Artist Spotlight: BLUPRNT
BLUPRNT, a dynamic duo and up-and-coming DJ group, has taken the electronic/house music scene by storm. In this interview, we dive deep into their origin story, influences, challenges, and creative process. Discover what sets BLUPRNT apart and how they've navigated the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry.
Who is BLUPRNT? Describe your journey into the world of electronic/house music. How did you guys meet? What inspired both of you to pursue a career in this genre together?
BLUPRNT is a duo made up of Joe Schmidt and Spencer Wierda. We’re two American kids from the Midwest who fell in love with electronic music back in the early 2010s. Our favorite artists early on were the big guns like Deadmau5, Avicii, Hardwell, Skrillex, just like every American kid discovering EDM for the first time. We had both been producing music separately for several years, but didn’t meet until college at Indiana University in 2019. Joe had been taking a production class, where he met one of Spencer’s friends. Spencer had been producing and DJing around campus under a different name, and the mutual friend introduced us. We spent a year working together on random projects, moreso in the future bass and pop/edm genre, but eventually settled on house music.
As up and coming artists, what do you believe sets your music apart from others in the EDM/house music scene?
We think what makes our music different is having a little bit of a sense of humor. Some of our biggest songs… “House in my Life”, “Proper Ladies”, “Elevator”... they all have little elements of the vocals that make you smile or giggle a little bit. And I think that sense of goofiness comes out during our sets too. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We’re two goofy guys who love making music and Djing, and we have a blast.
How would you describe your signature sound or style?
Our sound has definitely evolved over the past couple years. We think we first started getting noticed a little bit with more mainstream tech house, big drops, big basslines, crazy leads, catchy vocals. Now, we think we’re trending a bit more minimal. More of a focus on grooves, percussion, keeping things simple and danceable.
Many artists face challenges breaking through in the industry. What strategies have you employed to gain recognition and build your fanbase?
It’s taken a long time for us to even get to this point. We started BLUPRNT in 2020, so we’ve been trying to build and grow this brand for over 3 years. Both of us were pretty reluctant to start promoting ourselves on Tiktok. But once we finally did, we discovered pretty quickly how powerful that app is… you can gain an organic following so fast. That’s been huge for us, and we wish we would’ve gotten on that wave earlier. But besides Tiktok, we’ve been consistent in trying to put out content on Instagram, and especially this year, we’ve been releasing a ton of music- mostly remixes and edits- but originals too. We felt we had a lot of music stored up that never saw the light of day, and just wanted to get it out and see what would connect with fans.
Can you discuss any significant milestones or moments in your career that have contributed to your current buzz and recognition?
We’ve had a couple unofficial remixes get supported by artists like Diplo, Steve Aoki, and the Chainsmokers, and had a couple played on Sirius XM Channel 51- BPM, which we grew up listening to… so those moments were pretty cool. But I think the moment that stands out the most is Matroda playing our track “Mamacita” at EDC Orlando… that was unbelievable. I remember I woke up to an imessage video from a buddy who just happened to follow Matroda’s tour manager on Instagram, who had been filming his set from behind the booth. As I watched the video my jaw immediately dropped. I think I probably sent it to 100 people right away! We had released that song with the label Hood Politics in Chicago, but had absolutely no idea how it got to Matroda. It was the coolest moment, and one that really motivated us. When you see a big artist that you look up to support your music, it really validates all of the long hours in the studio and hard work.
Are there any particular artists or producers who have had a profound influence on your music? How have they shaped your artistic journey?
Production-wise, both of us really look up to Ship Wrek and Matroda. Their sound design and ability to keep their tracks interesting is top- notch. In terms of shaping our artistic journey, major shoutout to DJ Susan and Sherm over at Hood Politics. Between signing a few of our tracks and opening the doors to playing at clubs in Chicago, they’ve been hugely supportive and we really appreciate it.
Collaboration often plays a role in an artist’s growth. Have you worked with other artists or producers recently, and how has that influenced your music? Who would you like to work with if given the chance in the future?
