G-House Guru BIJOU on Trusting the Process

Here at Backpacks and Beat Drops, we’re huge fans of house music (if you somehow haven’t noticed). We love supporting rising talent and helping our readers discover new music and artists to keep on their radar. With that said, we’re honored to share our exclusive interview with the G-House Guru, BIJOU.

Mixing elements of hip-hop and house music, BIJOU has created a unique, dark, sexy sound that has appealed to a wide range of crowds across multiple dance floors. In this interview, BIJOU shares his process while in the studio, insider tips for working in the music industry, and his vision for the future of G-house.

Here’s one of our favorite songs by BIJOU to dance to while you read!

Where did you get your DJ name, BIJOU, from?

My older brother actually gave me this name in 2009. It was really random and neither of us can remember where he actually got it from haha.

Did you play any instruments growing up?

I took quite a few guitar lessons when I was younger but never really stuck to it. I grew up around music though, so it’s always been a major influence.

You’re known for producing G-house. Where do you see G-house headed as a genre?

I see it becoming more of a commercial genre with the implementation of more major rappers in the future. It’s always been dubbed as a subgenre, but I wanna take it much further than that.

What’s your process like when you’re in the studio working on music?

So every track is different, but if I were to go into it any specific way, I’d start with a lead melody, then build my drums around it to really build the vibe and get a good rhythm going. Normally, I start with vocals, so I’d do that next, then work the rest of the track around it.

Out of all the places you’ve performed, which had the best vibes?

Hands down it would be Grasshopper Underground in Detroit. The vibes are ALWAYS on point, and it’s such an amazing venue.

What’s an insider secret you can tell us about the music industry that may come as a surprise to people who don’t work in it?

It may not be an insider secret, but the biggest thing for me is trusting the process and truly loving what you do. If you can’t roll with these two things, it’s not going to last.

You’re an incredibly hard worker. What do you do to check yourself and make sure you don’t burn yourself out?

First of all, thank you for that. I really take a lot of pride in working hard. For me, I make sure to take time to focus on myself personally and spend time with my family and friends in Phoenix. I think that’s really important because it’s so easy to get caught up in work and in the music industry in general.

What’s your favorite banger right now?

I’m going to give a biased answer on this one right now. It’s actually an unreleased record I just finished called “Memories.”

Who has been your favorite artist to work with and why?

Kaleena Zanders for sure. She and I have such an amazing friendship, and working together doesn’t even feel like work. We always just vibe and go with how we’re feeling at the moment, and it’s worked out great. Keep an eye out for a new tune we have coming out next month =)

What’s a ritual you have or something you do before you go onstage to perform?

I actually stretch for about 15-20 just to make sure I don’t pull anything on stage haha. It also keeps me limber for the constant travel.

If you got your hands on a 3D printer, what would you print?

A clone of Vince Staples so I had features for life.

How would you describe G-code to someone who’s never heard of it?

Dark and sinister, but also ‘let’s party.’

Who’s the goat – Babe Ruth or Mike Trout?

I’m all about classics, so Babe Ruth it is.

What is some advice you would give to a rising producer?

Stick with what you love and again, trust yourself and your abilities. Yeah, you may make mistakes along the way, but if this is truly what you love, then give it time and things will work out.

Tell us about your favorite fan interaction you’ve had.

I used to do this thing on Snapchat called “so dreamy” where I’d post photos with the flower crown, and it really caught on. So a fan from Hawaii messaged me that she was at EDC and had something for me. So I met up with her and she actually gave me a handwoven flower crown and kandi that said “so dreamy.” It was really dope!

How did your latest track, “Young & Reckless,” come together?

So I’ve known Way’s manager for quite some time now, and we reconnected again within the last year. He sent me over a bunch of acapellas, and this was one I really vibed with. So I basically built the entire track around it, and now we have the final tune. Shout out to Dim Mak as well for believing in me and supporting this one so heavily.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2018?

I have a ton of new music and shows to announce to cap off the year. My next EP will be dropping in September, and I’ll be announcing a tour for this fall as well. I’m super stoked to round out the year strong and hit the road again. Thanks for having me!