This week, we’ll be revisiting Austin City Limits 2022 with some interviews I was able to snag on location!
First up, we have Blondshell, a breakout indie singer-songwriter sensation who’s heartfelt performance on Friday of weekend two made an instant fan out of me. The singer’s vulnerable, sweet, and sometimes extremely relatable lyrics saw her rise in popularity with just a few tracks out on streaming services, and quickly lent her a spot on ACL’s 2022 lineup.
I was lucky enough to catch up with her after her set – read on for our interview below!
D: I caught your show earlier, it was so great. I noticed – and you kind of mentioned this in your show, as well, – that you don’t have too much music out at the moment on your Spotify. How did you get started and get your foot in the door? What led you to perform at ACL?
B: I put the first song out on this project in June. It was just people being really nice about the reception, and I think some people really connected to it. And then, I went on tour in September. I got booked for this in August, it was kind of like a last minute thing. I had just started putting out music in June, so…I don’t know!
D: It just…happened! That’s cool, I definitely think whoever sought you out has a real eye for talent. I really enjoyed your show.
B: Thanks!
D: Something else that I really liked about your performance is that a lot of your lyrics are pretty relatable, especially for young women. What inspires your songs and your lyrics?
B: My songs are all very literal. And they’re all just about things that I feel like I need to get off my chest. I try to write them, not from a place of wanting people to hear them, but from a place of, like, I need to hear this myself. I need to just, like, say it into the void. I think that’s what people connect with sometimes, just the desperation of needing to say something.
D: I totally get that. You’re originally from L.A., if I’m correct?
B: No, I’m from New York, but I currently live in L.A.
D: Gotcha, so you’re L.A. based. What originally made you want to pursue music as a career?
B: I didn’t have that many other skills, truly. I just always connected really deeply with music, form when I was really young. I just always kind of knew, like, it’s one of those careers that everyone wants to do when they’re a little kid. But I never got over the phase; I just kept wanting to do it.
D: Awesome. So, again, you just have a little bit of content out right now, but what’s next for you in terms of an album release or more touring?
B: I have a song coming out Wednesday* that I played during my set, that’s exclusively for Spotify. So that’s not part of the album but it’s going to be coming out this week. And then, we have songs coming out over the next six months and then the album in the spring. I’ll probably be touring in the beginning of next year and for a lot of next year.
D: So, how does it feel to be such a fresh artist and already have this kind of experience of ACL under your belt?
B: It was really fun. I’ve never played a big festival, so I didn’t know what to expect. I also thought no one would be there…
D: You had a pretty good crowd!
B: Yeah, it was good! And, it was just easier than I expected. Everybody was so nice, and it was all just really fun.
D: I’m glad to hear that. Okay, this is just one question I like to throw at artists. I’m a huge fan of movie scores and movie soundtracks. If you could re-do the soundtrack to one movie, what movie do you think your music would fit best?
B: Oh god, I’m not a movie person. What’s, like, an angsty A24 movie?
D: Yeah, I feel like you could do that…like, a Booksmart, maybe?
B: I could do a Booksmart, yeah. But I loved their soundtrack, I love their choices, I wouldn’t want to re-do that. Like, that Cautious Clay song?
D: Yes, and they had Death Grips in there, too.
B: Yeah, and they had Perfume Genius. Like, in the pool scene!
D: Yes! Yeah, that is a really good soundtrack. But I feel like you’re right, any sort of angsty teen movie.
B: Any movie that I remember the soundtrack to, I feel like I wouldn’t change it.
D: Right, that makes sense.
B: That’s a good question, I wasn’t prepared for that.
D: Thanks! I feel like that can tell you a lot about an artist, like what their vibe is.
B: You know what? 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s an iconic soundtrack but I feel like I could sneak a song in.
D: Yeah! Exactly. That’s cool. Alright, well that was all of the questions I had. Thank you so much for your time.
B: Yeah, thank you too!
*The track, titled Cartoon Earthquake, hit Spotify on October 19, 2022.
Listen to Blondshell here!
Loading ...