When it comes to music it’s not always about a good sound, or some catchy lyrics. Sometimes it takes a bit more to make it into the business. Tobias Wilner, a young and very talented musician from Denmark, more than 10 years ago had an idea for an alternative kind of a band that could also be described as the cooperation of a single man with various artists and musicians. Working with Jonas Bjerre and Sara Savery, among others, it wasn’t long until he saw his dream come true.
Leaving Copenhagen for Brooklyn and alongside his musical partner Bo Rande, Tobias and his creation, Blue Foundation, soon made some big steps into the music industry. The song “Eyes on Fire” from their fourth album Life of a Ghost was used in the vampire blockbuster phenomenon Twilight, while director Michael Mann chose their song “Sweep” for his 2006 Miami Vice movie.
That being said, you can easily understand why Tobias couldn’t be happier for his project. These days they are in studio working on new songs, while they plan their next tour destinations. In the mean time Tobias finds some time, to tell us all about the band and his struggle to the top!
Tobias, you are the brainchild of Blue Foundation. Tell us in a few words the story of the band.
I started out the Blue Foundation back in Copenhagen. To start with it was me and my brother who produced beats together. We used to play noisey shoegazing but tired of the scene pretty quickly. The singer Kirstine Stubbe joined us and we did some songs with her. My brother left after the first album and I stopped working with Kirstine in 2005 for a year and again in 2008. Sometimes there is no more left for you in people and you have to let them go. It has definitely been good for me to change the band members over the years. A lot of people know us from our song “Eyes on Fire”. The song kind of made it into the mainstream. More than 90 million have heard the song on YouTube, so it’s out there. Because of “Eyes on Fire” a lot of people think that Blue Foundation’s sound is with a girl in front. But we have done tons of different stuff. In most of the songs I do the vocals on, but I have also done songs with Jonas Bjerre from Mew, Sara Savery, Findlay Brown and Mark Kozelek just to name a few.
How do you choose the artists you collaborate with?
With my heart and my stomach.
A lot has changed ever since you started back in 2000, right?
Yes and no. There has always been a lot of changes in Blue Foundation. That’s my whole idea behind Blue Foundation. I change the members constantly not to get stuck in one way of working or a sound. I want Blue Foundation to be one of these projects that keeps on going. We did the major label thing for a while and in some way it was good because we had one good guy at the table who left me alone in the studio. In other ways it sucked because they tried to brand Blue Foundation as a band with a girl in front and not as it is: a project I create with the people I think are cool. More like Stereolab or Massive Attack. Not a ‘pop indie new wave’ band or something like that. That was so wrong. They didn’t get what I wanted to do. I have been told many times by label and music industry people that Blue Foundation would never make it because the audience will never understand the setup. But screw that, we have seen it all before. Screw them, of course people get it. I want people to hear the development I go through as an artist and producer. Screw the industry rules. They suck. Everyone should do as they want to do it. People who get Blue Foundation really get it because they can see it’s pure and we’re actually doing pretty fine.
Your music is also known by major blockbusters such as Twilight and Miami Vice among others, while it has also appeared in successful television shows like The Vampire Diaries and The O.C.. Tell us about that…
Not much to say. It’s great that it can be used to tell stories. Bigger shows and movies help me get my music out there. To be honest none of the songs used in major films or TV were ever considered as singles. It was what label people called album songs. “Sweep” from Miami Vice is 10 minutes long with a three minute experimental string intro piece. I remember people from EMI Capitol Records wanted to cut it down and I was like ‘Fuck No!’ its all about this intro. Two years later, Michael Mann wanted to use the intro for his film Miami Vice. Same with “Eyes on Fire”. Everything is wrong with the production if you want it played at the radio. The song first kicks in after two minutes etc. So what can I say. Screw the industry rules. Do what you feel is right.
Blue Foundation – Eyes On Fire – original music video
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Where do you draw your inspiration for the music you write?
There is nothing to composing or writing songs. All you do is sit down with a piano or a guitar and bleed.
Your latest and fifth album has the title In My Mind I Am Free. What kind of songs does it include?
It’s all about real moments and feelings. It’s a very honest album. I think it’s the most pure Blue Foundation album. I was isolated when I wrote the songs and didn’t think about what people would think.
How is your cooperation with your music partner and also very talented musician Bo Rande? 
I write the songs and produce. Bo contributes to the arrangement with melodies and sounds. He is very good at that. He is a super talented musician.
Do you ever have any disagreements and how do you cope with that?
We’re pretty clear that I have the last word. Sometimes we discuss things because Bo has an idea he wants to try out, and I can’t follow him. If it works it works. No big fights. No compromises. I never compromise but sometimes I have to face that my ideas aren’t always the best ideas.
Is there any new stuff you’re working on right now?
I’m scoring a new TV show called Follow The Money done by the people who did The Killing. I’m also helping Sara Savery finish her new project. Her songs are heartbreaking, sexy and her sound is amazing.
I’ve also written all the songs for the new Blue Foundation album and have recorded most of them. Just need to sit down and finish it.
During the fall of 2014 you did a very successful European Tour. What are your tour plans for this year?
We’re planning to start touring in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016.
How did you start getting involved with music? At what age and what were your influences?
I started when I was 13 years old I think. To start with I was really influenced by hip hop, shoegazing and electronica. Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD, Sonic Youth, Kraftwerk, Can, Faust, Stereolab and the whole IDM thing. These days I listen to a lot of Coltrane and dirty Hip Hop from the south.
What are your personal future plans?
We all die the same; it’s how we live our life’s that matters. I’ll do what I feel I need to do.
Of all the things you have achieved, for which one you are the most proud of?
I don’t know. None I think. But I’m proud of some of the people around me. They are fantastic.
One last question, why did you choose to name the band “Blue Foundation”?
I came up with the name in London sitting by my brothers’ desk. I had this idea of doing a different project. Not a normal band thing. I wanted the name to reflect what the sound would sound like and in some way describe the setup.
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By: Demetrios Ioannou, RockRevolt Journalist
