Dive Into the Mind of Rising Artist blklght

Los Angeles-based artist blklght swung by to chat about his love for producing music in multiple genres, how Twitch and Discord have impacted his career, and his plans for 2025 and beyond!

The ebbs and flows in the current era of the scene have brought forth a plethora of acts who are helping shape its future, and blklght is one of those artists. This project is defined by a profound work ethic and passion and fueled by inspirations ranging from classic trance to drum and bass. Recent years have seen some significant wins for blklght as he dropped some quality tunes, leading to him playing EDC Las Vegas and the Zedd in the Park after party last year.

While blklght has continued to take hold of many in the scene with his sets at clubs and festivals, he’s also embraced the digital realm with consistent Twitch streams and a dedicated Discord community. This has led to him developing a core fanbase that reaches beyond the confines of Southern California, helping put his dynamic style on display for those in far-off places like South Africa, Australia, and more. He also utilizes Twitch for charity streams, his most recent one raising over $3,000 to benefit those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.

As blklght continues down his path into 2025, we caught up with him to reflect on his recent successes, get a taste of what’s coming in the future, and more. Listen to his exclusive guest mix and read on for the full conversation!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 453 || blklght on SoundCloud:

Hi blklght, thanks so much for chatting with us today. Hopefully, you’ve been safe in Los Angeles with the fires going on. How have you been holding up to start the year?

Hey EDM Identity! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. I really appreciate the positive energy and influence you’ve brought to our scene for over a decade—it’s truly inspiring.

January is typically one of my most inspired times of the year. December felt like absolute madness with multiple live shows, eight-hour livestreams two to three times per week, working on music, creating social media content, and balancing commitments with my girlfriend, family, and friends. On top of that, I was pushing our new song, “Harder,” with Lain Roy. All in all, January has been an amazing reset for me. It’s given me the chance to reflect on the past year, reassess my goals for 2025, start new music projects, and reconnect with my favorite habits and routines.

The LA wildfires really caught me off guard, as I’m sure they did for everyone else. It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation they’ve caused. Having been born in Los Angeles and lived in SoCal my entire life, this one feels personal. My heart goes out to everyone affected—losing your home in the blink of an eye is unimaginable.

Last week, I hosted a charity livestream on Twitch and ended up doing a nine-hour livestream! The incredible community on my Twitch channel raised over $3,100. I’m so grateful for their generosity during this time.

Before we dive in too far, let’s chat about your past. Who were some of your earliest influences in the electronic music scene? Do you remember the first track you heard that you fell in love with in this space?

My introduction to dance music came from an unexpected place—video games like BeatMania and Dance Dance Revolution. It’s funny to think about now, but I loved this song on there called “Butterfly” by DJ Mystik. I was a huge gamer growing up, and I’d spend countless hours playing when I was supposed to be studying—much to my parents’ frustration. [Laughs]

When I was in high school, I attended boarding school and one of my best friends and I snuck out to my first rave. That experience was unforgettable. The energy, the vibe, the people, and, of course, the music—it all just felt so right, like I had found my place and my people.

As I started exploring the music more deeply, I fell in love with Trance. Artists like Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten, and Armin Van Buuren became massive influences on me. Tracks like Ferry Corsten’s “Punk,” Armin Van Buuren’s “The Sound of Goodbye,” Paul Oakenfold’s “Southern Sun,” and Tiesto’s “Traffic” were some of my all-time favorites back then. They defined the era for me and really inspired my journey into the electronic music scene.

One thing that’s helped define your sound over the years has been how truly dynamic it is. You’ve touched on everything from house to drum and bass and more. What do you find most appealing about being genre-bending? How do you decide which direction to head when producing original tunes or remixes?

I love pushing the boundaries in my DJ sets. I feel it’s our job as artists to take the audience on a journey—keeping them engaged with familiar songs while introducing them to new styles and sounds. I thrive on the creative challenge of making things work that seemingly shouldn’t, or taking something familiar and presenting it in a completely new way. It’s about crafting a unique experience for the listener that stays with them long after the set is over.

