INTERVIEW: Rock fans, say hello to Bluhauz
Photo: Bluhauz recently released his self-titled debut album. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Fernandez / Provided by ABC PR with permission.
Bluhauz has been around rock ‘n’ roll music his entire life. He soaked up some killer guitar riffs while he experienced AC/DC live in his native Argentina, and he has played (and played and played) the vibrant catalog of Led Zeppelin as a teenager. He graduated from Berklee College of Music, gaining some credibility along the way, and now he has rechristened himself with the performing name of Bluhauz.
For those looking to jump on this fast-moving bandwagon, Bluhauz recently released his self-titled debut album, featuring rock songs in different styles. The recording project is the culmination of a busy two years for the musician.
“During the pandemic, I released three singles, but I started writing in 2019,” Bluhauz said in a recent phone interview. “I used to be with another band called the Stone Giant back in New York City, and then I went solo. And I started writing a bunch of demos, like 200 demos in early 2019, and then 2020 I released a few singles. And then this year, I finished the production of the album and just released it, so it took almost two and a half years.”
Bluhauz described the new album has having pop songs, blues songs and rock songs, all tied together with a nice hard rock packaging. He likes that the tunes, including “What’s Going On?” and “Tell Me Baby,” have influences from the rock-blues heydays of Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, but the songs are also modern, keeping today’s listeners in mind.
“I’ve always played music and listened to music,” he said about his early days of rock appreciation. “I’ve had the phase of Blink 182 and Green Day, like everybody had, but when I was younger, I discovered rock ‘n’ roll through my uncle. He started showing me Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin and everybody, and that’s when I was like, whoa, what is this? … I guess from there I just started becoming influenced by those people, and I picked up the guitar, bought a few Hendrix CD. And there it just started. I couldn’t let it go.”
When Bluhauz changed his performing name and decided to go solo, the first song that he wrote was called “Purify My Soul,” an anthem of rebirth that nicely matched what was happening in his professional life.
“I just wrote that song on the spot the first time,” Bluhauz said. “It used to be slow blues actually, so then I decided to make it more danc-y with the drums that we put in. Really the concept of ‘Purify My Soul’ is it goes with the moment of starting again and going solo and a new beginning and purifying your soul, so it was a good first song, a good starter for the album. And really the whole concept of the album is about situations to purify your soul.”
When Bluhauz was growing up in Argentina, he was able to enjoy the rock ‘n ‘roll scene that he loved so dear. He has vivid memories of seeing AC/DC come through for a stadium gig, also Metallica when he was in his late teens. He cites his home country as providing the spark, and then Berklee cementing his passion. Today, he lives in Miami, which he described as a “music city” and a “night city.”
Along the way, Bluhauz has had many peaks in his career. One undeniably cool memory involves a hero of his: Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin.
“That’s a crazy story,” Bluhauz said with glee. “Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page have been a big influence on me, and that’s a crazy story that happened when I was younger. I met someone who was connected to Jimmy, and from there, I went to meet him in London when I was like 19. It was an amazing experience, and from there, he ended up coming to the Berklee graduation because they give honorary doctorates to big artists. So he came down there, and we did a concert. And we played Led Zeppelin songs, and it was just a very surreal situation.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Bluhauz recently released his self-titled debut album. Click here for more information.
