Rising Stars: Meet Blaire Blades

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blaire Blades.

Hi Blaire, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I have always had an appreciation for music as I had grown up with 80s metalheads for parents. My dad was a musician, so I grew up surrounded by guitars and loud music pulsing from the basement. I naturally picked up the guitar and piano, practicing whenever the occasional song motivated me to learn. My passion for music was sparked when I saw what exactly made the noise. I sat down with my mother to watch live performances of bands she adored, and my fixation set in by the minute. I didn’t comprehend fully what was happening or exactly how they got on that stage, but I knew exactly what I wanted to do the next day. I became completely indulged in the alternative genres of music, picking up the culture and inspiration every artist had to offer. That year, I picked up the bass, followed by the drums. I used the natural songwriting senses I had developed, along with little phrases and melodies, to construct complete songs with instrumentals. I gathered the best of what I had written that year to comprise an entire album. I spent hours putting on a show for my basement wall, singing to myself, and recording demos. All of these developments took place throughout my middle school years as I was going through the canonical phase of finding myself. By freshman year, I knew I was ready to start taking the ambitious steps greased with fear. 

I started my journey on social media, gradually becoming comfortable with my persona on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. My content started off more fashion-inspired but soon became heavily music-based as well. 

I asked my best friend Anastasia to be my bassist, and we found a local drummer. With myself on vocals and lead guitar, we became a band. The band later became a four-piece with the addition of another guitarist. We spent the summer practicing, and my preparations carried into the winter months. We played our first show in January 2023, and we have been playing ever since. We competed in the High School Rock Off held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we made it to finals. I released my debut single off my first album, State Of Mind, in April. I later released a single titled Sweet Sixteen on my 16th birthday, followed by Piece the Puzzle in September. 

I aim to release a few more singles in the next few months before I release the entire album. In the meantime, I am heavily focused on growing my online platforms and developing more of a presence in the local scene. I look forward to bringing my next set of new songs to life, along with whatever the journey greets me with this next year. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely been rather rugged but enjoyable, nonetheless. It took a lot of practice and experience to get my band in good shape, as we are all young musicians. Many of us had little experience prior to joining the band. I had to learn some of the ropes of music production, recording all of my songs by myself. I have agonized the most over the production of my vocals. Most of all, I have had to cross many boundaries in order to come out of my shell. It took me a long time to be comfortable on social media. I will also mention that I have awful stage fright, and I am still managing my anxieties associated with this. I revealed so many parts of myself that I had never shown before. Sharing my music with the world was terrifying for me, as the idea of my best work and ideas potentially being bashed resided in the back of my mind. It’s also worth mentioning that finding the time to focus on my music has been very challenging to manage at times, given that I am a high school student. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a songwriter, performer, producer, and musician. I am a bassist, guitarist, pianist, drummer, as well as a vocalist. I write the instrumentals, lyrics, and melodies to all of my songs, as well as produce them. I am known as a musical artist, as well as a fashion influencer on TikTok. I have always loved fashion, specifically alternative fashion. I design + redesign pieces as well as upcycle secondhand clothing. My interest in fashion naturally incorporates into my passion as a performer. I am the frontwoman of my band, Blaire Blades and the Backstabbers (not a typo), and I have released 3 singles on major streaming platforms so far. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
At times it may seem like your progress is backtracking. Truth be told, the journey is truly a rollercoaster, and the slow trek up the hills are to prepare you for the next drop. In other words, hold onto your patience when your efforts haven’t reaped the rewards. 

Contact Info:

• Website: blaireblades.square.site
• Instagram: instagram.com/blaireblades/
• Youtube: youtube.com/@blaireblades
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/blaire-blades

Image Credits
Scott Mayberry
Moira Burkeneo