Some artists create music that transcends time, becoming the soundtrack to memories, emotions, and entire chapters of our lives. For over a decade, Blackmill has remained one of the most beloved and influential figures in melodic dubstep, captivating listeners through his ethereal soundscapes, emotional melodies, and unmistakable sonic identity. From the timeless beauty of Miracle to the introspective evolution of Home, his music has continued to resonate with generations of listeners.
Now, as Blackmill enters a renewed chapter of creativity, he returns with a breathtaking reimagination of Blake Farfan’s “Surface,” arriving through Seeking Blue. In an exclusive conversation with Electric Hawk, Blackmill reflects on the personal journey behind his music, finding inspiration through life’s changing seasons, rediscovering his creative spark, and what the future holds for a project that has meant so much to so many.
Listen to the remix while you read the Blackmill interview!
In Conversation with Blackmill
seradopa: Taking it back to the beginning, what first sparked your interest in music production, and how did those early creative explorations eventually evolve into Blackmill?
Blackmill: I’ve always had a deep love for music since I can remember. My journey in production started when I found FL Studio 4 in a car magazine at 13. I was hooked on making all sorts of stuff but eventually settled on uplifting trance for a few years.
Around 2010 I heard dubstep for the first time and decided to blend it with uplifting trance since they both share a 140bpm tempo. What came of that mix was my song ‘Rain’ and then the rest followed.
seradopa: Blackmill has become such a meaningful project to listeners around the world, yet music hasn’t always been the central focus of your life. How have you navigated that balance, and how has having a life outside of music shaped your creative identity?
Blackmill: Music never truly leaves me as it’s always in my head. It did have to take a back seat while raising my family. Now my youngest is at nursery. I have lots of time to focus on music. That break has done me good cause I feel a new passion for it that wasn’t there for a while. Also, all these new plugins sound so good haha
seradopa: Looking back at the person you were when Blackmill first began compared to who you are today, what has changed the most, both personally and creatively?
Blackmill: I’d say huge changes personally. When I was making these two first albums, I was in the process of a spiritual awakening. But at the same time, I was very unhappy with myself. Music to me back then was an escape from how I felt in reality.
After finding my wife and having children, I don’t feel a need to escape into my music. Most recently, music is giving me nostalgia rather than excitement about a new song/sound. I guess the beauty of music is that it captures a point in time, and that makes it timeless.
seradopa: Your debut album, Miracle (2011), introduced listeners to a sound that would become synonymous with Blackmill. When you revisit that chapter of your life, what memories or emotions come rushing back?
Blackmill: To be honest, they were the best/worst years of my life! I have a really close brother and friends and we all pretty much went through the same things. What happened then has shaped me to who I am now. And I try to be grateful as there was a lot more good than bad!
seradopa: A decade separates Miracle and your sophomore album, Home (2021). How did your experiences during those ten years shape the music, and what do you feel these two albums reveal about the different chapters of your life?
Blackmill: Well, a lot changed between Miracle and Home. The first two albums were definitely a period of realization. While the 3rd is trying to live that realization and be more grounded.
seradopa: As you’ve continued to grow and evolve, has the meaning behind Blackmill changed for you? What does this project represent in your life today?
Blackmill: It has, and it hasn’t. In the sense that I don’t see music as the ultimate experience of a human anymore. It’s our best creation in my opinion but there’s a more powerful creative force behind music. That is life itself; it gives us the ability to create using these incredible bodies.
But at the core of it, I just have to make music to express a part of me in this world, and that will never change.
seradopa: More recently, you’ve put your own touch on Blake Farfan’s “Surface.” What initially drew you to the track, and how did you approach reimagining it through the Blackmill sound?
Blackmill: I was fortunate enough to be approached to have my take on it. Upon my first listen I was blown away and immediately had to say yes! I’ve always been a fan of soundscapes with layered harmonies (Imogen Heap, Bon Iver), so it struck a nerve.
I wanted to keep it close to the original but add the energy of melodic dubstep to the soundscape. They seemed to blend quite well together, so I continued on making it until we were happy with the track.
seradopa: With so much time and personal growth behind the project, what continues to inspire you to create music today? Has your relationship with the creative process changed?
Blackmill: I only need to hear a note to get inspired, and fortunately that hasn’t changed! For me, the production side has always been a bit of a challenge. I know what I want, but sometimes I don’t have the knowledge to do it exactly. Although recently I have learned to accept that this is the idea and not to overthink it.
seradopa: As we look toward the future of Blackmill, what would you like listeners to know about where you’re headed, whether musically, personally, or simply in how you hope to continue sharing this project with the world?
Blackmill: I’m heading to roots and fruits. Back to what I did and making some new stuff! I love all sorts of genres. Music to me makes me feel; it doesn’t matter what genre it is, if it makes me feel, it is music. So I have been dabbling in various genres in the last decade but never fully released the music. I’m going back through what I did with fresh ears and see what I can finish off, plus making fresh songs.
I also want to do some live shows and see how my music translates that way and maybe one day a tour if all goes well!
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