BLOND:ISH
Birth dateOctober 16, 1988 (age 37)
Birth placeStoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Genre
Years active2008–present
Label
Websiteblondish.world

Vivie-ann Bakos, born October 16 1988, known professionally as BLOND:ISH, is a Canadian DJ, producer, and environmental activist.[1][2][3][4][5] Known for high-energy music, she is an whose work focuses on inspiring change, with a stated mission to help one billion people live their best lives. She founded the nonprofit charity Bye Bye Plastic to eliminate single-use plastics from music venues and events.[6][7] She is the founder of the Abracadabra event series and record label, headline resident at Pacha Ibiza,[8] and co-founder of the nonprofit Bye Bye Plastic Foundation.[9]

Early life and education

Bakos was born in Stoney Creek, Ontario and moved to Montreal, where she studied computer science at McGill University.[10][11]

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.[12][13] In 2010, BLOND:ISH moved from Montreal to London to focus more on music production and become immersed in the London music scene.[13] 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.[14] After the release of Lonely Days, the act was signed by Kompakt label boss Michael Mayer, who released the next EP, Lovers in Limbo, that same year.[15]

In 2013, the act joined Get Physical Music, where they released their Strange Attractions EP with Thomas Gandey.[16][17] As a result of their success, BLOND:ISH was commissioned to produce remixes for Depeche Mode,[18] Pete Tong, Maya Jane Coles, Kate Simko, and WhoMadeWho.[19]

From 2013 to 2014, the duo recorded two more Kompakt EPs, Inward Visions and Wunderkammer, from a makeshift studio near 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.[20]

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.[21][22] BLOND:ISH have released music on labels like Get Physical,[16] Kompakt,[15] Leftroom,[23] and Noir.[14] The act have also played at Burning Man.[24][25]

In 2019, Anstascia D’Elene Corniere split from BLOND:ISH, while Vivie-Ann Bakos continued the project with Ian Mckenzie.[4]

The single "Waves" was a Juno Award nominee for Underground Dance Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022.[26] They received a second nomination in the same category at the Juno Awards of 2023 for "Aye Aye".[27] "Call My Name" was awarded the Underground Dance Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024. [28]

On 14 February 2025 the sophomore album Never Walk Alone was released.[29] 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.[30][31] 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,[32] SXMusic Festival,[33] Symbiosis Gathering,[34] the BPM Festival,[35] ENTER.,[36] Mysteryland,[37] Ultra Music Festival,[38] and Wisdom of the Glove, Echoes from Agartha, Cercle .[39]

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.[40]

In 2024 BLOND:ISH performed at the Yuma Tent at Coachella, Rock in Rio, and Tomorrowland festival.[41][42][43]

On 3 December 2024, it was announced that BLOND:ISH would perform at Electric Forest in June of 2025. [44]

Abracadabra

In 2017, BLOND:ISH launched her record label, brand, and event series ABRACADABRA.[2][4][45] Under the ABRACADABRA brand they have held brand events in Miami and New York. The label hosted an ABRACADABRA stage at Tomorrowland in 2018, taking over the LEAF stage for both Saturdays of the festival.[46] In 2020, the label launched the ABRACADABRA TV channel on Twitch to stream live music performances during the COVID-19 lockdown.[45]

In 2025, Abracadabra held an 11-week headline residency at Pacha Ibiza, running every Wednesday from May through July. Billboard described the residency as "a landmark moment" for the venue.[8] The residency returned for a second season in 2026.[47] Events have also been held in Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, Tulum, Paris, Buenos Aires, and Mykonos.[48]

Bye Bye Plastic Foundation

Bakos co-founded the Bye Bye Plastic Foundation with Camille Guitteau in January 2020, along with its #PlasticFreeParty movement to promote sustainability in the music industry.[9][49][50] The charity aims to eliminate single-use plastics from the music industry by 2025 by promoting eco-riders for artists and providing resources for promoters to encourage sustainable practices.

