Bristol-based duo Blonde have had an incredibly fruitful 2015. Consisting of Adam Englefeld (1 half of Eton Messy) and Jake Manson, the duo have spent the majority of 2015 touring their live show touching down at Lovebox, Parklife, MADE, Reading, Leeds and WHP.
They’ve had three huge singles in the past few years including ‘I Loved You’ ft Melissa Steel, ‘All Cried Out’ ft Alex Newel and ‘Feel Good’ ft Karen Harding. We were lucky enough to grab 5 with the duo to talk tunes ahead of their live show at The Albert Hall.
Blonde are set to play The Albert Hall, Manchester on December 26 alongside Low Steppa, Shiba San and Danny Howard.
Hello Blonde, whereabouts are you today?
We are currently in the Alps sat in a chalet. Tonight we are playing at Rise Festival then sadly it’s straight back to the UK early tomorrow!
What was the first record you bought?
Adam – The first record I bought was ‘The Fat Of The Land’ by The Prodigy. I was pretty obsessed with Breathe and Firestarter when I was younger.
Jake – The Way I Am by Eminem. Mum didn’t approve.
What was the last record you bought?
Adam – I recently went on a massive vinyl binge and bought a few garage classics that I didn’t have copies of. The last one I got was ‘Gunman – 187 Lockdown’.
Jake – I bought the first two Daft Punk LPs on vinyl the other day, both are such classics.
What’s the best thing about playing in Manchester?
Manchester is the rowdiest night in the UK by far. Last time we played there was at Antwerp Mansion and it was probably one of our favourite shows of the year. The crowd’s always super responsive which always makes things flow well.
What track do you wish you’d written?
Artful Dodger – Women Trouble. The lyrics are absolutely mental, yet brilliant. Still can’t help but sing along whenever its on.
What track makes you happiest?
Inner City – Good Life. No matter who’s in the crowd that one never fails to get the
good vibes flowing!
What track makes you saddest?
Nils Frahm – Some. The most beautifully written piece of music, but it hits you right in the feels.
What’s your favourite club?
Sub Club in Glasgow used to be a favourite but sadly it was closed down very recently.
Motion in Bristol is always very special for us, especially as it’s a home crowd.
What’s your favourite after party record?
We have got ourselves into a habit of finishing our sets with Roses by Outkast, so it’d be rude not to choose that. After a party you just want something you can all singalong to.
What track has had the most influence on you?
Ride On Time by Black Box has influenced our sound a lot. The piano house alongside the powerful diva vocal, it’s a killer combo.
Which of your own tracks are you most proud of?
All Cried Out is one we are extremely proud of. It’s done some amazing things for us and how far it has spread we still find staggering. I think it’ll always be a special one for us.
Who do you owe a debt of gratitude to for becoming successful DJs?
We’ve been very luck to have been surrounded by supportive people at the beginning of our careers. Charlie and Ed from Eton Messy gave us a huge amount of support at the start which made a massive difference. Then our Manager Duncan who worked tirelessly to get our music recognised by labels and helped us develop our skills. People see the two of us and think that’s it but without the support we wouldn’t have had as much success as we have done.
What’s your current favourite record?
Gio feat. Yeah Boy – DEVolution. We’ve got it on repeat at the moment. Its a perfect chilling tune.
What can we expect from your show at the Albert Hall?
We figure that if you’re out on Boxing Day evening then chances are your up for a big party. So we’re going to bring the party tunes alongside a few classics and some of our own edits. There’s going to be a lot of energy from start to finish.
If your studio was on fire and you could go back in and save one thing, what would it be and why?
There’s a friendly dog that passes through our studio. He’d be our choice over any bit of kit.
Blonde are set to play The Albert Hall, Manchester on December 26 alongside Low Steppa, Shiba San and Danny Howard.
