Joplyn, an electronic music artist based in Berlin. Her tracks blend traditional and modern electronic textures to create a sound that resonates with the soul while igniting the dance floor.
Photo credit: Joplyn- Official
Joplyn’s journey has helped shape her artistic vision and given her a unique perspective on the power of music to connect across diverse cultures. She embodies this philosophy in her music, fusing different cultures and styles.
Joplyn is scheduled to perform at BEONIX, a renowned music festival in Cyprus that showcases a diverse range of artists and a unique blend of music and art. The festival is set to take place from September 22nd to September 24th, 2023.
EG caught up with Joplyn to discuss her upcoming performances, latest releases, and future projects.
EG: Hi Joplyn! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Joplyn: Hey, so nice to do this with you. I’ve been good! A little exhausted but on a flight back home to Berlin at this very moment ready for some much-needed and creative downtime.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of the J.O.P. Remix of ‘Blaze’, which is included as part of Blaufield Music’s ‘20 Years Reworked’! What has the initial reception been like? Do you remember the first time you played this one live?
Joplyn: It’s been so great! I think it’s still my most popular track on Spotify right now, 5 weeks after its release. So that’s been really nice to see it resonate with a lot of people. I think the first time I played it might have been at Brooklyn Mirage earlier this year, or at least that’s the earliest time I remember because someone filmed a pretty cool video of it. From the first time I started playing it, it’s always a goosebump moment live and I always look forward to it.
EG: We know you have a personal connection with both Jan Blomqvist and Booka Shade. What does this remix of ‘Blaze’ mean to you?
Joplyn: Well it feels like a real family affair, which is the warmest and fuzziest feeling. Booka Shade has been my mentor ever since I started out – my first song ever was a collab I released with them and my first in-person (hey Covid) show was when I joined them on stage here in Berlin at Ritter Butzke. Still to this day I bounce so many ideas back and forth with them and value their feedback so much. Jan Blomqvist has also been there from the early beginnings and has been a good friend, a rock in this crazy industry, and a close creative collaborator. Talking about the first shows – my first one outside of Germany was together with him in Istanbul. I remember it like it was yesterday. I’ve always wanted to do a duet where Jan and I sing together, and this couldn’t have been a more perfect way to do it. Even though my vocals were a super last-minute addition after the remix was already done, I can’t imagine this song without Jan and I singing on it together. All this to say, it feels full circle and beautiful and so insanely special to have come together with the three of them to make this remix.
EG: Now you’re set to perform at Cyprus’ BEONIX Music Festival. You must be very excited about this! What can we expect from that particular performance?
Joplyn: I honestly don’t know! I’ve been loving keeping everything very in the moment, spontaneous, and free-flowing. Of course, there’s a certain framework – Live melodic house & techno with vocals and only my own material. I sing live, play synths and vocoder, and always have a lot of fun with the various FX on my voice and music too. But other than that it’s going to be a journey we all embark on together, with a lot of dancing!
“All this to say, it feels full circle and beautiful and so insanely special to have come together with the three of them to make this remix”
EG: How do you prepare for a festival, when compared to a club night?
Joplyn: Musically it is similar, since it’s the same show, with adjusted parameters. Eg. I will probably play a little faster, and more functional in a club and do a more dynamic, (traditionally) song-driven show at a festival. But as mentioned above I make most musical decisions in the moment, so they don’t really affect my preparation.
Something that’s a lot more common in festival environments is the ability to play my visuals. This year they have turned into an increasingly important part of my show, which is probably also a reaction to a general trend. It has allowed me to turn the whole thing more and more into an audiovisual experience, which has been really fun and exciting and also empowering creatively. So that’s something I love about playing festivals!
Also, if you want to get real nerdy, there are a lot more technical issues as a Live Act for me in a club (eg. feedback, tiny DJ booths, DJ equipment that doesn’t necessarily work with my set-up…), so I make sure to be extra attentive and triple-check every tiny detail before I even show up to soundcheck.
But I don’t think there’s a way to generalize between festivals vs. clubs because there are so many different facets and situations that inform both individually. Everything I’ve listed above is very broadly speaking.
EG: Are you a big festival kind of person? Do you usually try to make time to catch other acts? Are there any names that you’d like to see at BEONIX?
Joplyn: Yes yes yes, that is one of the most rewarding parts of playing any show with a big line-up. I discover so much new music and so many new artists in person at these shows and it’s a big source of inspiration for me. There usually comes a point in the night where I ditch everyone and wander around the festival alone with Shazam open, just letting myself get lost in the music. Can’t wait to do exactly that at Beonix too
EG: Now, stepping away from the studio for a bit…Have you found any good books, movies, or albums lately that you’d recommend?
Joplyn: I’ve been reading a lot of Murakami lately, which has definitely been a way for me to completely shut off from the world around me, which I think is important sometimes. A new album I’ve been loving is Jungle’s Volcano. Killer thing.
EG: Right now, social media seems to play a completely prominent role in the development of an artist’s career. What’s your stance on this? Is this bringing us closer than ever, or is it drawing our attention away from the actual music?
Joplyn: That’s definitely a question that can’t be answered in a short text interview like this. But here are a couple of thoughts. Social media to me is what you make of it. It’s a tool with great potential and it allows artists to fully control their own platform and communication with the world. A lot of good things have happened to me through it because everyone is so reachable and it’s so easy to make new connections, especially when you’re just starting out. In a perfect world, it should be a fun and different way to express yourself creatively and reach your community.
I think what has stained the musician’s view of it is where managers/labels/promoters/whoever put it on the same pedestal as the music and expect musicians to all of a sudden be influencers first and foremost. It should never take more time and energy than the actual music-making, which is something I feel like people forget nowadays.
It all goes back to the music eventually and I can’t make that music anymore, time-wise but also headspace-wise, if I’m expected to film TikTok videos 7 hours a day. So yes, social media is important to connect with the world we live in, but, as an artist, the focus should always remain on the “art”, I think. That’s something that’s been lost in this conversation. And to some, it might sound like wishful thinking, but it’s actually a lot more simple and obvious than it sounds.
“I think every moment alone or together, doing what you love and what has meaning to you can be a milestone”
EG: What’s next for Joplyn? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
Joplyn: The biggest thing is definitely the release of my new album SILVERLAKE 03 coming in October, which I am beyond stoked for. I have all this exciting new music to share, that I’ve been playing every weekend for almost a full year now. Finally officially putting it out feels so good.
Then I’m always touring between Europe and North America, I think the next few shows after Beonix that I can announce are Las Vegas, Toronto, San Diego, Amsterdam, Montreal, and New York in October. Every single show is so special to me so that truly means the most.
Milestones… I’ve kind of been trying to shift my outlook on this whole “career” thing from being focused on milestones to making it about the journey above anything else. I think every moment alone or together, doing what you love and what has meaning to you can be a milestone. No matter how big or small. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s true and it’s been a very needed and healthy mindset change I’ve been enforcing in 2023.
EG: Thank you for your time, Joplyn! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take care!
Joplyn: Thank You so much for having me! And for not asking only the usual questions. Sending love <3.
Joplyn is set to perform at BEONIX Festival on September 23rd, 2023. Grab your tickets here.
Follow Joplyn: Soundcloud | Spotify | Instagram | Youtube
