Interview: Blue Work - The End of the Ride

Active between Paris and London, Blue Work is the artistic union between interdisciplinary artists Hortensia and Vee. Layering warm, enchanting vocals on top of kaleidoscopic electronica, the two champion a unique style that borders alt-pop, retrowave and trip-hop. Exploring themes of struggle and personal growth, the duo’s lyricism is also strongly inspired by their visual art background, making the project not only a musical endeavour but rather a holistic form of authentic artistic expression. Originally debuting in 2020, the group has since built up a loyal audience, amassing over 200k streams on Spotify alone. The keen listener will appreciate the duo’s timeless identity, navigating rich electronica with confident nonchalance.

By Kamil Bobin

Discovered via Musosoup

Kamil: Hey Blue Work, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?

Vee: from teenage years I was interesting in music, and in same time have friends who was interest to make music, so we created first band. We had only 2 acoustic guitars. Hortense: Same than Vee I first, and I first cried listening to a musical in French. My brother and I played a lot together, as teenagers.

Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?

Vee: inspire when i'm listening good and emotional song,and i want to do similar too!
Hortense: A lot of singers obviously old and recent, also techno artists than landscape well a musical world.

Your latest track is 'The End of the Ride'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?

Vee: I had old my song-demp track, I sent to Hortense, she added vocal and her vocal melody converted into another unusual song.

Hortense: Always been a very surprising process, song by song, like magic happens from the track, the vocal into a finished work!

Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a musician?

Vee: I am more computer guy, so would say-no technologies no Blue Work:)

Hortense: listening more and more to the atmosphere produced by Vee, also understanding its asperities.

What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?

Vee: if I hear good song,then doesn't matter what genre of that song. but yes I like post punk or good techno too.

Hortense: New wave, hyper pop, hip-hop depends on the artist and the mood I am in.

Describe your creative process when you write new music.

Vee: I starting creating song with melody line or chords, then adding drums,bass etc. and rough demo sending to Hortense, she always finishing song with vocal melody and lyric

Hortense: Firstly I write non stop what comes into mind, then I try to understand the vibe of the track to adapt textual ambiance to the existing mode.

What are your long-term goals?

Vee: the main goal making quality music and perform well, also get a fun.

Hortense: Hopefully with our gigs in December in London we'll have some idea on what's next for Blue Work.

What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?

Vee: music is something unusual and very emotional, and old songs remind me certain period of life..

Hortense: Stories, stories, stories, when you feel it is real and crashing your should out of telling something big, even if imagined.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

Vee: I think in this age of internet musicians have more possibilities, but in same time big competition. It's not necessary to have music deal and goal isn't only get on MTV.

Hortense: my generation is impacted weirdly since we didn't grow up with it but we are very addicted, reversely today I can learn about an artist in seconds.

What are your plans for the future?

Vee: making quality and interesting music and perform as much as possible:)

Hortense: Making music and perform with se design costume and choreographies, yay !