Interview: Color Theory's Brian Hazard Talks the State of EDM and More

The last time we caught up with singer-keyboardist Brian Hazard a.k.a Color Theory, he was hard at work on his Adjustments Pt.

3 EP. We decided to see what Hazard has been up to since then and yep, he's still hard at work.

Hazard has been compiling the best tracks with the Adjustments EP series which he will be rereleasing as a collective album. He sticks to the genuine base that EDM music was formed on and continues to develop an increasing and loyal fanbase.

Check out out chat with him below.

What was the writing process like for the three EP's?

Time-consuming, frustrating, exhausting, cathartic, draining. Fun? Maybe a little, in bits and pieces. The entire project took far longer than I expected. I've been working on it, on and off, since my last full-length album was released in 2010.

What was the selection process like for the full-length album?

Relatively painless, with the help of my fans. I put together a little survey for everyone who pre-ordered the three EPs, knowing they'd be familiar with every track.

Rather than asking their favorites, I asked them to choose four tracks to leave off the album. With the exception of one close call, it was pretty straightforward, and probably what I'd have selected on my own.

Have you ever experienced a writers block and if so, how did you overcome it?

Every time I sit down to make music, I have to overcome a certain level of internal resistance. Making music is my top priority, yet it suddenly feels like I should be doing something, anything else.

I suppose that's because my ego is on the line. Once I push past that feeling and get going, it can be hard to stop.

But no, I've never experienced the kind of writer's block you read about sometimes, where the artist can't come up with anything for months. I've got an extensive backlog of ideas to explore.

What is the most flattering comparison or compliment you received from a fan?

My voice is often compared to Martin Gore's of Depeche Mode, which makes sense because I grew up singing along with him for a thousand hours. Practice makes perfect, I suppose.

But the biggest compliment to me is when people simply listen to my music.

We're entering an attention economy, and it's beyond gratifying to be one of the most streamed artists on someone's Last.fm profile, for example. If they share my songs or include them in playlists, even better!

What is your opinion on the current state of EDM and how artists like Justin Bieber have sort of been using the sound on their own albums?

Honestly, I haven't kept up lately. I'm getting tired of the pop/EDM crossover formula as practiced by Zedd, Avicii, and Guetta, and trap doesn't do it for me.

I'm impressed with Justin Bieber though, or whoever makes the decisions for him. When you've got Skrillex and Diplo producing tracks on your album, it's hard not to be taken seriously.

What do you hope listeners/fans get out of your music?

Some sort of emotional resonance, a sense of validation, connection. Or at the very least, enjoyment.

Will there be another project in the works after the album?

Absolutely! Something on a smaller scale than three EPs plus an album. I'd like to start by putting together some two-minute instrumentals for possible sync licensing. Then I can develop the best of those into songs.

Any last words for your fans and followers?

Thanks for sticking with me all these years! The best is yet to come.