Singer-songwriter Annie Blackman chatted about her music, inspirations, and being an artist in the digital age.
Pablo Casals once said: “Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” This quote applies to the music of singer-songwriter Annie Blackman.
Music and songwriting inspirations
On her music and songwriting inspirations, she shared, “My own lived experiences as a young woman moving through the world. Largely, I like to write about heartbreak, rejection and longing.”
“Those are the things that are usually evocative of the strongest emotions and they push me to write to work those things out and help process them,” she said.
Song selection process for her ‘Bug’ EP
On the song selection process for “Bug” EP, she said, “I usually start by writing lyrics and then going back and trying to figure out how they would best pair with music and melodies.”
“Also, often jotting things down in the Notes app on my phone as they occur me, and then, going home and building out sketches of songs, especially if I feel they need more attention.”
She listed the title track “Bug” as her personal favorite song from her EP, and she described “Altitude” as a “fun song” as well.
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, Blackman said, “It definitely makes it easier and harder. Easier to get eyes on my music through Apple Music, TikTok, and Instagram.”
“Also, the market is very saturated because everyone has equal access to music. The playing field is very leveled, which is a great thing but also there is a lot of competition,” she acknowledged.
“You are competing for people’s ears and eyes, and even though we all have the outlet, it’s not a slam dunk,” she added.
Future plans
On her future plans, she shared, “I recently finished recording, mixing and mastering an EP.”
“I am in the process of making some music videos to pair with the release of the songs. I am hoping to get those out starting in the fall,” she added.
Advice for young and emerging artists
For young and aspiring artists, Blackman said, “Cringe is cool! Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable online even if it feels embarrassing to post something; it still belongs in the world, and sharing is going to be your avenue for connecting with people so it’s always worth a try.”
Defining moments in her career
On her career-defining moments as a musician, she stated, “One of the turning points of my career was the first show I ever played in New York.”
“I opened for an artist called Kate Bollinger at Mercury Lounge. It was a sold-out show and that was a special experience because it was during my first year of living in New York. That was special and a real confidence boost,” she expanded.
“So, that was the beginning of me getting more and more comfortable on stage,” she added.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, she revealed, “Greenpoint.”
“I just moved to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, so it would be Greenpoint,” she admitted. “It’s awesome around here; I love it!”
Dream duet choices in music
Blackman’s dream duet choices in music would be Joni Mitchell in the 60s or the 70s and Phoebe Bridgers.
“Also, a lot of the artists I admire are my friends,” she admitted. “One of my best friends is Darryl Rahn, so I would love to put out a song with him.”
Rolling Stone Magazine feature
A few years ago she was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. “That was amazing! It was really cool,” she admitted.
Success
On her definition of the word success, she said, “Success means respect, when people recognize you as someone who cares about their craft, and enjoying your work.”
“Success, to me, is a musician who tours for a living. It’s about how you feel in relation to the art that you are producing and how it is received,” she noted.
“Success is just feeling good about what you are doing,” she added.
Message for her fans and supporters
For her fans and supporters, she expressed, “Thank you for listening to my music, and being so nice to me. I get a lot of sweet messages and I think that is always nice. It is neat to hear people feel affected by my music.”
To learn more about singer-songwriter Annie Blackman, follow her on Instagram and visit her official homepage.
