Joining us at the Nexus Lounge, Amsterdam, we spoke with Blonde Maze about her time at ADE, breaking out of her comfort zone as a musician, and her advice for musicians struggling with creative block.
Over the last decade, Amanda Steckler Levesque – also known by her stage name Blonde Maze – has really broken out into the music industry, with her first single, “Antarctica,” finding particular success after airing on BBC Radio 1. As a composer, producer, and vocalist, she takes an all-around role in her music and has a strong and recognizable creative voice.
Her sound is a perfect blend of modern dance and shoegaze. She describes it as a “crossover between the chill sound and the dancy sound”, noting that she can push her music in either direction depending on the event.
“In every artist’s music there’s these core elements. So I know for me it’s kind of like these yearning and dreamy kind of soundscapes that will always be in my music. And I think different elements might change here and there… but I think that core sound people return for will always be there.”
The name Blonde Maze is perfect for that dreamy sound. When asked about why she chose that name, she said it was a cross between her messy blonde hair and the fact that her brain often feels like a maze. For fans of her work that will probably come as no surprise as her music has a very internal, personal, and emotional feel to it.
This year was Blonde Maze’s first chance to experience the Amsterdam Dance Event, so we were naturally curious to hear what that experience was like.
“I’m obsessed with it,” she said, “my wife is ready to move here.” In particular, she noted just how strong Amsterdam’s bike culture really is while also noting that she was glad to have a few days to explore the city with her family before getting down to business.
Now, here at Nexus, we’re always fascinated to get an artist’s insights into how up-and-coming musicians might approach their work. When asked about her advice for aspiring musicians, Blonde Maze had this to say:
“For all the difficult times when you cannot get your music out, there will be times where it flows out of you, and you cannot control when that happens.”
If you’d like to learn more about Blonde Maze, her incredible music, her celebrity crushes when she was growing up, and the latest show she’s been binge watching, then why not check out the full, exclusive, Nexus Radio interview? You can also follow her social media on Instagram for all the latest about her upcoming releases/concerts.
