Blondshell, the solo venture helmed by Sabrina Teitelbaum, is primed for the lengthy haul—and indie followers are right here for the experience. A longtime performer, Sabrina has already seen her sound change over the course of a number of initiatives, however the 26-year-old lastly feels at house with the emotional, lyric-driven rock stylings of her newest reinvention, in addition to the endurance, introspection, and confidence that include it.
After a protracted interval of songwriting and modifying, Sabrina formalized Blondshell’s June 2022 debut with the only “Olympus,” then launched a scattering of singles and EPs all year long. Blondshell was a member of Spotify’s Fresh Finds 2022 class and launched a Spotify Single as a part of this system, in addition to graced the presence of two Times Square billboards. The artist has gained traction amongst Spotify listeners—not solely in Sabrina’s house metropolis of New York and adopted metropolis of LA, but in addition overseas, in London, the place Blondshell has seen a 725% enhance in streams since coming to Spotify.
Sabrina debuted the venture’s freshman album, Blondshell, this previous April, cementing Blondshell’s rise: From June 2022 to now, Blondshell’s Spotify month-to-month streams have grown steadily from 300K to 1.8 million—a rise of just below 500%.
Album and triple-digit development apart, Sabrina has stored busy. This spring, Blondshell kicked off a European tour, using instruments like Spotify for Artists to study the place the venture’s followers are, how a lot merch to carry to a present, and who’s listening. Blondshell noticed a notable enhance in streams in Porto after enjoying there, which aligns properly with Sabrina’s hope to return as a performer (or vacationer).
Blondshell’s development has additionally been powered by Spotify’s Editorial playlists, significantly Rock This, Alt NOW, and my life is a film, in addition to unhappy lady starter pack, All New Indie, and Lorem. “In 2022, Fresh Finds editors playlisted over 10,000 independent artists across 30 different playlists, resulting in over 106 million user-track discoveries,” mentioned Lizzy Szabo, Spotify Senior Editor of US Editorial. “Of artists who are added to Fresh Finds, over 60% go on to be playlisted on other editorial playlists on Spotify, which has very much been the case for Blondshell.”
Blondshell’s “Olympus” began out on the Fresh Finds playlist, however the artist’s music has gone on to be featured on playlists like Lorem, exposing Blondshell to extra listeners and new alternatives. “Blondshell is a prime example of how the Fresh Finds playlist supports the careers of up-and-coming independent artists, and it’s been truly exciting to witness her continued growth,” mentioned Lizzy.
Fresh Finds has additionally gone via a change since that includes Blondshell. In March, we debuted Fresh Finds Live offered by Spotify Stages, the place we reworked the playlist right into a reside expertise, offering unbiased artists with a brand new alternative to deepen their relationship with present listeners and meet new followers. It’s the newest manner we’re supporting unbiased artists from all genres and serving to their voices be heard.
“Blondshell is a part of a wave of new artists in rock and alternative who are proving that the landscape of these genres hasn’t suddenly diversified, but that these genres have always been driven by marginalized voices and that the industry is embracing this narrative,” mentioned Laura Ohls, Spotify Senior Editor, Rock/Alternative.
Recently, Blondshell additionally launched a single with Samia, and Sabrina took Blondshell again on the highway for her headline tour within the U.S., which continues via August 2. For the Record had the chance to meet up with Sabrina from her LA house forward of the tour.
Spotify listeners actually first acquired to know Blondshell while you have been featured as a Fresh Finds artist. Since then, you’ve put out your first album. What was the time between like?
There was a major period of time between writing the songs—not simply recording them however writing the songs—and placing them out. I wrote lots of them in 2021, and so they got here out sort of shortly, however then I edited for some time. The producer that I work with would say, “I feel like this bridge is actually the chorus,” or, “This needs another verse because the story is not done.” And I’d reply, “Oh shit, you’re right,” and maintain tweaking.
But the entire time, I used to be feeling happy with the music and wished individuals to listen to it. So I wished to be actually considerate about who I labored with and the way we determined to place the music out, as a result of that was an enormous deal to me. I wished to place it out in a manner that felt respectful to the music. So it took a very long time.
Was there a selected music you launched the place you felt it actually helped you to interrupt via and attain a wider viewers?
When “Olympus” got here out, I actually had no concept the way it was gonna go. I used to be placing my music out via a distributor and simply hoping that any person would take heed to it. I felt assured understanding that I appreciated it and was happy with it, and hoped that folks would take heed to it, as a result of I wished to make music as a job. I despatched it to all my associates, and I used to be shocked by how many individuals I knew have been posting it—in a great way.
But then when “Kiss City” got here out, individuals exterior of my community of associates have been posting about it. That felt like an enormous day—July 20, 2022—as a result of that’s after I performed my first present as Blondshell. I hadn’t performed a present shortly, however I used to be happy with how the present went. It’s virtually been a yr, but it surely felt like yesterday. And since then, I’ve been making music full time.
After gaining that preliminary wave of momentum, what have been among the subsequent massive milestones?
When I put “Veronica Mars” out, that felt like an enormous factor as a result of it wasn’t simply me and my supervisor anymore; we had a much bigger staff at that time. Leading as much as that single, I had signed to Partisan, and that was the primary launch I put out with them. So it felt like I had lots of help as a result of I used to be working with a bunch of people that all had the identical objective. Then I acquired to play in New York for the primary time—that was an enormous deal.
Playing my very own exhibits was one other massive second. I’ve opened for individuals rather a lot previously, and now I get to play my very own exhibits. I did it in Europe earlier this yr, and now I’m about to go on my headlining U.S. tour.
What has been your greatest hurdle or problem to date?
Touring is difficult. It’s arduous to not sleep in your mattress, be round your individuals, and prepare dinner. But I feel it’s additionally been a problem getting my head round questions like, “What do I want? What would I be satisfied with?” We’re in a numbers world and it’s in every single place. For artists it’s simple to be like, “I would be so happy if a hundred people came to my show.” And then 100 individuals go to your present and also you’re like, “Well, I would really be happy if 200 people came to my show.” Or you are able to do that with, like, TikTok numbers, followers, something, and we’re simply surrounded by that stuff.
It’s been a problem for me to step again and be like, “What are the metrics that I actually care about and what would I be satisfied with?” I’m attempting to focus extra on, “Did I feel a connection with people at that show? Was I able to be myself and let my personality come through? Or was I kind of ego-driven and in my head about how this is coming off?”
Is there any recommendation you’d give your previous self?
When you’re 20 or 25 you need to get on the market and make your music and play your exhibits. There’s this stress. There’s this time factor. “I need to get it done, I need to get it out and need to get people listening to it.” If somebody had simply instructed me, “It’s okay, just take your time,” I feel that might have been actually useful for me, if I had been in a position to take it in.
It was actually essential for me to take my time and get to a spot the place I felt assured sufficient the place even when individuals didn’t hear, I’d nonetheless really feel happy with it. The manner I really feel concerning the music isn’t formed by the response. I need to sit with it for some time and have a robust sufficient reference to my very own music.
Stream Blondshell’s inaugural album on Spotify.