Blond:ish
Vivie-ann Bakos, known professionally as BLOND:ISH, is a Canadian DJ, producer, record label head, and Web3 entrepreneur. She founded the nonprofit charity Bye Bye Plastic to eliminate single-use plastics from music venues and events.
Origin
In 2007, Bakos formed BLOND:ISH at the Winter Music Conference. The act began performing in 2008 while running and DJing a residency called Blond:ish at the Cherry Nightclub in Montreal. In 2010, BLOND:ISH moved from Montreal to London to focus more on music production and become immersed in the London music scene. While in London, they worked with veteran engineer and producer Ian Mckenzie, further refining their sound and expanding their production skills.Recording history
In 2012, BLOND:ISH released the Lonely Days EP on Noir Music. After the release of Lonely Days, the act was were signed by Kompakt label boss Michael Mayer, who released the next EP, Lovers in Limbo, that same year.In 2013, the act joined Get Physical Music, where they released their Strange Attractions EP with Thomas Gandey. As a result of their success, BLOND:ISH was commissioned to produce remixes for Depeche Mode, Pete Tong, Maya Jane Coles, Kate Simko, and WhoMadeWho.
From 2013 to 2014, the duo recorded two more Kompakt EPs, Inward Visions and Wunderkammer, from a makeshift studio near setup the Mayan temples in Tulum with McKenzie. From 2011 to 2023, McKenzie worked closely with BLOND:ISH as a production engineer and songwriter, contributing to various studio projects and supporting key stages of their creative development.
In 2015, BLOND:ISH released the first album, Welcome to the Present, under Kompakt.
On 16 April 2016, the act premiered their debut Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1, which they recorded in a makeshift studio in Tulum, Mexico. BLOND:ISH have released music on labels like Get Physical, Kompakt, Leftroom, and Noir. The act have also played at Burning Man.
In 2019, Anstascia D’Elene Corniere split from BLOND:ISH, while Vivie-Ann Bakos continued with the project.
The single "Waves" was a Juno Award nominee for Underground Dance Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022. They received a second nomination in the same category at the Juno Awards of 2023 for "Aye Aye". "Call My Name" was awarded the Underground Dance Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024.
On 14 February 2025 the sophomore album Never Walk Alone was released. The album marks the first physical release for BLOND:ISH. The vinyl release features a unique component called BioVinyl, a recyclable material comparable to conventional vinyl pressing. The BioVinyl release furthers the work of charity Bye Bye Plastic, to address the use of fossil fuels in the production of vinyl records.
Performances
BLOND:ISH has played festivals and events like Flying Circus, SXMusic Festival, Symbiosis Gathering, the BPM Festival, ENTER., Mysteryland, Ultra Music Festival, and Wisdom of the Glove, Achoes from Agartha, Cercle. Also at Burning man.On 1 February 2022, it was announced that BLOND:ISH would perform at the 2022 SXM Festival on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten in March of 2022.
Under the ABRACADABRA label, BLOND:ISH released a remix of "Sorry", on which Madonna is credited.
In 2024 BLOND:ISH performed at the Yuma Tent at Coachella, Rock in Rio, and Tomorrowland festival.
On 3 December 2024, it was announced that BLOND:ISH would perform at Electric Forest in June of 2025.