Interview with Blue Hawaii – the Canadian electronic music duo

Euro Trance and Current Inspirations

Your latest release, “Diamond Shovel”, has echoes of early 2000s Euro trane. Was that an intentional influence, or are we imagining things? What kind of electronic music has been inspiring you lately?

“Not imagining things at all—you’re spot on! That era of Euro trance has a nostalgic charm with its uplifting melodies and driving energy. It wasn’t something we intentionally set out to replicate, but it naturally seeped into the record,” they said. “We really wanted strong melodies at fast tempos.”

As for current inspirations, they’re exploring a range of sounds. “We’ve been listening to a mix of ambient, downtempo, house, and techno. Also, I love Doja Cat—Scarlet 2: Claude is incredible. We listen to a lot of rap, and I can feel its influence in my vocal rhythms and in the big production shifts we’re making on our next body of work. We don’t try to force a specific sound; we just let the music decide what it wants to be.”

Twelve Years After Untogether

It’s been 12 years since Untogether. How has your creative process evolved?

“We’re more in tune with what resonates with us personally now,” they said. “Over time, we’ve come back to the original reason we started making music—experimenting and having fun. When music becomes your profession, there’s so much pressure to follow trends, partner with brands, and be an online product. But honestly, none of that really matters. What matters is enjoying the process.”

They added, “We feel a lot less anxiety now and just have so much fun. We work harder because our standards are higher, and our live show has evolved just as much as our sound. We’re confident adults in an industry obsessed with youth, but as Lady Gaga said, ‘I’m just getting started.’“

The Reality for Independent Artists in Montreal and Berlin

You’ve worked between Montreal and Berlin. What are the biggest challenges facing independent artists in those cities today?

“The biggest challenge isn’t specific to Montreal or Berlin—it’s corporate greed. When you’re constantly worried about paying rent and buying groceries, it’s hard to find the space to create,” they said. “Historically, when places like New York, Montreal, and Berlin had cheap rent, art flourished.”

They praised Berlin’s club culture for prioritizing music over commercialism. “Berlin does a lot right. Clubs rarely partner with brands, and video recording is banned, so the focus stays on the music. When you remove capitalism and distraction from the equation, artists thrive.”

Advice for Emerging Artists

After five albums, what advice would you give to emerging artists?

“Don’t force anything. Music comes when you relax,” they said. “And take care of yourself—especially if you’re a singer. Your voice is part of your body, and you need to treat it like an athlete does their instrument.”

Balancing Mood, Groove, and Emotion

Your music balances mood, groove, and emotional depth. “The Way Life Goes” is a great example. How do you navigate that balance?

“I know this sounds vague, but it’s just about letting songs be what they want to be,” they said. “You don’t wish for sun when it’s raining—you accept it. Same with music. You’ll know when it’s fire.”

AI in Electronic Music

Many electronic artists are experimenting with AI production tools. Do you see this as a concern, a passing trend, or something more complex?

“This is another really good but huge question because AI right now cannot just be seen as the software itself and it’s incredible capabilities and needs to be acknowledged that it is a political tool that is causing a lot of geopolitical disturbance and is already affecting millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of people if not billions of people because when things become automated people lose jobs. It’s important for us as humans to do things and to be tactile with our hands and it gives us purpose and AI does not give us purpose and humans need purpose. If you start depending on AI, then you are going to create Urho pathways in your brain that have forgotten how to create. I think it’s OK for people to dabble in it, but in the same way of dappling in drugs: you don’t do it every day you don’t do it every weekend you do it from time to time because you need to keep your mind and body strong. Moderation with AI is essential and I think we all need to realize how serious this is on a larger scale than just electronic artist using AI production tools. If all of your music is made from a sample pack, if your music is made from giving AI a prompt then I think you’re missing out on life and what it feels like to really create. But some people just really don’t give a fuck about that kind of thing so to each their own”. 

Maintaining Creative Chemistry

How do you maintain creative chemistry over time? Has your dynamic changed since the early days?

“We respect each other’s creative rhythms. Sometimes one of us is on while the other isn’t, and the magic happens when we sync up,” they said.

“I can’t force songwriting,” one of them added. “If I’m writing for someone else, it’s different—I can follow directions. But for myself, I need to be in the right mindset. That doesn’t mean I have to be happy—I just have to honor whatever I’m feeling.”

Scoring a Film, TV Series, or Video Game

I’ve always imagined a Blue Hawaii album as the soundtrack to a Gaspar Noé film. If you could score a project, what would it be?

“I’d love to score Harvest Moon for the Nintendo 64,” they said. “It’s from the ’90s, but still—our music is cinematic, and I’d love to hear it alongside people doing everyday things. That makes sense, right? Sorry, I’m getting tired—it’s late in London, and I didn’t sleep well last night!”

Upcoming Music and Tours

Do you have any upcoming projects or tour plans?

“Yes! Our new single Tan Lines drops this Friday, and it’s so good,” they said. “We’re currently on tour with Rebecca Black, and the shows have been incredible.”

They also hinted at future collaborations. “We always have projects in the works, but we can’t talk about them yet. For updates, follow us on Instagram at @trubluhawaii—or on Bluesky, if you’re as fed up with Zuckerberg as I am.”

Final Recommendation: Go to Pride

Any must-see shows, venues, or events you’ve discovered recently?

“Go to as many Pride events as possible,” they said. “They have the best music, performances, and energy, with the most respectful crowds. Queerness deserves to be celebrated in all its beauty—and Pride is where it’s at.”