Peak time, tops off tunes are the order of the day for episode 90 of the AMF mix series. Manchester DJ Ned Blanders takes us on an odyssey of big room bangers. Strap yourself in, this one is big.
Hey Ned, thanks for coming on the blog and putting a cracking big room, peak time mix for us. I always start these interviews by asking our guests to tell us a bit about their DJ journeys. When did you start DJing and why, and what twists and turns in your DJ career have led you to today?
Thank you for having me! I feel like my DJ career is just beginning. Since finishing my degree at Salford University, I’ve been very conscious to keep practising music even with the little spare time I have. I started producing a few tunes and realised that incorporating them into a DJ set was an effective way to gauge their quality. Recently, I had the opportunity to play my first techno gig alongside Evie Mae, and the experience was incredible. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the performance, but I also found immense satisfaction in the preparation leading up to the event.
This gig made me realise the importance of building a solid network within the music industry. So, I’ve been actively engaging with other musicians, attending panels, and talks within the city to connect and learn from experienced individuals. As I look ahead, I am excited to take my DJ career to the next level. This year, I plan to cut down on my day job to focus more on developing my music and personal brand, while also seeking opportunities like this one to do guest mixes.
Your mix is a really emotive, pumping big room workout. There are touches of trance and breaks in there, along with more progressive house and techno grooves. What made you gravitate to these genres, and what, in your opinion, makes them so good?
They’re simply the genres I love to listen to. I love the tension, the contrast and the emotiveness of the music alongside the diversity of artists within the same genre. Each genre offers a diverse range of stylistic qualities, giving me the freedom to craft a unique and engaging mix.
I find the modern electronic tunes in these genres particularly compelling due to their heavy emphasis on grooves, creating a light and fun atmosphere. On the other hand, the heavier techno tracks have masterful production styles, utilising the entire frequency spectrum to evoke an immersive listening experience. The clarity of the low end in techno, for example, adds to the overall depth and inspiration that the music can convey. Techno has often been perceived as overly repetitive, but with the melodic musical styles and intricate sound design, I see it as an expertly crafted rollercoaster of energy, driven by musical theory and creativity.
Do you look to any DJs, producers, or promoters you tend to cite as influencers for your mixes? Anyone, you really want to emulate with your music?
Absolutely! One of my main inspirations for mixing is Eric Prydz. I’ve always been awed by the way he structures his sets, creating a captivating journey that ebbs and flows with a perfect balance of light and dark moments and can capture a crowd for the entirety of the performance. Whenever possible, I make it a point to experience an entire set from start to finish, appreciating the skill and style that goes into creating such an immersive experience.
On the surface, DJ’ing is simply playing one song into another however this concept can be taken beyond; it’s an art form that involves crafting a thoughtfully curated setlist to the listener on an emotional journey. I’m also inspired by producers like Enrico Sanguiliano, Layton Giordano, Floating Points, Jon Hopkins, and the distinct Afterlife style.
Learning from their music, interviews, and breakdowns provides me with valuable ideas to start or develop my songs and overcome writer’s block. There’s a great interview from Floating Points talking about his modular setup (the Buchla system I think it’s called) and how he uses it. Within seconds he’s changed a single note into a complete groove. It’s interesting to see other artists’ compositional routines and try their techniques out for yourself even though they might not work for you.
You mentioned to me there are a few originals in the mix too. How long have you been producing for and what has that journey looked like for you? Which came first the DJing or promoting? Or both ha?
Yes, the first song is one of my own with help from a couple of people (James Greene, Amy Benson). It was originally in 5.1 Surround Sound as part of my final University Project. It’s one of those tunes that still needs a lot of work, however, I love the chaos and irregular feel to the song during this current version.
I’ve been producing music for a few years now, and it all started from playing guitar in high school. As a big fan of EDM, I used to cover EDM tracks on my guitar (as well as playing hours of classic rock and indie tunes). However, during my studies of Creative Music Technology at Salford, I was introduced to music synthesis and digital audio workstations (DAWs), which sparked my interest in music production. Combining my understanding of music theory and love for techno beats, I started composing my own tracks. Initially, I struggled with being overly precise, spending considerable time editing and fine-tuning parts, which sometimes hindered me from finishing a song.
Now I try to throw anything down as it can always be adjusted later to maintain the flow. Although University taught me so much about producing, it was very broad in the sense that it covered all genres (jazz, rock etc…). I’ve found youtube to be a great tool for researching more genre-specific techniques through tutorials and even better, track breakdowns. Some good channels to recommend would be Point blank music school, You suck at Producing, Julian Earle and Andrew Huang, but even just searching your favourite artists followed by ‘track breakdown’ can give some amazing results.
The production definitely came first whereas Djing I learnt the basics a few years ago whilst messing around with friends but only recently started taking it seriously and recording mixes for a set amount of time.
Let’s move on to your mix; it’s a no-nonsense, hands-in-the-air peak-time work out. Are there any tracks in this mix that you really like and could share with us? Any that have any special meaning to you or are just great for getting a party started?
It’s difficult to single out individual tracks in this mix, as I carefully selected each one to flow seamlessly and create a dynamic and captivating experience as a whole. I wanted to showcase these songs without having to focus on one specific subgenre, making it possible to play anything from alternative dance to trance.
I definitely enjoy leaving the songs to play alongside each other for a while to create unique blends by finding two or more tunes that complement each other smoothly. I particularly enjoyed the edit I made of “Hung Up” by Madonna with “Dirty Lagoon” by Adam Beyer. Edits like this have become increasingly effective in elevating the party atmosphere during DJ sets when used correctly and sparingly. The combination of classic elements with contemporary techno gave the mix a unique flavour that I loved.
When planning my sets, I usually add about 40 songs into a playlist, mess around with them and cut the amount in half. From then I might make a note if 2 songs go really well together but other than that I just play what feels right during the moment.
Last but not least, what’s on the horizon for you? Are you playing out anywhere we can catch you, or do you have more mixes in the pipeline you can tell us about?
As I mentioned before, I’m going to consciously put more time into music so hopefully, you’ll see the name Ned Blanders popping up a bit more in Manchester. I’ve got a little opportunity to join An agency that connects DJs to various restaurants in Manchester so I should be playing a few chill sets for them (if all goes well). I’m then hoping that will give me more connections in music and give me more time to get better at DJing.
Regardless, I’m making an effort to put different stylistic music and mixes up on Soundcloud / Mixcloud every month so if you ever want to listen to something, mixes such as this will be going up on those platforms.
