Blu DeTiger Talks Elsewhere Festival and Fostering a Music Community
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This weekend, Blu DeTiger will be one of many musicians descending on Wichita, Kansas for the inaugural Elsewhere Festival and Conference. While the bill features national artists like Killer Mike, Vince Staples, Steve Aoki, BADBADNOTGOOD, and A Place to Bury Strangers, the focus of the event is really on fostering local community.
Taking place June 21st and 22nd, the Elsewhere bills itself as “a place you go to step away from the noise of the world to gain clarity within a community of deep thinkers and creative explorers.” Essentially, the mission is to support the Midwestern artists by encouraging new connections and exploring new ways of navigating the industry. Although DeTiger comes from the East Coast, her own experiences of “making it” in the complicated world of music mirror Elsewhere’s ethos.
Through her early days studying her craft at the School of Rock to growing an online fanbase to working with everyone from Chromeo to Claud, DeTiger has gained invaluable knowledge about navigating the ever-changing musical ecosystem. And she knows it’s not something you can do alone — even with 2 million social media followers behind you.
Ahead of the Elsewhere Festival and Conference (get tickets here), DeTiger answers questions about the importance of the event’s goals, what insights she hopes to bring attendees, and shares some lessons she’s learned about the value of a strong music community.
You grew up and began playing music in New York City right when the city’s Meet Me in the Bathroom-era scene was in full swing. What was it like getting into music while that scene was happening all around you?
It was awesome. I’ll always be inspired by New York and the energy of the city. My first gig ever was at CBGB, which is such an iconic venue. Being in spaces like that and being around other creative people growing up was really formative for me.
You were part of the famed School of Rock in the city. How did being part of that program and its extended community prepare you for a life in music, not just artistically, but in terms of navigating the industry?
I think the best way to grow as a musician is to play with others. When I was at School of Rock, I was one of the youngest kids there; being able to play with other people and learn from other people was super important. Also, getting to perform with people at such an early age was amazing experience. It taught me how to be comfortable on stage.
Professionally, you made a name for yourself by performing with artists like FLETCHER, Caroline Polachek, The Knocks, Bleachers, and Olivia Rodrigo. That’s quite a range of talent – what did you try to absorb while being around all those different acts? What lessons did you learn about the various paths through the industry?
I really learned the ins and outs of touring and got amazing performance experience! It’s hard to know about touring and what it entails until you really do it a lot — there are so many people involved behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. It was also cool to see how artists led their team around them.
Your TikTok virality during the pandemic helped elevate your name as a solo artist. Why do you think your videos connected with so many people? What did that teach you about how social media factors into creativity and career building?
I think the videos connected because the passion shines through. I think people were inspired by my deep love for something. It taught me that authenticity and just being yourself is most important. That’s what people relate to and connect with.
When you started realizing things were taking off, how did you learn (or teach yourself) to navigate Internet fame, and how to pivot that into a true, sustainable career in music?
I think I’m still learning every day! It was important for me to take anything that was online into the real world. For example, as soon as I was able to play shows, I made sure to tour. I made sure to manifest the online stuff into the real world and make sure actual human beings were listening and interested in what I had to say. Building that fan base in real life is what led me to have a sustainable career.
We’ve seen a big rush of Internet-famous creators getting sizable popularity incredibly fast, and yet some are arguably struggling to sustain that fame outside of their social following. What advice or tactics have you learned in your own career that you might share with artists coming up this way to help prepare themselves for the actualities of being a working musician?
Consistency is key and hard work pays off. I would also say make sure you have a good support system and good team around you that you trust.
Blu DeTiger, photo by Lucas Creighton
Speaking of sharing with other artists, you are famously accessible via social media, inviting interactions with fans and aspiring talents. Why is this such an important exercise for you? What are you trying to provide that perhaps wasn’t as readily available when you were coming up as an artist?
I’ve been really lucky to have had some amazing mentors when I was growing up. Mentorship and being a role model is very important to me and was a key piece of me becoming the musician and person I am today. I hope I can provide that to the people listening to my music or watching my videos.
You fostered community both through digital presence and coming out of a very tight local music scene. Even in an online age, how do you think boots-on-the-ground local artist and industry communities remain vital, thriving, and connected?
Now that everything is online, I think it’s more important than ever to take any opportunities to have real life connections. As part of my album rollout, I held a few listening hang outs in different cities where I invited fans to listen to the album before it came out. The one in NYC was at the iconic Electric Lady Studios, where I played the whole album and gave insights and stories about each song. I think connecting in real life fosters a stronger and more long-lasting community. That’s also why the live show is so important! Shows are really about creating space for the community to come together and have a shared experience, and that’s always going to remain.
Elsewhere Fest is all about bringing resources to a scene that may not have the social cachet as places like NYC or LA, but is just as viable a creative wellspring as anywhere else. Why do you think this is a worthy event to be a part of, and what knowledge, insights, or assistance do you hope to bring to people attending the event?
I hope to inspire always and show people that you can do anything from anywhere. I grew up in NYC, but most of my community building was online at first, and you can do that from anywhere.
Another key element of Elsewhere is bringing people together to help forge innovative paths towards the future of music. The industry is going through a variety of challenges, so what do you see as some ways forward both for artists like yourself and up-and-coming artists who had the same dreams you did when you were younger, but face a very different industry than when you started?
The music industry is constantly changing, I think it’s important to stay up with the times. I actually think now, with social media, it gives more opportunity from a newer artist to get out there. My advice would be to take control and share your art no matter what. Find your niche and share it and the people will come. Keep going and growing, persistence is key!
Blu DeTiger’s debut album, All I Ever Want Is Everything, is out now. Catch her at Elsewhere Festival and Conference by snagging tickets here.
Blu DeTiger Talks Elsewhere Festival and Fostering a Music Community
Consequence Staff
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