Blender interview: Jan Blomqvist

How does it feel when your dream comes true and did you have doubts on way to the top?
Actually, nothing really changed. I’m still doing my job. I am still believing in myself and the thing that I’m doing. In the first 8 years of my career, it didn’t work out so well. I needed to work as a bartender to earn a living. After that it got better step by step. At some point, I could afford to have my band play with me. Then I was able to move the studio from my living room to an actual studio place. In the end, it does not feel like a dream come true. Maybe because it was a gradual and long process and I needed to work hard to make this happen. It’s not like I won the lottery. What people don’t see is that I’m also just doing a job. It’s frustrating at times and it’s often hard to motivate myself because of the enormous pressure to keep producing and releasing. People consume a track in 5-7 minutes but don’t realise how much time and energy went into those 5-8 minutes. But this is me complaining on a high level. Being able to earn a living through music makes me happy in the bigger picture. A dream come true would be a house in the mountains though. 🙂
Why did you decide to include band in your live performance and what is the most exciting thing about performing live with a band?
It’s much more fun to play with the band. On my own, I’m pushing buttons, playing samples and mixing them live. With the band, there’s a totally different dynamic on stage. The guys and me have been friends for such a long time now, we even played in the same punk rock band back in the days. So obviously, it’s much more fun to travel and rock together. Maybe you can compare this to playing soccer. It’s fun to shoot a ball by yourself. But it’s a different and much more rewarding and fun experience in a team. There’s also more room for surprises. Not everything works out when we’re playing with the band. But sometimes things happen, that we could not have planned any better. Those moments are amazing. We are creating something new while 5000 people are there with us to witness this moment.
Is there a finish in art career? Are there things which you achieve and after them you can say your heart is full and you are done?
No! Thankfully there is no such thing as an end. I wouldn’t wanna do a job that you can fully complete without any chance of development. I love the fact that it’s not only possible but almost mandatory to reinvent yourself in my line of work. It’s a challenge but also the biggest reward. I don’t see myself ever completing music. At least not in a lifetime. Maybe I won’t be on stage for all my life. But I definitely will make music one way or another.
Your favourite artist and album of all times?
The answer to this question is always a different one. It changes the way I change as a person. A couple of years ago and for some time, Trentemøller’s Last Resort was my favourite, after that I loved Stephan Bodzin’s Power’s of Ten. Back in the days, my favourite album of all times used to be Radiohead’s OK Computer. In general, I have to admit that I’m not a person who listens to an albums from start to finish. The reason: There’s always been a song or songs on every album, that I didn’t like as much. That’s even true for my own album. 🙂
What’s on your bucket list?
To stay satisfied and healthy, to reduce stress, drink less alcohol and work out more, to go hiking for 3 weeks in Patagonia, and Nepal, and to make the people in the audience happy with my music.