Pico Boulevard, a progressive trance DJ, discovered his passion for DJing in 1995. He embarked on a journey to hone his skills as a producer, self-teaching the intricacies of Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) and delving into the boundless possibilities of electronic music production. After a hiatus from music during his mid-twenties, Pico Boulevard answered his true calling, obtaining a degree in Sound Engineering, alongside a master’s degree in Music Engineering and Production. His academic pursuits were anchored in Spatial Audio, a domain where Pico Boulevard has emerged as an expert.
Pico's music career began when he made his debut on JOOF Recordings with the EP titled "We're All the Same" and "Bandersnatch." Following this, his track "Another Time" found its place on Pure Trance Volume 9, earning accolades from luminaries such as Solarstone, Ferry Tale, and Suzy Solar. He further exhibited his versatility and innovation by releasing an exclusive Trance Breaks Mix on RCRDSHP.
Since then, Pico has continued to grace top labels with newer releases, including:
• "Society" on Forescape, a track that ventured into deeper sonic territories while preserving his signature trance style.
• "Xenomorph and the Time Tripper" on JOOF Recordings, an EP that harmoniously blended nostalgic and contemporary trance elements, earning adoration from listeners and fellow artists alike.
• "Retroplex" on Pattern, an exhibit of Pico Boulevard's artistry, bridging classic trance with modern sensibilities and garnering recognition and acclaim within the industry.
His unique sound and enchanting melodies swiftly captivated the attention of established DJs like Paul Van Dyk, John OO Flemming, Aly and Fila, and many others. Pico Boulevard's musical journey continues to evolve and push boundaries with releases on JOOF Recordings, Pattern, and more. He also hosts the Sound Escape radio show, guiding listeners through his latest tracks and cherished selections from his extensive collection.
Pico Boulevard's fantastic track Retroplex is out now on Dylhen's record label Pattern. We are super happy that he had some time available to answer to our questions to get to know him better. Enjoy reading his answers.
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Pico Boulevard: Solarstone Calling ‘Another Time’ a Masterpiece on Pure Trance Radio
Reaching number 1 in the beatport top 100 releases with Xenomorph the Shutdown mix
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Pico Boulevard: There was no real ‘Decision’ in all honesty, it's something that has been part of me since I can remember, an overwhelming desire from an incredibly young age to pursue anything to do with music and DJ’ing. However this was something I never believed I could do as a profession, and as I entered my 30’s having a hiatus from anything to do with music for around 8 years I made the decision to give it one last shot. Went into education earned a Degree in sound engineering, and a Masters Degree in music engineering and production, and slowly started to forge my presence in the Trance/Deep Trance scene
3-Dimitris: Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Pico Boulevard: If I really had to choose,
Liam Howlett
Aphex Twin
Leftfield (Neil Barnes and Paul Daley) I know that's two, but they’re under one name ! ; )
4-Dimitris: Can you tell us the top 3 tracks from the past that have influenced your sound the most and why?
Pico Boulevard: It’s very hard or almost impossible to give the top 3 tracks that influence my sound, as I believe my sound comes from an extremely broad cross section of music.
but 3 tracks that instantly stick out as massively influencing me in electronic world would be;
1. Goldie Inner City Life, the incredible amount of emotion in the track and the sublime production.
2. The Prodigy Poison, The first time hearing this as a teenager was really mind blowing, it was like nothing I'd ever heard!
3 Josh Wink Higher State of Consciousness. An totally out of the box track. Never fails to deliver.
5-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your track Retroplex on Pattern. Please tell us how this track came about and what was the idea behind it.
Pico Boulevard: My latest Track Retroplex has recently been released on Pattern, when making anything my main goal is to try to make the track as much of a journey as possible and try to apply this to all my releases.
When initially creating, Retroplex, the track was conjuring imagery of a highly neon lit post dystopian futuristic club, called ‘Retroplex’ the vibe this was giving me was great and once I had recorded the vocal licks, and continuing to use the imagery the music was providing, the track really build itself from there!
6-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Pico Boulevard: Retroplex took around 6-8 weeks to complete. This is a very brief overview, but I usually start with an 8 or 16 bar loop, containing most of the major elements, for example bassline, leads, drums, Fx etc. I don't force this stage, sometimes it can take a week or two to develop the ideas.
I developed the drums, and bassline first. The melodies and pads were next, and finally the vocals were recorded and put through a vocoder. Once the major elements were in place I move on to the arrangement. Once this is completed its onto working through the track one section at a time, making sure all the elements are complete and the track flows. I tend to listen back a lot, on various devices, making notes of thing I need to tweak or change until I am happy!
7- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Pico Boulevard: For the majority of my productions I have used FL Studio since my teenage years. Its just what I got to know, and the updates over the years have made this a fantastic DAW to work with. I also use Logic on certain projects, especially when working with Spatial Audio. I’ve used many desks over the years, including SSL’s and Avid desks, the Avid S6 is a great desk that I have been using on Dolby Atmos project’s. I personally feel regarding the use of analog over digital, its up to the individual. I would personally love a lot more analog gear, but I think price puts a lot of people out of the game. I don’t really think many people out there would produce now without any digital software whatsoever, as it would most definitely come into play at some point of the process. While some analog hardware does indeed produce a unique sound, if the music sounds good, what does it matter what hardware or software you have used to create it, its how you use it.
8-Dimitris: Do you prefer vocal or instrumental tracks? If there are vocals on the track we discuss about tell us about the singer you work with?
Pico Boulevard: I don't tend to go with vocal tracks, but that's not to say I don't like them. Most of my tracks contain vocal samples, but that's about it.
9-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Pico Boulevard: I love the artwork on a music release, and yes the artwork Pattern provided is fantastic, the minimal style really works.
