Blind Prophet interview

Just in time for Night Of the Minotaur tomorrow night. Blind Prophet, hailing from Long Island NY, talks a bit on his North East tour that wrapped up just last month after headlining January’s NOTM. 

Joe come’s off as a real cool cat an holds it down on the decks. His future bass sounds are what are doing it for me right now. Chill, bassy, and jazzy, some real NY sounds.

Opening this one with a thanks for your time, I know you just wrapped up a North American tour. Who are you, where are you from? Where are you doing this interview from?

No problem, thank you. I wouldn’t call it a North American tour, it was more of a Pacific Northwest tour. Anyway, my name is Joseph Burns and I produce and DJ under the moniker Blind Prophet. I’m from Long Island, New York - which is where I’m doing this interview.

What got you going under the moniker Blind Prophet?

The name Blind Prophet used to be one of my many nicknames in high school.  It stems from the fact that I’m legally blind and wear really thick glasses - it just felt right to call myself that.  I first started producing tunes about 3 years ago.  I had been listening to dubstep and garage almost exclusively at the time and wanted to make music like that.  So I got Logic and started tinkering.  It took me a long time to develop my sound and to actually make something semi-decent but I’m happy with where I’m at now production-wise.

Where did your tour take you?

I played shows in Seattle and Vancouver and I also visited Portland. We tried to organize a show in PDX but it just wasn’t in the cards - next time though for sure!

Which city produced the most receptive crowd?

Vancouver definitely had the best crowd. I met a few people that had traveled 2+ hours to see me which was kind of surreal.  It’s hard for me to imagine that my music has had that kind of impact on someone. So big up to them for coming thru! Vancouver was also great because I got to DJ alongside HxdB and Self Evident - 2 producers that I have looked up to for some time now. Much love to them and everyone else at the Minotaur’s Lair!

Any troubles traveling throughout?

I didn’t run into too much trouble traveling around the Northwest. I did get a little sketched out at the US/Canada border though - they always try to make you feel like you’re doing something wrong when you’re going through customs.

Those boarder guys job is to make you feel uncomfortable. I can only image the lunch room break conversations they have. Hows Long Island living?

Life on Long Island is OK.  The town that I live in (Sag Harbor) is not supportive of electronic music at all.  The majority of the people here only want to hear cover bands and blues.  I was trying to get a monthly night going out here for over a year but I just decided to give up because none of the “venues” want anything to do with it.  However, there’s still a tight-knit group of people in my area that support the sound so it’s not a total loss.  To hear new music and find out about new artists I have to travel to New York City which is only 2 hours away - I’m cool with that.

How’s the bass music scene out there?

Like I said before the music scene on Long Island is shit but it’s thriving in NYC right now.  There are loads of great artists like Archie Pelago, Sleepyhead, Svpreme Fiend, kuxaan SUUM, and Contakt.  Pair that with events like Turrbotax, reconstrvct, onthesly, and Percussion Lab and you can’t wrong.

Beautiful landscapes here in the Pacific Northwest. Can we expect you back?

I’d definitely love to come back again.  The turnout for the shows was really good and the people that I met were extremely supportive of my music and of the bass music scene overall.

How did you hear about Self Evident & HxdB over there in Long Island?

I first came across HxdB and Self Evident on Soundcloud.  I remember listening to HxdB’s tunes and thinking that his tunes were so much better than mine.  It got me a little down at first but it drove me to work even harder on production, mixing, arranging - all those things.  I still think his tunes are better than mine though haha.  Through listening to HxdB I found out about Self Evident, who I think has such an original and unique style - it’s refreshing to hear.  And after meeting them both in person it just confirmed how rad they are - both extremely nice people.

Who did you grow up listening to?

I first started getting into music when I was about 10 years old.  I remember borrowing my sisters CDs, stuff like Nirvana, R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins but it wasn’t until much later that I discovered electronic music.  I’d say it was about six years ago when I started to get bored with “guitar music”, there just weren’t any good bands coming out anymore in my opinion and at the time I was partial to the the more electronic avenues artists like Radiohead, Bjork, and Mogwai were exploring.  I was also getting tired of lyrics and found myself listening to a lot of ambient/instrumental stuff like Tim Hecker, Fennesz, and Max Richter.  So once I found dubstep/garage in 2007 it was like “Yes - this is what I’ve been searching for.”

Hardware and software; what are you working with?

My setup is very simple.  I produce in Logic and mainly use the built-in synths and plugins.  I do have a couple third party plugins that I love to use but they shall remain nameless for now.  And the only piece of hardware that I use is my guitar.  I’d like to expand my setup one day but for now it works fine for me.

Top 3 artists your feeling lately?

I’ve really been feeling the stuff that Viers, Self Evident, and J. Deville are doing

What movies have you been watching lately?

I just watched ‘The Trip’ and ‘Take Shelter’ this past week.  Both very good movies, I’ll be purchasing them both.

Did you watch and or vote for the Grammy’s?

I did watch the Grammys… lasted about five minutes.

Thanks much man. Appreciate the time. Anything you’d like to sign this off with?

I’d just like to thank anyone who has supported me and my music and to you for doing this interview, big up!

:)

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