Balthazar & JackRock’s story began in the heart of Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia.
From running a 1500 people capacity venue to promoting their own festivals, Balthazar & JackRock have been deeply involved in the electronic music scene for the last 22 years. They also head up their own label Renesanz.
In addition to providing their exclusive mix for Flow Sessions, the guys also took the time to answer a few questions…
Thanks for recording us a podcast, could you describe the vibe/energy were you trying to capture with your track selection?
Thank you for the invitation! More or less the podcast showcases where our sound has been the last few years. Energetic but not too extreme, and a bit melodic. The mix represents how we would play to make people smile so they can have an amazing night to remember.
What’s your favourite track in the mix, and did you play any of your own music?
We cannot point out a particular track as a favourite. All of them grabbed our attention in different ways. Each track has to have something to make it memorable – a cool sound, unusual idea, or anything that makes it stand out. Yes indeed, in the mix there are a few exclusive tracks made by us that are unreleased.
Talking of your own tracks, what’s new in your release schedule, as we would love to know more about your new music?
During the long and slow year that was 2020, we have finished over 20 new tracks, and we are really excited to share them with the world. However, in the end, we make dance music, so we decided to pause our releases for the moment. We want to wait until festivals and clubs can open, so people can get the full feeling of the tracks, and dance to our music.
What do you think would be the perfect setting for someone to listen to your mix, and why do you think that would be the best place?
As we mentioned, it is an energetic and uptempo mix, so besides the clubs, it would be a nice fit during a drive to a favourite place, or when someone needs inspiration/motivation. It can give you energy when working or travelling… maybe even just on an urban cruise when you are enjoying yourself and having a good time.
Who is your personal favourite DJ, and how have they influenced your own style?
Actually, we don’t believe in favourite DJs. Each artist has their own distinguishable skills – some DJs have a good mixing technique, and others are forward thinkers who experiment with their track selection. You can get bits and pieces of inspiration and influence from each artist during your path. Each time period brings new favourites, and our tastes are always evolving. When a person initially discovers the music they feel and love, this is the moment that marks them for life with influence and emotions. For us, it was the mid-90s, so our stigma is crafted by the original rave culture, trance melodies and raw beats.
Do you have a message for your fans or anything else you want to add?
To truly appreciate and enjoy every moment. Many people including us, were in a loop of events and travels, but with the recent downtime, things became less exciting. Now our special moments have been taken from us, I think we have learned our lesson. When clubs open again, we will enjoy every minute, and not take things for granted. Every night out has its own magic, and the bright side, this is a unique chance to ignite that initial feeling when we first went out to a rave.
