![Chitchatting With CLB at Beyond Existence [Exclusive Interview]](https://theelectrichawk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSC09975.jpg)
In addition to frolicking around Carson Creek Ranch, we caught up with CLB to spotlight an up-and-coming artist you need to hear about.
Max Foley, born & raised in the Midwest, has been spinning records since 2014. He began with Jersey club and house music until tweaking his sound to a different genre. Now, with a career in full force, it’s been a very successful stretch.
Read on for the exclusive interview with CLB at this year’s Beyond Existence!
Morganne, Electric Hawk: First, where are you from? What is the CLB origin story?
CLB: Chicago, Illinois, born and raised. I grew up technically in the suburbs, then moved downtown for college. I’ve been there ever since.
I first started DJing primarily, and I think that’s my biggest passion. But I reached a point while DJing house parties where I thought – I’m sick of playing other people’s music. So, I started producing jersey club music, which is where CLB came from initially. It was like that era where the cool thing was all caps, no vowels. [laughs] Then I transitioned into breakbeats and house music around 2016 or so. I did that for about three years, then I actually went to the UK on a vacation, and I saw Kanine, the drum and bass DJ, and immediately was like – f*ck house music, I want to make this!
M: So, what genre does your project (mostly) represent?
C: I have this thought all the time. I don’t want to be labeled, and I don’t think any artist really does. But I would say my project is a conglomerate of UK sounds. I know that’s kind of broad, but I’ve always been drawn to dance music with more soul to it, in my opinion.
[My inspiration] all depends. Artist-wise, I would say a lot of top drum and bass acts. Bou is a big inspiration of mine! Or the 1985 crew. Flava D, who I played with last night, actually, is also a huge inspiration. And it sounds corny, but I do get inspired by my environment a lot. Like, Chicago inspires me [because] it’s the house music capital, and I’ll love house music until the day I die.Besides producing music, CLB is a man of many talents!
M: How do you blend your graphic design skills with your music project?
C: So, any time I self-release, I do all the cover art and all the videos. It’s just another creative outlet for me, and it’s nice that I have full control. It’s really a self-expression thing. When I’m not feeling like writing music, I’ll turn to graphic design. It’s nice that I can incorporate it into my music project as well. I’m a creative person at heart. I like messing around in Photoshop and seeing what comes out. I minored in graphic design, and that’s something I’ve always been interested in. It’s a passion of mine that I’ll continue to do.
M: A few years ago, you started the label Sine Clash Recordings. Do you have any plans to revive it any time soon?
C: Wow, I haven’t even heard that name in a while, to be honest! [laughs] I would love to. I launched that during COVID when I had time to run a label. There’s so much overhead and so much work behind the scenes; I want to do it right. I honestly don’t have the time right to revive it, so I’m going to focus on CLB for now. Once I have the funds and bring some people on to run it correctly, then we’ll see. But it’s always kind of on the back burner.
Not only has 2023 been the rise of drum and bass, but also the rise of CLB. This year, he’s graced the stages of the Black Box, Northcoast, and, of course, Beyond Existence. On the last day of BE, his set closed out the Silent Motion Takeover on the Tribal Roots stage. The Element 5 speakers were popping off all day, especially once CLB got behind the decks. Attendees, including myself, were bouncing around in the sunshine as he unleashed a plethora of soulful breakbeats and unreleased tunes.
M: It’s been a BUSY year for you! What has been your favorite festival or show experience so far?
C: There are so many good ones. I want to say the Cervantes show in Denver with Rusko. It was my first time at Cervantes as a fan or a DJ. So, that was a blast. I usually don’t act like a “fanboy” around people, but I was like – how do I tell this man [Rusko] that I love him without it being weird? [laughs] I think that was the biggest full-circle moment of the year.
M: Do you have a dream festival that you wish to play at someday?
C: Boomtown in the UK. When I write a festival banger, I picture myself on that stage. The hills of the UK and sweaty 19-year-old kids going crazy.
M: Lastly, what’s on the horizon for CLB? Should we be on the lookout for more tunes before the year is over?!
C: I’m not sure when [my next release] is coming out, but it’ll be in 2023. Also, I have an EP coming on Serial Killaz; it’s a UK label. It’s cool because it’s one of the labels I was really into in 2013-14. So, another full-circle moment for sure. And a bunch of other tunes!
M: Are there any bucket-list labels you wish to release on?
C: I definitely want to work with Deadbeats more, that’s for sure. The 1985 label also. That feels like a fever dream, but give me like two years! Those are my big two.
We’re certain that in just a few years, we’ll be watching CLB accomplish those exact goals!
Listen to CLB’s many unreleased tunes on his 2023 Mix here!
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Looking for new music? Keep up with our weekly Spotify playlist, Fresh Hunts. Updated every Friday with all the latest releases. Whether it’s the newest drops all your favorite artists, some old-school, or underground…we just want you to hear it.