Some incredible artwork has featured on many musical works over the years, off the top of my head, I could pick, Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Nirvana. All having Iconic artwork.
10-Dimitris: Can you pick your favorite top 3 record labels including the one released the track that we discuss in this interview and give us a short comment about why these labels are important to you and the music scene too?
Pico Boulevard: Pattern - Just an incredible label under the FSOE Umbrella, Paul Thomas and Dylhen continue to bring upfront talent in the newly formed Deep Trance genre. It really is an honour to feature on Pattern.
JOOF Recordings, as underground labels go JOOF is the number 1. John and his team continue to ‘push the boundaries’ with their signature sounds. They were the first professional label to release my music as Pico Boulevard, and are completely instrumental in the underground scene.
Pure Trance, Another time was my first release with Pure Trance thanks to Rich Solarstone. The Pure Trance brand is another world renowned name, when you look at what has been brought to the table in the ten years of Pure Trance, it would be hard to imagine a Trance scene without Pure Trance.
11-Dimitris: Can you pick up your all time favorite album and tell us why you adore it so much?
Pico Boulevard: The Jilted Generation, by The Prodigy. The raw power and energy this album represents is unquestionable. Representative of a very exciting time for electronic music, in terms of musical and technological experimentation.
12-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Pico Boulevard: I do spend quite a bit of time on social media, in the healthiest way possible. I’m not a great fan of it and don't like to spend too much time on the various platforms, it’s like a full time job in and being a ‘one man band’ there is only so much time I can put into it. Facebook and Instagram are the 2 I use the most, and they’re both equally decent, If you can out maneuver the algorithms.
13-Dimitris: Do you have your own radio show/podcast/twitch stream or Vlog(video blog)? If yes please give us a comment about it and how long it take you to prepare for it and if you are always excited to produce it?
Pico Boulevard: Yes! I host Sound Escape Radio Each month, Where myself, and a great friend Sean Furlong provide mixes each month along with a guest mix section. It normally takes a few days to prepare properly, and I do love producing it. I will also be streaming live on Twitch for Electronic Global Family, 8th September 8pm -12pm UK time
Pico Boulevard: Yes absolutely, there is always music not so great, but there is a fantastic range of new music coming through right now. It's been amazing to have the new Deep Trance Genre thanks to Beatport, John OO Fleming and Daniel Lesden. I think this has inspired a lot more people to produce their unique sound as they finally have a home for it.
15-Your current Top 3 tracks with short comment:
Pico Boulevard: 1. Retroplex, Surprise surprise, my own track! But, that being said, I do love the track. I’ve been making some tougher sounding tracks recently as you can hear from the very recent JOOF EP, I wanted to make a track with a ‘deeper’ vibe with uplifting elements as I love to write melodies. I think with this track I’ve succeeded there.
2. Rick Pier O Neil - Emotion Underground. Just fantastic!! Deep dark and deadly!!
3. Basil O Glue - Social Realism. Another Incredible track, EVERYTHING Basil produces is next level!
16-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Pico Boulevard: Take in as much information as you can find from producers or DJ’s that have reached the levels you want to reach and don't be afraid to learn, it will be a long process but consistency is key! You will find a lot of the Top DJ’s and producers put a lot of this content out.
There is no ‘one correct way’ to do things, find what works for you, and over time and develop that style, take inspiration but don’t blatantly copy. If you can afford it and want to make professional music, maybe enlist the help of a tutor.
17-Dimitris: Many producers and DJs offer online masterclasses or teach to music production & DJing courses. Do you believe is essential to take part in any of these courses to develop your skills? Are you are offering any of these services? or other related services like ghost-producing or mastering? please tell us about these activities
Pico Boulevard: Definitely not essential, but very useful! It may dramatically shorten the time that it take you to get you where you want to be. I am offering music production tutorials, currently I am in the process of setting this and my website up, I don't offer ghost production currently, personally I couldn't part with my work and see it under someone else's name in this regard. I do offer mixing and mastering services also!
18-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Pico Boulevard: I was very lucky that Rich Solarstone allowed me to remix Arnold and Bagots Triangulum on Pure Trance, I love that track and was over the moon to remix it. But a trance classic? that's a tough one.. I think I could do something great with Chicane Saltwater!!
Years ago I remixed Flaming June, there are a few DJ sets online floating around that contain it, something may be happening with that in the future but its all I can say for now :)
19-Dimitris: How much do you care if your fans or followers like your productions? Do you struggle with the audience reception of your tracks and is this thought adds extra pressure on you and discourage you too?
Pico Boulevard: It's definitely early days in terms of my Producing career, and it's very hard to reach fans, through social media routes. I really have to rely on the music being featured on great labels in order to reach more people. That being said, I don't spend too much time worrying about it and the pressure it brings as that will result in worse work output from me. Of course I want fans to love the music, but ultimately I have to keep making music I want to make and hope the fans keep enjoying it!
20-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks)? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Pico Boulevard: Outside of trance I also work as a freelance music producer, composing & offering post production services for film & TV ( and pretty much anything else you can think of that comes under the umbrella of music production, and also as a digital music tutor in primary schools across South Wales for a company Reid’s Digital Music. Myself and my partner Hana work together introducing children to music production using Garage Band on I-pads.
21-Dimitris: Do you prefer small clubs or huge festivals to perform? in which festivals or clubs you aspire to play in the future?
Pico Boulevard: I’ve never experienced the festival scene as a DJ, but intimate gigs are amazing!
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Pico Boulevard: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview, and for all the support on my tracks, much Love.
Thanks so much Pico for his top answers.
Thanks so much to team FSOE/UV/Pattern for arranging this interview.
Find Retroplex here: https://pattern.streamlink.to/retroplex
Must check: Dylhen Presents Pattern Radio - 006
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