BLANKE

JP Orchison, known by his stage name Blanke, has been immersed in the DJ scene for over a decade. After falling in love with the music scene, the energy it brought, the culture, and some specific artists including Skrillex and Deadmau5, he found himself drawn to production, wanting to learn to create what was inspiring him. As he began producing, he primarily played shows in Sydney and Australia but quickly realized that his sound resonated more with audiences in the United States. Since then, he has played many noteworthy festivals and shows including Lost Lands, EDC Vegas, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Hijinx and more.

Blanke characterizes himself as "a fairly diverse act." He explains that his project's objective was to keep it broad by drawing inspiration from various music styles. One artist he highlights as a significant influence on his sound is Knife Party. He remarked, "When they started releasing music, they did EPs of four or five different records, and each one of them was a different BPM and style, but they all sounded like Knife Party." He admired their ability to span a wide range of genres while maintaining a cohesive identity as one artist. Reflecting on his own journey, he said, "Discovering oneself as an artist is both incredible and terrifying. I don't think you ever stop discovering who you are, but as time goes on, it becomes much deeper."

Touring is undeniably one of the most challenging aspects of being an artist. Blanke acknowledges that learning to navigate the lifestyle was one of the biggest hurdles in his career. It involves constant movement, late nights, and extensive travel, making it difficult to prioritize self-care. JP emphasizes that on Mondays, he aims to return to the studio feeling refreshed and prepared to create more music, which is why he tends to abstain from drinking while on tour. Despite the challenges, performing live is immensely rewarding. After spending countless hours alone in the studio and traveling solo, being onstage in front of a crowd is the ultimate payoff. Of course, there are many other upsides to touring as well. JP finds joy in exploring new coffee shops while on tour, reminiscing about his early days as a barista when he first started DJing. He said, "I absolutely love making coffee, so I feel like I have a knack for finding good coffee spots."

Collaborations are pivotal in the EDM industry, and Blanke has certainly made his mark with notable ones, such as teaming up with Rezz on the track ‘Mixed Signals,’ and working with Illenium for ‘Gorgeous.’ While a dream collaboration for him would be with Knife Party, whom he has admired for so long, Blanke emphasizes that collaborations should be with individuals with artists you share a strong vibe with and can create exceptional music with. He views every collaboration opportunity as a learning experience, stating, “I always tell producers to try and collaborate and be in communities, and work with other people because that's where you learn. It will tell you what kinds of techniques you do want to use, don't want to use, and it will open up your world to production.”

Recently, on January 12, 2024, Blanke unveiled his latest single "Heaven," featuring Rival and KC. When questioned about the inspiration behind the song, he revealed, "I had never ventured straight into a heavy drop before. With 'Heaven,' I aimed for a heavy bass drop that felt melodic at the same time. I really wanted to push my comfort zone with this track and try something I hadn't attempted before, but I think it turned out really well."

Connecting with fans is something many DJs and producers find challenging. Navigating the world of social media and various other factors can be difficult. Building a brand poses its own set of challenges, with different strategies working for different individuals. For Blanke, he strives to be as authentic as possible because he believes that's how he best connects with other people, fellow artists, and his fans. A piece of advice that recently resonated with him was to never be satisfied with your work; as soon as you become comfortable, you stop learning. Blankes advice to you is to always remind yourself that you can grow more and to continually push yourself forward.

- Molly