Hot off performing as a featured artist for June’s NZ On Air Showcase, alt-pop artist Blake is back with an honest and intimate new single and video, ‘Breakdown Breakthrough’, out today.
Listen to ‘Breakdown Breakthrough’ HERE
A gritty cinematic alt-pop anthem, ‘Breakdown Breakthrough’ perfectly encapsulates the unsettling notion of being at a crossroad in life. Swirling synths, emotive guitars and hook-laden backing vocals sonically mirror the subject matter, with Blake’s exceptional songwriting and textured vocals keeping listeners hooked throughout the song.
“I was trying to reconcile the fact things were going well in my career, while also harbouring intense feelings of anxiety around what my future might hold,” reflects Blake. “The song touches on themes of imposter syndrome and wanting to relinquish responsibility for yourself.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air, the track was recorded at Parachute Studios as well at Blake’s home studio, before being mixed by award-winning engineer Simon Gooding. Before arriving at the final version however, ‘Breakdown Breakthrough’ began after a friend spotted the potential for the song in Blake’s social feed.
“The initial inspiration came about whilst on a walk trying to clear my head,” explains Blake. “I was filming an Instagram story saying I felt as though I was on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown, and my friend Eliot replied saying it would make for a great song concept. I then came home, sat at the piano, and the chorus pretty much wrote itself!”
Also out today is the captivating accompanying video, co-produced by Blake herself along with Jolin Lee. Diving into a stunning visual representation of the music, the concept for the video is based on real and raw footage filmed by Blake and posted on Tiktok, after heading home from a night out at a house party.
“The video emulates my lived experience of walking home from a flat on Karangahape Road in Auckland; of processing feelings of being overwhelmed, and stuck at a crossroads,” says Blake. “In that moment, I really loved the quietness of what is usually a chaotic part of the city - feeding into feelings of trying to navigate something on your own.”
Watch the video HERE
Hailing from Queenstown, the now Auckland-based Blake is ascending quickly within the Aotearoa music scene. After spending five years in London honing her craft, she was nominated for ‘Best Vocalist’ at the 2017 Drum and Bass awards and has amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify on her feature tracks. Her 2022 solo EP SKEPTICAL garnered wide-spread support from local media including ZM, The Edge, TVNZ, Sniffers and more, with her single ‘CPU’ notably reaching #6 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.
Get to know Blake by absorbing today’s stunningly honest release, and be ready for more to come from this exceptional artist!
Listen to ‘Breakdown Breakthrough’ HERE
Watch the video HERE
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