The organization's Eco-Rider, a sustainability clause for touring artists' performance contracts, has been adopted by more than 1,500 DJs, preventing over 325,000 single-use plastic bottles from circulation.[51] In September 2025, Bye Bye Plastic launched the Zero Plastic Club: NYC initiative during Climate Week NYC, with the goal of eliminating 42 tons of annual plastic waste from New York's nightlife industry.[52]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleLabelReviews
2015Welcome to the PresentKompakt
2025Never Walk Alone[29]Insomniac Records

Singles and EPs

YearTitleLabelReviews
2011"Truth in Me" (feat. Ted Alexander)Noir Music
2012Lonely Days EPNoir Music
2012Lovers in Limbo EPKompakt
2012"In My Head"Get Physical Music
2013"Island Eyes" (feat. Balcazar & Sordo)Hot Waves
2013"Town Joker"Get Physical Music
2013Strange Attractions EP (feat. Thomas Gandey)Get Physical Music
2013Inward Visions EPKompaktResident Advisor [53]
2014Wunderkammer EPKompaktResident Advisor [54]
2014Wizard of Love EP (feat. Shawni)Rebirth
2015Endless GamesKompakt
2021"Waves" (featuring Grace Tither)[55]Spinnin' Records
2022"Hold Tight"[56]Spinnin Records
2022"Tra Tra"[57]Insomniac Records
2022"Sete"Insomniac Records
2023"Call My Name"[58]Original
2024"Can't Let You Go" (feat. Bantu)" [59]Insomniac Records
2024"Shout It Out" [60]Insomniac Records
2024"Different Way (feat. Zeeba)" [59]Insomniac Records
2024"Never Walk Alone (feat. Stevie Appleton)" [61]Insomniac Records
2024"Higher" with Black Circle[62]Insomniac Records
2024"The Cure" (with KeeQ feat. Chloe Paige)Defected
2025"Self Love"[63]Insomniac Records

Remixes

YearTitleArtistLabelReviews
2012All In Vain (BLOND:ISH Remix)Peter Zohdy, Michael SennaTwo Birds
2012Till We Die (BLOND:ISH Remix)Tomas Barfod feat. Nina KinertGet Physical Music
2012Flash of Light (BLOND:ISH Remix)Luca C & BriganteSouthern Fried Records
2012Dawn (BLOND:ISH Remix)Pete Tong feat. S.Y.F.Defected
2012In The Night (BLOND:ISH Remix)SivesgaardEklektisch
2013Go On Then (BLOND:ISH Remix)Kate SimkoLeftroom
2013Everything (BLOND:ISH Remix)Maya Jane Coles feat. Karin ParkI/AM/ME
2014Should Be Higher (BLOND:ISH Remix)Depeche ModeFree Track/Columbia Records
2014Beautiful Girl (BLOND:ISH Remix)Junge Junge feat. Kyle PearceGet Physical Music
2015Ember (BLOND:ISH Remix)WhoMadeWhoGet Physical Music
2015Sputnik (BLOND:ISH Remix)Public Service BroadcastingTest Card Recordings
2019Samba Sujo (BLOND:ISH Remix)[64]Born Dirty and DiploHigher Ground
2019Give Dem (BLOND:ISH Remix)Kah-Lo and DiploHigher Ground
2023SorryBLOND:ISH, Madonna, Eran Hersh & DarmonInsomniac Records
2023Es un secreto (Hugel Remix)HUGEL, DalexEs un secreto
2019Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Boss (BLOND:ISH Remix)Fela KutiAbracadabra Music
2020I Want to Know What Love Is (BLOND:ISH Sunrise Jungle Rework)ForeignerSpinnin' Deep
2024Fortnight (BLOND:ISH Remix)Taylor Swift, Post MaloneRepublic Records
2025Walking On A Dream (BLOND:ISH Remix)Empire Of The SunUniversal Music Australia
2025Natural Blues (with Kiko Franco)MobyDefected

Compilations

YearTitleLabelReviews
2014Flying Circus Ibiza Vol. 01 Compiled by Audiofly & BLOND:ISH[65]Seamless Recordings

References

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