Yeah we’ve been doing more collabs this year! We’ve got an edit of Eli Brown’s track “Diamonds on my Mind” that we made with a Miami-based producer named Quality G that we’re looking to put out soon. We actually met through Tiktok so that was a fun one to make. And then we just put out a collaboration with the homies PODS called “Power to the People”. They’re another Chicago-based duo. And then we’re also super excited about the collaboration we did with Sherm. That one should be coming out in November so stay tuned for that!
Developing a personal brand can be crucial for artists. How have you managed to maintain authenticity while crafting a brand that resonates with your target audience?
We tried to build our brand around a theme. When we came up with the construction theme, we thought it was perfect. House construction… hardhats during our shows… it actually came together pretty quickly. Our brand also displays that authentic sense of humor and goofiness that we have… we’re literally DJing with hardhats on… You can’t take that too seriously.
As an upcoming artist, how do you two balance staying true to your artistic vision while also adapting to evolving trends?
We try not to overthink it and make the music that we want to make. If people like it and support it, that’s amazing. If not, then at least we can take pride in knowing we’re proud of the art we’re putting out. If you try to always focus on keeping up with trends, then you’re going to always be making music for other people and not for yourself, and we don’t think that’s the right way to go about it.
Building on that, how do you see the future of electronic music evolving, and how do you intend to keep your music relevant in that landscape?
We think the faster tempos are having a huge moment right now… techno, DnB, the 140 bpm garage stuff coming out of the UK… That’ll be around for a little while. We could see tech house taking a backseat to those genres and moving back underground for a few years. But dance music trends happen in waves, and eventually something slower will move back into the mainstream. We’re going to keep making the music that we enjoy and that we’re proud of. Again, we don’t ever want to get caught chasing trends and making music based on what might be popular right now. If you love the art you’re making and you’re making it for yourself, then good things will happen.
Can you share a bit about your creative process? How do you approach producing new tracks and finding inspiration for your music?
At this point, we’ve gotten comfortable in a routine where Joe handles the production and songwriting, and then it gets shipped off to Spencer where he handles all of the mixing/mastering/engineering. We both listen to a ton of music in all genres, so we’re always on the lookout for tracks or vocals that might spark an idea. Inspiration also comes from going to shows or seeing what works in a live setting. Like for example, our track “Trip to Space” which we’ve been teasing on Tiktok literally came about because Joe went to Club Space in Miami and came home all fired up to make a song about it. The lyrics are just exactly what happened!
What advice would you give to other aspiring EDM artists who are trying to make their mark in the industry?
The best thing you can do is spend as much time in the studio, and really fall in love with the process of making music. The more you do it, the easier things will come together, and the more tracks you can make in a shorter period of time. Music is all about throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks, so don’t be afraid to try things even if it’s outside your comfort zone.
Are there any upcoming projects, releases, or collaborations that your fans can look forward to in the near future?
Keep an ear out for a few remixes & edits that we’ve been teasing on Tiktok to finally get put out. And then we’ve got a big release in September on Force of Habit Records. It’s the follow up to our high-energy track “Elevator”... so expect similar vibes on that one. And then if anyone is gonna be at North Coast Festival in Chicago… come see us! We’re playing the Club Coast stage Friday night at 6:30! Click here for tickets.
Is there a particular vision or legacy you hope to establish through your music career in the electronic dance music scene?
To be honest, we don’t know if we’ve ever really thought about a legacy. We feel like we’re still in the infancy stage of our music career. I guess we just want people to like our music and enjoy coming to our shows. If that happens, then we would consider that a success.
BLUPRNT's journey is a testament to the power of authentic expression and genuine connection. As they continue to evolve within the electronic music scene, their distinctive sound, humorous approach, and relentless dedication are set to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of music enthusiasts around the world. They are definitely a group worth looking out for and we can’t wait to see all the success coming their way.
Click here to check them out on Spotify, Soundcloud, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
