Today we’d like to introduce you to Arlo Blue
Hi Arlo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Music was a large part of my childhood, a part of every celebration, gathering, and in moments of healing. It became my sanctuary, a place where I could find peace and discover my potential. At a young age, I was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety disorder. Those diagnoses brought many challenges. Between grade school and high school, I took on a powerful negative self-image, and being “dumb” was the identity that I had accepted. However, in hip-hop,
I discovered an aggressive interest in music in my junior year of high school. Unlike my struggles in other subjects, music was the one I became obsessed with. Hip Hop culture and its music became an identity for me. Hip Hop music offered me a counter-narrative of how I viewed myself.
I started by b-boying (breakdancing) and that allowed me to fall in love with all the other elements of hip-hop. The energy of the music was infectious, but I was drawn to something deeper. It wasn’t just about the beats and rhymes; it was the stories being told, the raw emotion, the social commentary. Hip-hop became more than just music; it was a voice for a generation, a way to express the struggles and triumphs of life. I started to see the power of music to connect people, to inspire change, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
Where were all these sounds coming from? I often asked myself when listening. It wasn’t just the rapping and DJing that captivated me; it was the layers of instrumentation, the intricate rhythms, and the way the music made me feel. I realized I wanted to create these sonic landscapes myself. But hip-hop artists often didn’t have traditional bands. So, I started experimenting. I downloaded music software, messing around with loops and samples, trying to recreate the sounds I heard in my favorite tracks. This sparked a whole new passion: music production.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is there ever a smooth road when chasing a dream? If there is ever an industry of broken promises and letdowns, this is it. For many years I wanted to be the next Atmosphere, RJD2, or DJ Premier… I tried to copy them and their sounds. I was so focused on them, that I didn’t focus on myself.
Over the next few years, music wasn’t my focus, my family was. I was working a full-time job in IT. I am married with two adopted children, one of whom has Down syndrome. Life has displayed its challenges. I wanted to create music, but a son with special needs, a baby girl, and a full-time job were now my priority. I often thought about music and would dabble here and there, but knew it wasn’t time. So I watched my equipment gather dust and waited for the moment to have time again. I wouldn’t call these struggles. It was what life threw at me I loved it, but missed making music at the same time.
In 2019 I had the opportunity to start creating music again. I thought less about how I could sound like someone else and more about my sound. I was making music as a hobby and started noticing it felt more fun this time. It felt therapeutic. It wasn’t a chore anymore. It became a passion. With the kids a little older, I was able to start moving my schedule around to allow time to create.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love my creative process because it opens my mind to explore all types of music. The music I create requires an eclectic taste and interest in all music. My process begins with listening to older vinyl records of various genres. On those records, I listen for the sounds of other instruments that I can isolate and use. In Hip Hop, we call this sampling. From there, I combined those samples with my own drums, bass, keys, turntable scratches, and other instruments. There are times when I can produce a song in 10 minutes. Other times I work for weeks on music. I have songs that I started, took a break, and finished 2 years later. You have to let the music make itself sometimes. It needs room to breathe and evolve.
Late ’90s, and early 2000s hip-hop is my sonic sweet spot. Heavy drums, turntable scratches, and expertly crafted samples – that’s the recipe. For me, it starts and ends with the drums. They’ve got to be real, not robotic. Sampling is where the creativity explodes. A full loop, a chopped sample, it doesn’t matter. Those old records are my blank canvas, a playground of sounds waiting to be reshaped into my own style.
Though my music is rooted in Hip Hop, I’m also a blues harmonica player. I grew up playing soul and blues with my family. I’ve played in a few blues bands over the years. Any chance I get to jam with other musicians, I’ll take it!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, find a hobby. Find ten. Seriously. Hobbies are essential, especially during tough times. For me, COVID would have been unbearable without my family, my dog, and my music. The pandemic gave me the unexpected opportunity to focus on my music and discover my sound. It was a silver lining in a very challenging time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://airbit.com/ArloBlueBeats
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arlobluebeats/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arlobluebeats
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/arloblue
