Zack Fraser gets in touch with Blase, a North Carolina-based producer who released his latest album, Somewhere Out There last summer for some great insight into his creative process, inspirations, and what the future has in store.
Blase, who began to release music in 2019, is a gem within Wilmington, NC’s indie scene. He’s a multi-instrumentalist and producer who’s fresh off the release of his latest album Somewhere Out There. The luscious indie rock album was handmade by the man himself, aside from the mastering, which was done by Greg Obis. The Chicago-born artist has refined his craft over seven years, resulting in a more pensive and sonically rich sound. I was given the opportunity to dive deeper into Blase’s psyche and here’s what I found out:
How has your experience of living in Wilmington impacted your career as a musician?
Living in Wilmington has been going really well so far. There's a great community of people and all have been very supportive. I was able to meet Fort Lowell Records here and they've been really supportive.
How has the act of releasing your music physically affected the vision for your products / aesthetic?
Releasing the music physically has made it less abstract. Having the work in physical form has helped bring the whole picture to life. Overall it has grounded the project and clarified the identity of it.
What was the hardest challenge to overcome during the creation of Somewhere Out There?
I think the hardest part of the project is always the last 10 percent. This all comes to the final touches of mixing it and making it sound the way you want it to sound.
If one were a fly on the wall during a Blase recording session, what would they see?
They would see me in my space losing track of time. I try to move on the faster side when writing something until I hear something that I like, whether that's a particular sound or a progression. At that point you might see me slow down and dig a little further into that one thing. When it comes to recording I'll try to keep it organized and write down what every song needs and start checking the boxes as I go.
How much work goes into the creation of your projects outside of the studio?
There's a lot of work that goes inside the project outside of the recording process. Coming up with artwork, putting together all the physical ideas, making videos, and playing shows. The recording process can seem like a small part of the whole picture.
What role did your partner play during the making of Somewhere Out There?
My partner has always been such a support figure. So many of our adventures together have created amazing memories that always turn into inspiration. Somewhere Out There is filled with a lot of memories we had together seeing new places. The project wouldn't have been what it is without her supportive presence. She also has a great eye and took the cover art picture and helped with the overall design.
Do you find yourself with leftover material after you complete albums? If so, does anything ever come of them?
I sometimes have left over material after a project. Most of the time it doesn't get released, but I do keep it around in case there is a song that might work on the next project. That's rare, but sometimes it works out where an old song finds its way in fitting into a new project. I believe "Finding Myself in You" was a song that was actually written at a time before the rest of the other songs were written. I felt like it worked though and re-recorded it to fit the sound.
Check out “Finding Myself in You” below:
