Balthazar & JackRock: We have the freedom to follow our own vibe

Balthazar & JackRock are a dynamic artist duo from Sofia, Bulgaria, with a rich 28-year history in the techno scene. They\’ve made their mark globally by DJing worldwide, organizing events, and releasing music on top labels like Drumcode, Filth On Acid, and Terminal M. The duo debuted with their vinyl \”Rockin\’ Dancefloor\” in 2006, quickly followed by the hit \”Moonshine\” on the Belgian label Magura, which gained traction on BBC Radio 1 and was featured in the Dance Valley 2006 CD compilation. Known for their energetic techno rave sound, they\’ve consistently charted on Beatport and had their track \”Rave Story\” listed in DJ Mag’s Best 50 Tracks of 2018. Collaboratively, they\’ve worked with renowned artists like Richie Hawtin and remixed tracks for Emmanuel Top among others. Their extensive touring has taken them to over 31 countries, enhancing their international reputation.

Recently they released \”In The Dark\” EP on KNTXT. So, let\’s talk!

ー Hello, Hristo and Georgi! We are happy to see you on the pages of Tune in Mag! How are you? Starting at the very beginning, what first drew you both to the techno scene in Sofia, and how has your home city influenced your musical journey?
ー We are doing great, thank you! \”In The Dark\” just hit number one in the Beatport Top 100 Trance chart, both as a track and as a release, so the mood is pretty high right now. When we first discovered electronic music, there wasn\’t much of a scene here at all. We started with early rave, hardcore, hard trance, and goa, and over time, we discovered techno as our core genre, but past influences remained. Since we and our like-minded friends were among the first here to embrace that sound, we had the freedom to follow our own vibe, as there were no examples or cultural norms to follow. It\’s an amazing feeling to be part of the birth of a new culture.

ー Over 28 years in the industry is remarkable! How have you seen your music evolve from your debut vinyl release to now with \”In The Dark\” EP?
ー We always crave new sounds, new emotions to incorporate into our music. Naturally, our sound has evolved over the years as we\’ve improved our skills, experimented with new hardware, and experimented more and more. However, as you know, history tends to repeat itself, and everything is a constant cycle of death and rebirth. So now, we find ourselves back where we started, with a resurrected passion for the trancey, rave techno sound around 140 BPM, reminiscent of our first vinyl records.

ー What inspired the creation of \”In The Dark\” EP on KNTXT? Can you share any specific influences or experiences that shaped the sound of \”In The Dark\”, \”Better\”, and \”In The Machine\”?
ー The title track, “In The Dark”, is one of those tracks that seems to emerge \’out of nowhere\’ in the middle of the night, as if it has a life of its own and develops itself. Perhaps it\’s just a form of pure expression. We crafted “Better” as somewhat of a sequel to “In The Dark”, maintaining that emotional intensity but with a harder and faster approach. With “In The Machine”, we aimed to create a track that sounds and feels like it was made in the 90s, when we first fell in love with that music, and we\’re really pleased with the result.

ー What are your impressions of working with the KNTXT? As we know, it’s your debut via KNTXT. What makes this label a good fit for your music?
ー It\’s an incredible dream team consisting of awesome, kind, and professional people. They were there for us at every moment, providing support and making everything feel smooth and easy. As for what makes it a good fit, it\’s not something we should answer definitively. However, from our perspective, KNTXT reflects Charlotte\’s vision of techno, drawing frames from old-school rave culture, classic techno, and even psy trance. This aligns quite well with our vibe and history in a way.

ー Share with us the details of your creative process. How do you divide the creative responsibilities when producing? Has your approach changed over the years?
ー Well, in the beginning, everything was pretty chaotic. We didn\’t know what we were doing; we were just trying to express some idea as best as we could. Over the years, many dots started to connect, and expression became easier and brighter. The focus is no longer on a single track either. We work on 5-6 tracks simultaneously, keeping the creative flow alive and inspired. When the creativity wanes, it\’s time for a new project. Later, we revisit some of the previous ones to see if we feel a new spark to continue. It\’s all about the vibe. You know the cliché advice to do what you feel. At some point, you finally realize it\’s no longer cliché but the only way to create your own signature and vibe.

