Did You Know Blookah Lives In Denver?

Photography by Ching Chen

Nick Jenkins, who performs under the artist name Blookah in reference to cult classic film “Young Frankenstein,” is a Denver local you may have seen on stage at Red Rocks, serving you your specialty latte or performing alongside INZO. With anything from a bouncy house track to a dreamy bass breakdown in his discography, Jenkins is well versed in experimental production and the powers of electronic music.

This winter, Jenkins decided to transition into life as a full-time musician. It may come as a surprise to learn that an artist with over 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify was still living with music as only part of his career, but for many successful artists this is the reality. The weight and future of the transition is still hitting Jenkins in waves.

 “It’s extremely gratifying if I’m honest. I’ve written this down as a manifestation years ago and I’ve been working towards it for a very long time,” explained Jenkins, “I’ve committed to living as an artist for a long time now… doing whatever I need to get by, so it feels like a very slow gradual shift as I get more and more busy.”

Working part time in the coffee industry while traveling for shows and producing is a lot to fit on one plate, and with this career move, fans are sure to get a lot more of the music they already know and love.

“The fewer barriers I have each week to tapping into my creativity, the more music I make and the more music I make, the more I grow,” confirmed Jenkins.

Though this transition is underway only recently, Jenkins’ relationship with music is lifelong and intimate. Jenkins began drumming a young age and quickly found his natural talent for rhythm. This hobby grew into writing music with friends and joining local jams to avoid angry neighbors in his apartment buildings. With diverse taste in music from The Smashing Pumpkins, to Jimi Hendrix, to Flying Lotus, Jenkins’ passion for sound far exceeds the EDM genre he’s built his discography within.

“I think my taste in not electronic music really helps shape my sound when I’m producing house or bass music,” said Jenkins.

Many will agree that the magic of electronic music is tied to its ability to pull from any genre. Clearly, Jenkins takes full advantage of this and showcases his love for many genres through his craft.

“Music is something that has always been an anchor in my life. Once I started playing shows I knew there was nothing else for me, even though it took years to have the confidence to fully commit to it.“

For many artists commitment to art professionally is one of the most difficult aspects to manage. Matters of ego, the weight of the spotlight and vulnerability get tangled with all the smaller pieces of behind the scenes that artists must upkeep to be successful within a capitalistic society. Even within all the stress and management, the relationship Jenkins continues to build with his art blooms with positive energy.

“Be unapologetically yourself and encourage those around you,” said Jenkins. “I think music is this beautiful tool that brings us into the here and now. It allows us to catch a glimpse behind the veil of our personal differences. If I can provide a means for people to escape for a moment and feel connected and inspired, I’ve done my job.“

Based on the years of ecstatic concerts and ongoing support from fans and artists alike, Jenkins is certainly providing a moment of connection. Jenkins also adds an extra gift for concertgoers through his unique performances that include improvisations and experimentation on stage.

“I don’t know where I’d be without music. The realization that I had no choice but to commit to this path came from all the times I was daydreaming about music at jobs or in class in college,” reflected Jenkins. “I started accepting that this is just who I am.”

With nearly ten years of music discography published, young Jenkins’ intuition to follow his music daydreams was certainly on point. Jenkins’ growth and life experiences bleed into his art, which is ever present in the community of EDM fans all across the country that he has built.

“Blookah is an outlet for me to explore and grow as an artist. Songs are like diary entries and a lot of people call me Blookah now so it’s become an extension of me as a person,” said Jenkins. “By studying and trying to channel my heroes, I get a clearer vision of what I want the project to be. It’s a version of myself that aspire to be.”

You can catch Jenkins live in Denver at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom on January 8 to celebrate the release of his upcoming EP Sirens, or on his winter tour with INZO. It’s likely fans will also be able to catch Blookah headlining a tour of his own or locally celebrating Denver’s EDM scene. Stay tuned to watch this Denver artist make even more of a name for himself and let loose within his dreamy soundscapes.