Name: Jasmin Emily Bernard aka [IVY]
Nationality: British
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current release: [IVY]'s new single "Looking 4 me" is out now.
Recommendations: I’m going to go with music for this one! I think everyone should hear Selector Spinach’s "ATB - 9PM" bootleg on SoundCloud and Donnay Soldier's “I Like U”! Sorry in advance.

If you enjoyed this [IVY] interview and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her on Instagram.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

I usually listen to music that makes me feel euphoric or nostalgic. I prioritise feeling and "vibe" over anything else.

Some songs can give me a rush of adrenaline and some can ground me and help me focus - directly affecting my brain chemistry!

What were your very first steps in music like and how would you rate the gains made through experience - can one train/learn being an artist?

I think that musicians need some inherent passion for music and knowledge of rhythm but I also believe that a lot can be taught!

I first learned to play the guitar when I was 12, after having spent my summer playing Guitar Hero on my Playstation.

I have always had a passion for music which followed me to university where I learnt to produce alongside my Biomedical degree.

According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music mean to you at that age and what’s changed since then?

At 13, I started getting heavily invested in the free party / harder styles scene and spent all of my teenage years listening to hardcore, acid techno, hardstyle, hardtek … I then moved away from this when I came to the UK and started listening to drum & bass.

I think my teenage years heavily influenced my music today, as I’m always finding myself including references from these genres in my productions.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

I love merging genres and taking inspiration from 90s / early 00s music to create my songs.

My motivation is creating something different that makes people happy and nostalgic!

To quote a question by the great Bruce Duffe: When you come up with a musical idea, have you created the idea or have you discovered the idea?

I believe that we discover the idea! Unconsciously, everything that we hear growing up and in our day-to-day lives influences and inspires us.

I don’t believe that we create anything from nothing - it comes from our experiences!

Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

I agree with this! I try to gauge an overall "vibe" from each song and I try not to get hung up on the smaller elements.

I listen to music based on the emotion that it elicits and I produce my music based around that idea as well!

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

I have always loved birdsongs and have always found them quite beautiful! They are melodic and rhythmic in nature and I have always found it amazing that it is a way of communication!

From very deep/high/loud/quiet sounds to very long/short/simple/complex compositions - are there extremes in music you feel drawn to and what response do they elicit?

I am always drawn to a deep, rhythmic bass! The deeper the better, regardless of the genre!

Often, that paired with "aesthetically pleasing" sounds, like a simple euphoric melody is enough for me to be drawn to a song.

Could you describe your creative process on the basis of one of your pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?

My song "Close To Me" was made by me delving deep into techno & tech-house and sampling elements that would translate well over to drum & bass to merge both styles to the best of my ability.



I always start by finding a vocal or a melody that inspires me and I build the entire track around that. Most people start with drums - I start with "vibe"!

Do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?

With music production, I think a lot of scientific knowledge is needed!

I actually find myself using what I learnt in physics in secondary school a lot when using Logic Pro - from frequencies, to waveforms, to acoustics!

How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? Can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?

When I make music, I try to make songs that will break the mould, that are original and that will surprise people!

I live my life in a similar way, I’ve always resisted conforming. From the way I dress, to my career path - I have always tried to do things differently. What’s the point of compromising yourself to fit in?

Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

As opposed to a cup of coffee, music can last forever and be experienced by everyone all over the world! I believe that it is the ultimate form of expression and the best way of conveying emotion.

Every time I listen to "Albedo 0.39" by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a way that you can't explain?

September - “Cry For You” has always been one of my favourites. It’s a very simple song but each element is perfect and I get a feeling of euphoria each time that I hear the synth melody!



If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?

I love underground "fast" music like trance, donk, happy hardcore and tekno! One of the main reasons why I do what I do is to help bring these genres into the limelight and to a wider audience.

I feel like there is already a shift happening in music and I would do anything to see these become more popular. If I can help do that then I feel like I would have fulfilled my purpose!