As we heading up to a new wave of live performance on ‘DGTL ADE: Colyn, Jan Blomqvist, Mathame, and more’ on the night of Thursday, October 17, we caught up with Jan Blomqvist, live from Ibiza, to discuss his upcoming album, his creative process, and what fans can expect from his ADE set.
Destroying beautiful melodies with disturbing sounds
Blomqvist describes his music as a blend of vocal house, melodic sounds and deep house. He likes to destroy his beautiful melodies with disturbing sounds like white noise and crunchy sounds. As a singer-songwriter, he performs only his own lyrics: “On stage I don’t feel comfortable if I’m singing other stuff, so I only perform my own music.”
Close to the audience
When asked what he values most about the electronic music scene, Blomqvist shares his love for the peace and harmony often found at techno festivals. “I’m always happy on stage, knowing the community is a great mix of weirdos and beautiful freaks,” he says. His music reflects that sense of peace, offering listeners a chance to disconnect from everyday pressures. “My music stands for how we’re often trapped in so many things, instead of just being present and at peace with ourselves and others.”
As an electronic artist, he finds a unique connection with his audience: “When you disappear, the crowd notices immediately. In other genres, like sports events, it’s normal for the artist to leave right after the show.”
Blomqvist also acknowledges the advantages of the new generation of musicians who have access to advanced technology: “I’m a bit jealous of this generation growing up with all these programs on one computer. But I’m happy for them,” he says, pointing out how quickly electronic music evolves. “The music develops so fast. I think music should always be evolving.”
Playing live with drums
At DGTL ADE, Blomqvist will be performing with drums for the first time since he began his album tour. This setup emerged during COVID when he had to tour solo due to travel restrictions. “I had to tour alone, which worked out well, but I always knew I’d bring the band back,” he says. For this show, he’ll be joined by his long-time friend and drummer, Christian, marking their first concert together again. The live drums will bring “more dynamics and breaks” to the performance, adding an extra layer of excitement. “It’s more about entertainment, and I always want to deliver that in person.”
Blomqvist loves the focus that a live setup demands. “I tend to drift away when things get too easy, so I have to trick myself to stay engaged,” he admits. For him, being fully present on stage is crucial: “If you’re not focused on the audience, that’s not cool when people have paid to see you.” With his live performances, he hopes to create an emotional connection: “I want people to feel connected to each other.”
A little bit nervous
Jan explains that ADE shows attract a different kind of audience, mostly industry professionals like press, managers, and bookers who work behind the scenes, rather than the usual party crowd. The atmosphere feels more like a high-energy sports event, with everyone dedicated to making it a success. “Everybody is a little bit nervous, and then it goes on and it works well.”
The real joy of performing for Jan, is making a connection with the audience: “When they leave the room with a smile, it’s like, okay, you did something good to their life.” While metrics like Spotify streams are important, he says, “On stage, all this doesn’t count… It’s just the audience, the artist, and the music.” A successful ADE set, in his view, is when “everything I planned in my mind works out” and the energy feels right. “When even the stage managers shake my hand and say, ‘Yeah, that was good,’ then I’m happy.”
His new album
Jan is excited about his upcoming album, which will release in early 2025. “I can’t wait to play the whole show and share more tracks,” he says, reflecting on how the music industry has changed. “You can’t really release a full album in one day anymore, because three months later, everyone wants a new one.” He appreciates the new approach of releasing singles every few weeks giving the audience time to savor each track. “It forces people to be more patient and enjoy the music instead of always wanting more, faster.”
Blomqvist’s creative process has also shifted since moving out of Berlin.” I love the forest and mountains. I need quietness to create,” he explains, adding, “Sometimes it feels like the ideas are in the clouds, and we artists just have a better connection to stream them to our brains.”
With his unique blend of melodic house, live drums, and a focus on creating emotional connections, Blomqvist’s upcoming ADE performance promises to be one to remember.