ー With decades of DJing across the globe, can you share one of your most memorable experiences from performing internationally?
ー Without going into details, years ago we performed during a war on a bridge between both parties and people from both sides came to dance as one regardless of the situation. There is no better example of what music is and how people outside politics are one.

ー How do you think the global and Bulgarian techno scene has changed since you started? What trends are you interested in right now?
ー The scene is in a constant process of reshaping and shifting. Over the years, techno has undergone various transformations — it got harder and harder, then suddenly slowed down, became more melodic and progressive. Acid made a comeback in techno, it started to speed up again, and after COVID, it exploded in energy. As for our trends, we\’re experiencing more crossover than ever. We\’ve returned a lot to our raving roots, raised the BPM, but we incorporate emotions and elements from various genres. For us, this represents true freedom of expression.

ー Both of you have struggled to balance a demanding music career with your personal life, including mental health issues. Could you elaborate on these difficult periods?  How have these experiences influenced the music you create? What advice would you give to others in the industry who are facing similar challenges?
ー Well, as everybody knows, in art, nothing is guaranteed. At first, it\’s all about fun, expressing yourself, and pure joy. But as you grow up, real-life responsibilities start to take over, inspiration sometimes gets stuck, and you begin to ask yourself questions. Your mind starts to expect things, to compare unintentionally.

For example, when the lockdowns began, it was initially a nice break. But at some point, when we started creating new music, we felt like there was no reason for it. It wouldn’t be played, no one would be able to dance to it. So, the answer was to focus on self-improvement and experimentation. After that, the world seemed different — music tastes, trends, sound design criteria, and so on. It took time to organize our thoughts and achieve a place of calm, peace, and creativity.

Now, from that place of peace, we\’d like to share some advice because most people in the music world experience moments of doubt. Each person has their own timeline, experiences, skill set, and overall personality. That\’s why everyone has their own unique way of expression, and everyone should embrace their vision and vibe as the right one for them, regardless of feedback. Comparing yourself to others, trying to fit into a certain sound at any cost, will only confuse your mind, bring doubts, and create unrealistic expectations. Be present, be truly yourself, work hard on your skills, and do your best. Don’t dwell on overthinking scenarios that are out of your control because that\’s the biggest poison for your mind. Things always happen naturally when the time comes.

ー How do you find a balance between creativity and personal life? How do you rest? What hobbies and interests do you have besides music?
ー Well, this is a difficult task because after all those years, our personal and professional lives are almost completely intertwined. So, it really takes a conscious effort to separate them a bit. Taking forced time away from the studio and any surroundings that trigger the work mode is a must. This allows the mind to rest and creativity to reset. Nice trips for a few weeks, nature walks, meditation, and dinners with friends are casual ways to ease the mind. Balthazar is really passionate about achieving his dream of visiting every country in the world, and currently, he has about 7 countries left on his list. Like 95% of the time, he\’s in some distant place in the world, exploring new places.

ー We offer you a short blitz survey. Share with our readers you favorite:
ー city/country/place: To live, that would be Sofia. To be completely free, Bali and to feel understood, Berlin!;
ー track that always inspires you: Emmanuel Top \”Acid Phase\”;
ー book: \”The Chronicles Of Amber\”;
ー film: \”The Crow\” (Original one);
ー dish: Salmon in any shape always works!

ー What are some goals or projects you are excited about in the near future? What can your fans expect? 
ー The most exciting thing is that a new creative cycle begins for us, and inspiration is through the roof to start some new projects. Release-wise, in a few months, we will be back on Filth On Acid for our 7th appearance on the label since 2017, with an exciting EP representing our current vibe. We are also finishing up a new edit of our biggest track from 2006, “Moonshine,” and we are already excited about how it sounds.

ー Thank you for the interview, guys!
ー Thank you too!

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