Velvet Code (in the pictures below) is a Canadian Electronic Music DJ, producer and artist based in Toronto who’s about to take the music industry by storm. Velvet’s music can be described as ‘80s and ’90s influenced EDM, most notably the sub-genres of EDM known as electro house and progressive.
Velvet Code’s sophomore album ‘Dreamer’, which accumulated over 2 million plays on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, was featured on major EDM publications such as EDM.com, EDM Tunes, DJ Times Magazine among others. The track ‘Mary Offered Ladybugs and Love Yous’ even hit #27 on the Billboard Dance Charts. With the single ‘Teenage Dreamer’ Velvet Code demonstrates a brand new direction and sound, leaning towards the progressive house/EDM direction, and an exit from the electro pop sound which dominated most of Velvet’s career. As a DJ and music producer, Velvet Code’s influences include Daft Punk, David Guetta and Calvin Harris. In addition to producing and releasing new music, Velvet Code also hosts the weekly ‘Rise To The Rhythm’ radio mix-show; which is broadcast to over 130 digital, FM and satellite radio stations around the world. Velvet also hosts a weekly one-hour “Solitary Confinement Saturdays” show on Facebook and Instagram live to an average of 20,000 – 30,000 viewers. Recently, Velvet Code also launched their very own inclusive LGBTQ+ record label SO FIERCE MUSIC, without judgement to the artists age, race, gender or sexual identity.
Ibiza By Night met Velvet Code…and here you have the interview!
IBN: OK, let’s talk about Velvet Code. Tell us how you started out?
Velvet Code:”Well it was a cold winter night in New York City. I had just come off an amazing third date and the guy I was with said “I love you.” But when we woke up the next morning, he told me he didn’t mean what he said, and that he didn’t “love me”. That night, I cried non-stop and a from the sounds of me wailing, came a song called “Why’d You Have To Say You Love Me”. Sad dance song. That was Velvet Code in New York in the year 2009, the year I was reborn as Velvet Code.“
IBN: Your album ‘Dreamer’ accumulated over 2 million plays on Spotify. Tell us how you experienced this project.
Velvet Code:”It was a very personal album, to say the least. I had to re-live the hurt of the past 5 years, as I struggled with my identity among other things. I’m a bit of a method songwriter, so I have to feel what I’m writing about, and that can be troublesome…but worth it. I’m glad to have come out on the other end, but it was difficult.”
IBN: You have your own label SO FIERCE MUSIC, tell us something about that, why did you launch it?
Velvet Code:”I have been marginalized myself, and I just couldn’t sit around and watch more artists feel that pain and confusion. I continually doubted myself, wondered what I was doing wrong. My music was on par with other artists, I had a following. I just needed support and I never received it. So I decided to take things into my own hands. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, and I vow to continue to help artists push forward in creating and releasing music during this difficult time.”
IBN: Have you ever played in Ibiza? What does Ibiza mean to you? (we need to put it because we are Ibiza by Night lol)
Velvet Code:”I was invited to play in Ibiza a few years back but my father was ill so I had to turn that opportunity down. I look forward to be invited in 2021 though!”
IBN: What is your favourite venue where you played?
Velvet Code:”I really enjoyed performing in Montreal at Le National. The audience had incredible energy and it was a real kick off to my North American tour. It’s still standing, despite COVID, so I’m lookin forward to returning!“
IBN: If you could encourage an emerging artist, what would you suggest?
Velvet Code:”The most important thing is to never give up. We are put here for the important task of sharing music, and we have to fight for our place in history. As an LGBTQ+ DJ and artist, it is even more difficult. I read the hate on my social media platforms on a daily basis. We have a long way to go towards acceptance.“
IBN: What about your future projects? What can you share with us?
Velvet Code:”I’m most excited by my upcoming collaborations with So Fierce Music artists including Tash Riot, Kali Marz, Brandon Hilton and Justin Cross. I’m also super excited by the next release on the label: Damn Daddy, by Jay Light. 2021 is looking bright!“
IBN: Do you have anything to say to your Spanish fans?
Velvet Code: “Por favor, manténgase seguro y saludable durante la temporada navideña. Estamos casi alli. ¡Espero poder salir de fiesta contigo en 2021!”
Thanks Velvet Code!
