[divider]Making A Name For Themselves[/divider]
It’s one thing to play house parties. But making it past that takes something else entirely. For BL3R, it was the killer combination of both the ability to produce and throwing together killer sets for shows. They quickly gained notoriety within the Seattle music scene, citing help from Akira Barrett and Brandon Chang (Rise Over Run) in helping them get their feet in the door at Trinity Nightclub. The true turning point however, did not come from being discovered at a nightclub by a major DJ, or smooth-talking their way into a record deal, but through raw talent and a love for the music they make.
“We won two remix competitions through Beatport. The first one was put on by tyDi…the second one was put on by Gareth Emery for Eye Of The Storm… The only other DJ to win two Beatport remix competitions was Zedd…”
This not only allowed Jon and Phil’s music to be recognized by people all over the world, but also caught the eye of Roxanne Emery, sister to legend Gareth Emery. Roxanne quickly became their manager and introduced them to Gareth, who said he wanted to help “make them bigger than he is.”
The connections had been made, the opportunity was theirs for the taking, and the boys seized the day, releasing banger after banger over the next year while developing their talents. While the duo moved away from their melodic dubstep roots into making more big room, they stayed true to their vision the whole way. Jon wanted to make it clear that even by changing the genre they primarily focused on, that they had no intention of giving up their sound. BL3R wants to be known as a pair that can make enormous big room bangers, but also have the ability to turn around and make filthy trap. This is evident in their shows, where they play everything from their thundering Bass Cannon to their laid-back trap track tune, Friends & Family.
[divider]Onward and Upward[/divider]
Phil and Jon show no signs of slowing down in their ongoing quest, having released some of their best work yet in just the last year. Most recently, we’ve watched their latest hit, Heat climb the Beatport charts, while getting played out by artists all across the industry.
Even with their rapid rise both in the Northwest and abroad, the duo certainly hasn’t forgotten where they came from and where they were only a short time ago. When they aren’t playing at Trinity or in the studio with Gareth Emery, you can find them playing parties at fraternities and helping new talent discover their own sound.
“We were pretty rejected, no one wanted to listen to our music and rejected our demos. We know how hard it is, and we want talent to be seen.”
There are a lot of places in the world where fresh talent is cut down before it even has a chance to blossom. The two explained that in many major cities with dance music scenes as big or bigger than Seattle’s, artists that have been around for a while will try to stifle young acts to eliminate competition. Already popular artists like Darrius and Sharps though have done the opposite and helped the two become what they are today.
Because of the support they got from local mainstays, and the initial rejection trying to get a major record release, BL3R makes a point to give back as much as possible to other up-and-comers. The two take submissions via email from those who want to be heard by professionals and help them develop as musicians. It wasn’t long ago that they were making music in their dorms, hoping for their shot to put their considerable talent on display. One thing is for sure; BL3R is an act to keep an eye on. Whether you see them yourself, or you hear one of their tracks being played by one of the dozens of artists incorporating them into their sets, they are standout musicians who are headed straight to the main stage.
BL3R have a whole lot of opportunities on the horizon, including their own clothing line, continued work with Gareth Emery, and a headlining act at Foundation Nightclub on August 14th. It promises to be one of their best and wildest shows yet, so grab your ticket now over here to make sure you don’t miss out! You can also keep up with the duo on Facebook and Twitter to join the party on social media.
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