Dykeritz is a singer/songwriter that recently released his brand new album, ‘Twin Flame Reunion’ in a true DIY fashion.

‘Twin Flame Reunion’ was recorded, performed and produced by Jordan Emile Blum who worked under the moniker of “Dykeritz.” You can also hear many musicians that helped him to finish this project. A very limited edition of the album will be released on vinyl in March 2023.

“I’m in love with solitude”

It’s great to have you. You have a brand new album out, what’s the story behind ‘Twin Flame Reunion’?

Jordan Emile Blum: Hey, thank you for having me. With ‘Twin Flame Reunion,’ I just did what I felt, and that was trying to write the best songs I could, trying to make the album greater than any other Dykeritz album, and that’s always the goal. I think the songs are broader in scope than ‘Madrigals’ (the previous Dykeritz album from 2020)…the dimension of the songs are more complex. Really just writing about the world, talking about Native American genocide, America’s shame, media farce, suicide, love, sex, slavery, murder, people who have died, Jesus, virtue, forgiveness, and also prescription drugs, medication. And then just about new people that pop into your world, maybe just to throw some color onto the wall. Happy to have this being released on vinyl in March 2023. The album took a little over two years to complete. I wrote, recorded, performed, produced everything myself. And that’s working every single night on the songs, either writing or recording. No breaks, every single night. I’m on a mission and I’m gonna hustle.

<a href="https://dykeritz.bandcamp.com/album/twin-flame-reunion">Twin Flame Reunion by DYKERITZ</a>

I’m guessing the album was recorded during the pandemic, have you found the isolation creatively challenging or freeing?

It all worked out. I’m in love with solitude. I’m Emily Dickinson. I want to be left alone, so pandemic or whatever was nothing to me. I just did what I felt compelled to do, and that was write 10 songs for the new Dykeritz album. So whatever was going on I thrived and it’s all good.

I would love it if you can share some further insight, talk about the songs, the creation process and the recording and production side of things.

Ok, the first song I wrote was ‘Snow Fire’ and I was working on it in Portland, OR before moving to New Jersey. The song was originally like a Townes Van Zandt waltz on the piano. But it morphed into, I don’t know what you’d call it. It’s still a waltz I guess, the vocals alone on that track took like 4 months. And from there I just continued writing, I always just write whatever I can on paper and then edit it later…building an arsenal of words, lyrics, ideas. I’m all about that. Get it down before it’s gone. The creative side came from just feeling like I was working differently, trying to write on guitar and on my fucking awesome Yamaha P-150. Recording was done via Logic X, spent a lot of time mixing via Rokit 6’s, built my own mixing desk so I could move back from the speakers and hear the sweet spot of the songs sonically. Used an amazing mastering engineer in Dan Coutant from Sun Room Audio in New York. Other than that, I just wrote the songs, recorded them, played all the instruments unless otherwise noted on the album. But, it’s been a great experience and I’m really happy with the songs, the result, the proof. It’s there.

How would you compare it to your previous releases, what makes it different?

It’s different, because this album flexes a bit more, like here I’m Dykeritz….what’s up? I have a clearer vision of what a song is. And I’ve gained more understanding and power to do that with ‘Twin Flame Reunion’. Coming out killing on this album. That’s just how I feel. I guess every artist will always consider their newest work “the best,” so that’s where I’m at.

Hired a lot of awesome studio musicians to do guitar, harmonica, backing vocals…the level of production is more at a professional level on ‘Twin Flame Reunion’. My favorite solo on the album is in the song ‘Jet Black,’ Vahe Sarkissian played electric guitar. I walked up to him after seeing him play in a Steely Dan cover band, and hired him right there to play on the track. Great guy.

Speaking of previous albums, do tell us about ‘Rearrangerologyistics’, ‘Dreamer’s Whip’, and ‘Madrigals’?

