Exclusive interview and deeper look at "Eyes on Fire" recording artist Blue Foundation

Wondering what that offbeat, electronic music is that your teen is playing on her MySpace page? It could be Blue Foundation, the indie group made famous by “Eyes on Fire,” featured on the Twilight soundtrack.

A recent article featured Blue Foundation and their recently revamped song, "Watch You Sleeping." Intrigued as to the roots of the group and the relationship of the lyrics to the movie, I contacted producer/musician Tobias Wilner (a.k.a. Bichi), creator of Blue Foundation for his thoughts.

Blue Foundation is a project Tobias originally started up with his brother. With the help of friends Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjaerg (vocalist for "Eyes on Fire") and Tatsuki Oshima for the first album, Tobias has found inspiration in enlisting assistance from various favorite musicians in his additional two records. The underground song, “Eyes on Fire,” was an unlikely overnight success and has, to date, garnered nearly nine million hits on their MySpace page.

The first thing resonating from Tobi’s tone is dedication to family. When asked where he plans to be in five years, Tobi answered, “Next to my kids and my wife.” He manages to balance the role of daddy and musician, but not without pangs of guilt. “I'm the daddy that travels too much. I was away for two months when my first kid was 3 months (old); it’s part of my job,” he says. “I know I'm not the easiest man to be with but I also know I'm a really good dad and husband. I love my kids and my wife.”

Tobi knows his fan base extremely well. “My fans are like me,” he says. “Often a little bit to sensitive to the real world.” He further describes the significance behind the random project name, Blue Foundation, saying, “It's all about the soundtrack of your life.”

Though the lyrics of "Eyes on Fire" seem to have been written specifically for Twilight, Tobi reveals otherwise, offering up a great deal of insight into the pained tone of the song:

It really seems like the song was written for the movie, but it had not. It was written a year before in a cold, dark December night in Copenhagen in a very old and trashy house where I used to have my studio by Kirstine and me. I think the music and lyrics speak for itself, but I can tell you, I did the music in the hardest period in my life, struggling with relationship and suicidal thoughts. It was all about stand up against your demons and fight back, be strong. I think that's the beauty about this song. It's about anger and strength to fight back. Be strong and be able to continue to walk through the "desert".

Read on to discover more about Tobias, further insight into the man and his soulful song, and ways to positively influence your teens through Tobi’s music:

Tell me about the band members of Blue Foundation:
Blue Foundation is basically me and the people I like to work with. It has been a couple of people over the years just to name: Tatsuki Oshima, a London based Japanese sound artist/DJ. My work with Tatsuki goes way back we have done stuff with artist like DJ Krush, Opiate who has produced some of the stuff on Bjork's 'Vespertine,’ and then of course Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjaerg, Copenhagen-based vocalist/songwriter (the lead vocalist on "Eyes on Fire"), Bo Rande Copenhagen based trumpet/keyboard play, MC Jabber Berlin based MC and many more. These days I have done some stuff with Jonas Bjerre from the band Mew, Sara Savery from People Press Play and Ghost Society. (Note to readers: While Blue Foundation is Tobi’s project with various artists, Ghost Society is his actual band.)

How did your band collaboration begin?
In some way it was pure coincidence on the other hand we like the same music. I don't know. It's all about meeting people that are inspiring for me. Blue Foundation is not a normal band. I feel more like a movie director and sometimes I play the leading role myself. I will do much more leading acting on the next Blue Foundation record.

How was your band chosen to be on the Twilight soundtrack?
The reason for why the song was chosen to be on the Twilight soundtrack was (because of) my partners from Zync Music who played the music for Catherine Hardwicke; she really fell in love with the song "Eyes on Fire". She chose the song because of the way it sounds and Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjaeg's lyrics.

Has your popularity increased since being affiliated with the Twilight name?
Yes! Very much. I love it. More people listen to my music now. They discover what Blue Foundation really is about - the soundtrack of your life!

Has it been a benefit or a curse?
Of course more people now about my music because of Twilight so that's good. I didn't do the movie- I just wrote this song with Kirstine, and it ended up in a blockbuster (film). It's that simple. I will continue doing what I do. Compose music and write song because I have to. That's what I do...

Is there any possibility you’ll have a song on the New Moon soundtrack?
NO one in the whole world knows! And I mean NO ONE KNOWS!

Describe the feel you try to portray with your music:
I just do the music for myself. I never think about other people. I do it for myself and only for myself. I never think what other people will think about my music when I do it. It's all about my inner struggle. I'm quite sure that music mirror other people's sadness just like “Eyes” does.

What is the next big project we can look forward to?
A new Blue Foundation record. I'm writing songs for it. Blue Foundation will also release two new songs very, very soon and on one of them can you hear Mark Kozelek's (Sun Kil Moon, Red House Painter) voice next to my and Kirstine's vocal.

Parents: Please note that the lyrics to "Eyes of Fire" are tame considering the inspiration behind the song and compared to other songs on radio playlists:

I’ll seek you out,
Flay you alive
One more word and you won’t survive
And I’m not scared of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour

And

Eyes on fire
Your spine is ablaze
Felling any foe with my gaze
And just in time
In the right place
Steadily emerging with grace

Tobi was dealing with some life-altering issues while writing this song, and his ability to portray the fight of good versus evil makes this song a perfect tribute to the position that Edward Cullen was facing in the Twilight Saga. Doubly, it serves to re-enforce the importance of making good choices and remaining true to the goodness of your heart, even through troubled times- a trait difficult for teens to grasp, and often, an even more difficult trait to teach.

Using music as his outlet, Tobi is able to deal positively with adversity. Maybe music is your teen's outlet; maybe it's another source such as art, song, or sports. Helping steer your teen towards a positive activity will help her through the awkward years and rouse a sense of belonging within her, making for a happier household.

Are you familiar with the songs of the Twilight Soundtrack? How can you use Tobi’s story to reinforce the positive threads of the song: fighting back and making the right life decisions?