While the whole world seems to be increasingly leaning towards creating and releasing isolated individual songs one after another, To Hell With Tradition keeps moving against the current, diving deeper and deeper into creating consistent coherent concept albums. Whilst consistently progressing on the hauntingly impulsive musical path set out on by the predecessors, and exploring it with increasing confidence, the deep contemplation on perceived duality expressed as an intense, dialogic inner discourse makes Blurred the most intimate To Hell With Tradition album yet – poignant in every sense of the word.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Can you describe for us how the beginning of your career went?
What defines a beginning? I have basically always been an artist. Yes, there have been long periods in my live, when I didn’t have the courage to confidently express this nature, or even foolishly dismissed it for the sake of a supposedly conventional life, but that eventually took a toll like any other form of denial. Realizing this and freeing myself from the shackles of external expectations was a crucial turning point for me, and the start of my solo path in 2019.
I don’t want the art to be subject to any genre limitations, target audience considerations, or negotiation-based creative compromise due to different views of individual contributors. With To Hell With Tradition, doing absolutely everything myself, I am completely free to go with the natural flow of inspiration. That, at the same time, has completely shifted my artistic confidence.
Who inspired you to make music?
Rather than a specific person, I’d say the sum total of art(ists) I had been exposed to during my early childhood. Whenever my parents took a ride in the car, they would play any of their countless mixtapes to kill the time. It might be common practice to drop a number of names at that point, I know, but the point is that it was never about the individual artists. It was about the art itself. About what felt to me like the most natural, most authentic and most accurate form of expression. I remember the feeling of being instantly immersed and connected whenever the sound started escaping the speakers.
Your latest track is 'Paper Cuts'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Paper Cuts is just one piece of the bigger picture that makes up Blurred, my upcoming 3rd album. Fully aware of the anachronism of this approach, I have designed Blurred to be a coherent and consistent concept album, and the full experience of Paper Cuts relies on the context provided by Blurred. Come to think of it … that almost seems like a devious marketing scheme – I am not even sure that this was my intention.
One nugget of trivia related to the production of Paper Cuts, though: I actually kept and used a messed up take of the lead vocals, because it was one of those lucky accidents. I am curious if you can tell me which part I am referring to. Be in touch.
What is your creative process like?
That is an interesting question, as it seems to imply that we could isolate and zoom in on the spark of actual inspiration - the moments when the key ideas just seem to pop up out of the void and set everything else in motion. At least to me, this would be the only truly fascinating part of the creative process I would want to have a peek behind the big veil of. All the rest that comes after that is not much more than mere craftsmanship. The point is, you see, that I am just grateful when my sensors pick up on something that vibrates on my frequency.
What helps you in your life to be able to focus on music?
That almost makes it sound like a chore. Also, this is having it backwards: Music – or rather creativity – helps me to be able to focus on life.
What makes you different from others?
Well, I do lack the arrogance to claim that I am the one gem in a world of gravel. There are so many undeniably talented artists out there, so many incredibly beautiful pieces of music – in any genre. There is, however, one line I dare to draw: the line between authentic, uncompromised art and rationalized craft. Sadly, the world is flooded with the latter. It’s an easy fix, not too captivating, no risk of triggering any non-conformational contemplation or reflexion. I am not a craftsman. I am an artist.
One thing that might differentiate me further, though, is the fact that I am in a sweet spot between indie and mainstream that many people might not even be aware of - too unconventional to be mainstream, but too catchy to be indie. My wish is that more and more people get to know this magnificent grey area I share with so many great artists.
There is a very developed music industry in Germany, does this help artists?
It does not. Let me refer to my previous response here. For the most part, the industry (in Germany or anywhere else in the world) is basically the matchmaking scene for strict business minds and rationalized craftsmen. Imagine you are an inspired chef, looking for investors in a gourmet restaurant and the scene is like: “we could use you to operate the deep fryer or the burger station in our new franchise location”.
Is social media important to you? Do they help your career?
I have to admit that I have neglected the potential of social media for a long time when it comes to my work. With the first two albums, I have barely posted anything outside the actual release activities. Now I decided to dive in fully, sharing snippets of live sessions, lyrics visualizations, vocal mashups etc. three times a week on 5 different platforms. I think they can be a great tool to reach new people out there and show them that there is more to music than they might know.
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
“I have to pee”. No seriously, I deliberately go into a state of gratitude first thing in the morning, followed by a meditation session. Before that, I don’t allow my thoughts to drift anywhere else.
What are your plans for the future?
Short term: Release the second single, The Baton, on July 22nd, and the album, Blurred on August 26th, meanwhile shoot two more full length music videos and continue with the microcontent production.
Mid term: work on my 4th album and my acting career.
Long term: world domination, of course