I never go into a set with a fixed plan aside from my first two tracks (and even those can change last minute based on how I’m feeling). I love experiencing the music with the audience in real-time—it’s a shared energy and a rush to not know exactly what’s coming next, but to let the flow guide me. That spontaneity is where the magic happens.

When it comes to producing originals or remixes, I usually draw from whatever is inspiring me most in the moment. I’ll experiment with different ideas until one feels like it has legs, and once I catch that feeling, I run with it.

One of my mentors, Steve Duda, instilled a philosophy in me that I carry to this day: always ask yourself, “What is this song trying to be?” That question has become a guiding principle for me. It helps me step back and truly feel out the direction the track wants to take, rather than forcing it into a particular mold.

Above all else, you describe blklght as a project that’s built on work ethic and passion. It’s more of an idea than one single thing. Can you dive into this notion and tell us how you feel this has helped your creativity flourish?

I think this idea has helped my creativity flourish for a few key reasons. First and foremost, I know my why. I know how much I love this music, how passionate I am about it, and what it means to me. That clarity fuels everything I do. It allows me to pursue music from a place of genuine love and a desire to inspire others, just as the artists I’ve looked up to have inspired me. This deeper connection keeps me grounded and motivated, even during challenges.

Secondly, I treat this as a craft—something to be constantly honed and developed. I’ve found that having a strong work ethic can lead to incredible results over time. We often overestimate what we can achieve in the short term and underestimate what’s possible in the long term. But if you stay consistent and focus on growing just a little every day, the results can truly surprise you.

That’s been my story as a producer. When I started, I had no experience with any DAW or knowledge of how to create music. But by showing up consistently and committing to learning, I’ve been able to turn an idea into something much bigger than I ever imagined. It’s that combination of passion and persistence that keeps me pushing boundaries and evolving creatively.

2024 was a massive year for you. Not only did you close the official Zedd In The Park afterparty and end the year in support of Steve Aoki, but you also played EDC Las Vegas and embarked on your first official tour. Looking back, what did it feel like to achieve these milestones?

It’s funny because, in the moment, you don’t always realize the magnitude of what’s happening. It wasn’t until the end of 2024, when I reflected on the year, that it really hit me—all of that happened in the same year. It still blows me away, to be honest.

Over the years, I’ve taken more of a stoic approach to this industry. You go through so many rejections and setbacks—at least that’s how they feel at the time—that you learn to protect your energy and not get too caught up in the highs or lows. That mindset has helped me stay grounded and keep moving forward.

I’ve been working on being more intentional about celebrating the wins, and 2024 gave me a lot to reflect on. Playing EDC Las Vegas, performing at Alesso’s Block Party in San Francisco, closing the official Zedd in the Park afterparty, supporting Steve Aoki, and embarking on my first official tour—each of those moments felt like a culmination of years of hard work and persistence. While I don’t like to dwell too much on the past, I do take a lot of pride in what I was able to accomplish. It’s also a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much further I want to go.

Aside from your regular DJing and producing, you stream on Twitch and have a growing Discord community. How important have those two platforms been to your success in recent years?

Twitch and Discord have been absolute game-changers for me. Before these platforms, I never felt like I had a direct, meaningful connection with my community. Sure, I’d interact with fans at live shows or through social media, but now I’ve gotten to know so many of them on a deeper level, forming lasting friendships. The love and support my community has shown me over the years truly blows me away.

During my tour this past year with Paul Oakenfold, many of my Twitch and Discord family traveled from other cities or states just to catch a show closer to their area. We organized meetups in different cities, and one of our biggest gatherings to date happened during my EDC performance. Those moments of connection mean everything to me.

The contributions from my Twitch community have also allowed me to shift my focus significantly toward my own projects. Before Twitch, I spent a lot of time working on other people’s music—producing, mixing, or mastering—to sustain my career. Now, I have the freedom to prioritize my own brand while still taking on select projects that inspire me or align with my vision. Whether it’s livestreaming, performing live shows, or producing new music, I’ve been able to dedicate more time to honing my craft and building my community, while still collaborating with others when the right opportunities come along.

Twitch has undergone many changes over the past few years regarding DJing on the platform. Have you found navigating the new era on the platform any different than the past?

