was fantastic. Also, I am working with a few other producers and singers that I’m looking forward to releasing this year.

Photos Courtesy of Bleu Clair