Meet The Emerging Indie-Pop Artist… Blanks

If you are an 80s pop enthusiast then Blanks is the artist for you. The multi-talented singer first got his start on his mega-popular YouTube channel ‘Music By Blanks’. Over the years, the young talent has achieved viral fame for his ‘Style Swap’ series where he reimagines hit songs in unexpected genres. Alongside his growing social media presence, Blanks also invested time into his original music and has released an array of singles between 2018 and 2020. With his signature retro synth-pop-inspired sound, Blanks captured the hearts of tastemakers and longtime fans. At the end of October, the Netherlands artist released his long-awaited debut album Nothing Lasts Forever And That’s OK, which he produced, composed, and wrote.

The project was inspired by the Portuguese word “saudade” which translates to “a melancholic feeling for longing for something that is never coming back. With his debut album, Blanks explores some bittersweet memories like his first love and tragically losing his best friend at a young age. Pulling inspiration from an array of genres, the 10-track album is a melting pot of gems, that include the singles “What You Do To Me” and “Never Have I Ever.” We were able to chat with Blanks about everything from releasing his debut album, his creative process, and so much more.

Hey Blanks! It’s great to sit down with you. How’s everything been going?

Hey Spindle! Everything’s been great! I’m really excited that my album’s finally out in the open and I’m touring Europe next week!

First and foremost, congratulations on the release of your debut album Nothing Lasts Forever And That’s OK. How does it feel to finally share it with the world?

Thank you so much! It’s amazing and scary at the same time. These songs have been mine for a long time, and it feels very “me”, so I was kinda nervous to see what everyone would say about it. In retrospect, I had nothing to worry about! The response on the album has been amazing so far! I had so many people messaging me they love it, so I feel great it’s finally out!

When did you first start working on the record? Can you take us through the creative process?

I started writing songs for “Nothing Lasts Forever And That’s OK” one and a half years ago. I was about to play The Roxy in LA when we had to cancel everything (due to covid) and rush back home. Back home, I suddenly had all this free time, so I decided it was time to challenge myself: let’s make an album! 

I started writing songs and along the way a concept developed in my head. I learned about the Portuguese word ‘saudade’ (roughly translated “a melancholic longing for something that’s never to be had again”) and related to that emotion so much. I have so many great memories that give me a bittersweet feeling: they were beautiful moments, but I’ll never experience them just like that again. From that mindset I started writing the album.

Is there a track on the album that you’re most excited for fans to hear?

I think that would be ‘Except For You’. It’s a song I wrote all by myself in a cabin in the woods. I remember waking up, looking at my setup and realizing I was actually living the life I always dreamed of: writing music for a living. But somehow, all I could think of was that past relationship that had seemed so promising, but didn’t work out. I imagined what I would say to that person if I ran into them. That thought sparked something, and a few hours later the song existed!

Let’s take it to the beginning, what’s your earliest music-related memory?

I remember whenever my mom would clean the house, she would blast a Madonna record on full volume. I can’t remember the name of the record, but I do remember liking the music hahah!

Which artist(s) have inspired you when creating your signature sound?

Songwriting-wise, I love everything Jon Bellion does! Every song he writes just has a vibe to it that touches my soul! I feel like sound wise, Tame Impala and music from the 80s have inspired me a lot. I’ve had Current on repeat ever since it came out, and I drew a lot of inspiration from that sound wise!

You first got your start on YouTube with your channel Music By Banks. How have you evolved as an artist since uploading your first video?

I used to do a lot of “One Hour Song Challenges”, where my fans would vote on a song and I would make my own version of it in just one hour! Making loads of covers was basically a crash course in how songs are made haha! I learned so much about songwriting and production from taking songs and making my own versions of them, and it helped grow my following a LOT! For example, my 80s version of Post Malone’s “Better Now” went viral and got tens of millions of views! 

Creating covers definitely helped me find my own sound as an artist, since I was experimenting all the time. After a while, I figured out that making original songs was even more fun! I started writing as much as possible, for my own project but also with and for others, and I learned so much more about songwriting and production! Up to the point where I felt confident enough to start working on a debut album! And now we’re here! 🙂

Being a content creator and an artist, do you find you need to access/channel a different side of yourself, for your artistry versus your social content? 

It’s both really different yet similar, but I always stay myself! The content is almost always music related, and I love music, so it feels very natural and not at all like I need to channel a different side of myself!

If you had to give advice to your younger self what would it be?

Don’t stop, keep doing what you’re doing. Dare to dream big and most importantly: have fun!!

With your album officially making the rounds, what else can fans expect from Banks in the coming months? 

A lot of live shows! Next week, I’m starting my European tour and I’ll be back on the road in May and June 2022! I’ll be playing in Spain, Ireland, Scotland, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and it’s gonna be amazing! At a Blanks show you can expect a lot of energy, good vibes and overexcited dance moves haha! I just want everyone to have a great time and feel happy & good about themselves. 🙂

Make sure to listen to Blanks new album ‘Nothing Lasts Forever That’s OK’ here or below.