The biggest change on Twitch in recent months has been the launch of their official DJ Program. For years, DJs operated in a sort of gray area, where we could perform music on the platform without paying additional fees to labels. Understandably, this caused friction with the labels, who have been pushing back on Twitch for some time.

With the new DJ Program, we now have a legitimate way to perform on the platform, which is a big step forward. However, this also comes with the tradeoff of paying a substantial portion of our Twitch earnings to the labels. It’s a significant change, and while it legitimizes DJing on Twitch, it also presents new challenges for creators who rely heavily on their earnings from the platform.

That said, I think it’s a sign of how much the DJ community has grown on Twitch and how valuable this space has become for artists. While it’s still evolving, I’m optimistic about the direction it’s heading and hopeful that the platform will continue to improve the system for both creators and rights holders.

You’re a great example of how a DJ can be successful in the streaming world while also playing shows “IRL.” What advice would you give others who are hoping to find the same

The streaming world and live shows aren’t mutually exclusive—they actually complement each other really well. Streaming lets me connect deeply with fans in real-time, while live shows let me bring that energy to life on a bigger stage.

In streaming, community is everything. It’s not just about playing music; it’s about creating a space where people feel seen and valued. That same sense of connection carries over to my live performances—it’s all about making people feel like they’re part of something bigger.

For anyone trying to balance streaming and live shows, consistency and authenticity are key. Have a schedule for your streams, interact with your audience, and let them see the real you. At the same time, focus on honing your craft as a live performer. The more authentic you are, the more fans will want to support you, both online and IRL.

Streaming is also a great way to test new ideas, engage with your audience directly, and discover what resonates before taking it to a live setting. For example, I’ve done mashups or mixes on Twitch that later became highlights of my live sets.

This industry is always evolving, so don’t be afraid to adapt. Whether it’s experimenting with new tech, trying out a different vibe in your sets, or embracing platforms like Twitch, keep pushing boundaries while staying true to your sound. When I first started on Twitch, my sound was much narrower. Over time, I was introduced to so much incredible music from a variety of genres, which opened up new creative possibilities for me.

Finally, what goals do you hope to achieve in 2025? Do you have any upcoming shows or releases we should keep our eye out for in the coming months?

2024 was a monumental year for me, and I’m excited to carry that momentum into 2025. My primary goal is to continue growing as an artist, music producer, DJ, and performer. I want to push my craft even further, create music that inspires me, and collaborate with artists I respect and admire.

Deepening my connection with my community is another big focus for me this year. They’ve been such an essential part of my journey, and I’m constantly looking for new ways to grow and cultivate this incredible family we’ve built together. We’re currently planning a private event for my community to celebrate some of our massive achievements from last year. Breaking further into the festival circuit is a major goal as well. Performing on bigger stages and connecting with high-energy audiences is where I thrive. I’d love to make my way back to EDC Las Vegas and explore other festivals that align with my sound and vision.

Currently, I’ve been managing all my bookings on my own, which has been a valuable learning experience. That said, I’m actively looking for the right booking agent—someone who shares my vision and can help me reach more clubs and festivals that align with my goals.

One of my long-term aspirations is to create a live show that goes beyond just a performance. I want it to be an immersive experience that audiences remember long after the night is over—something that truly showcases my unique abilities and range of music. While this may not come to fruition this year, I’m excited to start laying the groundwork for it.

As for upcoming projects and shows, I have a lot on the horizon! My new cover of the classic “Lean On Me” with my boy Drew Raine drops on Valentine’s Day. It’s an emotional banger that we can’t wait to share with everyone. On February 8, I’ll be performing at NOVA San Diego alongside Bassjackers, on February 14, I’ll make my debut in Boise, ID, headlining Illuminated Events’ Affinity show.

On the production side, I’m putting the final touches on my DNB remix of Kaskade and John Summit’s “Resonate,” and I’m so stoked to release it soon. I’ve also got a bunch of other unreleased tracks lined up for this year that I can’t wait to share.

With everything happening, I’m feeling inspired and motivated to make 2025 another unforgettable year. Stay tuned for more announcements—I can’t wait to take this journey with all of you!