Yea, ‘Rearrangerologyistics'(2008) was made in Portland, OR. I was on Lucky Madison Records thanks to my dude Kevin O’Connor from Talkdemonic. That album was a breakthrough because it was the first album I made that really had a strong core of songs, i felt like a singer/songwriter for the first time. I wasn’t big on playing live, because I recorded all the instruments and vocals myself, and recruiting local musicians to learn the parts just seemed like a lot. But, I did get a band together to perform most of the album live. At one point there were a total of like 7 people in the “band.” We played like 2 or 3 shows, MusicFest NW I recall. It was so-so, I didn’t enjoy playing live, I’m just not good at it. My strength comes from doing take 10 or 100 in the studio, where I can edit myself. But I’m grateful to the people that helped form that Dykeritz group. It all just dissolved so easily. However, ‘Rearrangerologyistics’ was to this day, the only album that received any marketing campaign. So I saw some great local reviews, international sales, lots of blog shout outs, and even a vignette in Spin Magazine online. It was fun.

‘Dreamer’s Whip’ was insane. I was just totally obsessed with every nuance of the album. It had to be perfect, and that’s where the album fails for me. No album should be perfect. There are moments of the album that I really like, some good lyrical parts, I worked on the album for 8 years. It took a while for sure.

I moved from Portland, OR to North Carolina, then to Seattle, then to New Jersey, and then back to Portland, working on the album at each transition. It was a tough album. I’m not happy with the mixing still, and that’s on me. No one really cared about the album when it was released and that’s where it is today.

‘Madrigals’ I’m in love with. Written, recorded in Portland, OR. The songs just flowed, I was in a good place. I love the songs. The album yielded 1 music video for ‘Serenade #9’ by my friend Kat. I got a band together and we did 1 show at the Holocene in Portland, OR. After that I moved back to New Jersey again. I was able to complete the album in a little over a year, definitely a lot less strict of an album compared to ‘Dreamer’s Whip’. A lot more room to breathe. Love the vibe and the songs. One day that album should be on vinyl.

‘Dreamer’s Whip’ was also recently remastered?

Yea, originally I had it mastered in Portland, OR. It didn’t do much for me. So after some time I had the album remastered by Theo Wilkerson in New Jersey. It sounds a lot better. Mostly the last song on the album I can’t stand ‘I Did It For the Music’. It’s just not a very good song. As you can tell I have some concerns for the ‘Dreamer’s Whip’ album, but I don’t really think about it. I’m elsewhere now.

Do you have any other projects you’re involved with?

I just did some recording with a group, Not This Sunday But Next, featuring Doug Blatt on bass, Billy Martin on drums, John Medeski on keys (Billy and John are in Medeski Martin & Wood). We recorded in Hudson Valley, New York . Had a beautiful time. I was playing drums on my electronic Roland kit. Definitely giving Billy some space on drums. He’s one of the best drummers. Other than that, all I do is Dykeritz. I really just don’t have time outside of that.

What are some future plans for you?

Well I’m currently working on the next Dykeritz album. I only want 8 songs, and I’ve written 5. Hopefully sales for ‘Twin Flame Reunion’ (releasing March 2023) on vinyl will profit enough that I can print vinyl for this next Dykeritz album. Planning for this next album to be out by 2023, 2024.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Peter Tosh – ‘No Nuclear War’. I love that album and listen to it a lot. Desert Wolves – ‘Pontification’. Anything by Judee Sill. All of Koko Taylor. Mostly stuff like that. Not too big on albums, check out the songs ‘Hard Love’ by Bob Franke, performed on the album by Claudia Schmidt, and ‘Woman of a Kind Heart’ performed by Anne Hills. And the poem ‘No River Road’ by Ralph Sneeden or ‘You Can’t Buy Shoes in a Painting’ by Jill Osier, that’s where I’m at. Also, a big fan of ‘Time Pieces’ by Rachel Wetzsteon.

Thank you. Last word is yours.

Just want to genuinely thank you Klemen. You’re doing an angel’s work. Glad you’re on the Earth. Thanks for taking the time to interview. And a huge shout out to the Dykeritz fans, thanks for all the pre-orders for Twin Flame Reunion. Everyone else, please check out the album on Bandcamp and buy it if you like it. Album will feature printed lyrics and liner notes, two Dykeritz stickers and a Dykeritz pin. It’s the first Dykeritz album to be on vinyl….. Jah Bless. Praise God. Thank you!

Klemen Breznikar

Dykeritz Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube