Spindle Radar: Blair Davie Kicks Off Their Most Compelling Music Era Yet With Upcoming EP You Like Ugly, Don’t You Babe?

With their soulful voice and vulnerable lyrics, singer-songwriter Blair Davie has positioned themselves as one of the UK’s most compelling emerging artists. Hailing from Scotland, the young talent was first bitten by the music bug thanks to their father, who introduced them to legendary artists like Louis Armstrong, The Beatles, and Dr Hook. However, Blair didn’t stay a casual music listener for long. At the tender age of 6, they enrolled in guitar lessons, embarking on their own journey as a musician. “After about a week, you just couldn’t get the guitar out of my hands. I was completely obsessed,” Blair tells Spindle.

A few years later, the young artist began to write short stories that would eventually become some of their first batch of introspective songs. After recording a record at 12 and performing with an array of bands during their teen years, Blair made thier official debut in 2022 with the track ‘Stairs.’ Since that fateful day, the ‘Prauge’ singer has crafted an immersive discography filled with songs that explore themes of love, identity, resilience, and transformation. This year, Blair has continued to peel back the curtain with ‘When You Fall In Love’ and ‘So What?’ – two tracks from their upcoming EP, You Like Ugly, Don’t You Babe?. In light of their recent releases, we spoke with Blair about everything from their musical beginnings to their evolution as artists, their new era of music, and more.

Hiya Blair! Thanks for sitting down with Spindle. How has 2026 been treating you?

2026 has been nothing short of beautiful so far, thank you! I got to open for James Arthur in a couple of areas, been out to the states for a month of writing and shows and now looking forward to everything that’s coming for the rest of the year.

Before we dive into your latest release, I wanted to peel back the curtain on your music origins. Which genres of music did you grow up listening to?

My first memories of listening to music and being aware of it were in the car with my dad. A whole wide range of stuff, Louis Armstrong, Dr Hook, The Beatles, and I can remember being obsessed with a 60s greatest hits CD. I’m sure I even said to him that I felt like I was born in the wrong time because I was sad that they didn’t make music like that anymore. Then, in my teens, I got really into heavy, alternative, emo music and started dressing in all black and wishing I could do screamo, it wasn’t to be, but I did end up with the lovely rasp that I have today, thanks to my vocal cords being knackered from the screamo attempts!

When did music start becoming a passion for you?

I was 6 years old when I first started getting guitar lessons. Initially, my parents encouraged me to practice for 20 minutes a day, and after about a week you just couldn’t get the guitar out of my hands. I was completely obsessed. I think I started writing short stories when I was 9, and I would put them to music that I’d play along to on my guitar. Somehow, that eventually turned into writing songs, and I’d say that was the moment where music became a true passion, something I just needed to do.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?  

I do, it was a song called ‘You Know’, and it was very existential for a 9-year-old, weirdly, all my songs were back then. I remember my parents always being so confused about where the songs came from, and I didn’t have a clue either. I definitely now subscribe to the idea that we just receive songs from the universe, and it totally makes sense now looking back. I wasn’t really aware or conscious of the fact that I was writing or what they were about; it was just happening.

Which aspect of creating music do you find the easiest? What element do you consider difficult?

⁠Playing live is where I’m most comfortable for sure, there’s no where that I’m more certain that I’m on the right path than when I’m on stage. I think the part I find most difficult is the online stuff. I’m trying to find my way of sharing my most honest, authentic self on the internet in the way that I find so natural in person.

Is there an artist that you look to for inspiration? Whether that be regarding songwriting, singing, trajectory, or all three?

Without sounding egotistical at all, I actually try my hardest to pull inspiration from myself and my journey more than looking to other artists. I also have this thing where if I hear a voice or a sound from another artist that I love, I get a bit jealous and end up trying to make that kind of music, which can be a bit dangerous. Like when I discovered Adrienne Lenker, I just wanted to write a folk record. And when I first heard Geese, I wanted to make weird bandy music. So weirdly, now I tend not to seek out new music to listen to and spend most of my time obsessing over my own demos, trying to take my voice and my songwriting to the best level.

Okay, let’s dive into your latest release, ‘When You Fall In Love.’ Everything about this track is absolutely beautiful, from your vocals to the song’s soothing production and heartfelt lyrics. What was your creative process for the record?

Thank you so much for the kind words. That’s so lovely to hear. This one really came from a place of honesty, looking back on a time in my life where I felt so broken and lost. I had a session one day with my two brothers David Sneddon and Edd Holloway and I remember waking up super early, sitting on a bench outside with my guitar when the line “and you don’t know yet, but it’s coming” came to me and I knew in that moment that I was meant to write a letter to that past version of myself, telling them to keep going, that it does get better. I think we ended up writing the song in about an hour. When you have something as honest and clear to say, it comes so easily when you sit down to write it.

The message of ‘When You Fall In Love’ is further elevated by the accompanying music video. It really felt like you were healing your inner self. Can you take us through the creation of the video? What did you want to achieve with the visual?

⁠It’s definitely my favourite video to date. My favourite movie is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I really loved the part where they give Charlie the suit, and it’s like he becomes this more confident version of himself when he puts it on. And that gave me the idea where the whole video is me putting on the suit and kind of hyping myself up to go out into the world to find love, trying to be the best version of myself. Almost like using it as a suit of armour.

‘When You Fall In Love’  is your first release of 2026. What else can fans expect from this new music era? An album or EP perhaps? What can you spill?

Yeah, I’m so excited to say that ‘When You Fall In Love’ is the first single from my next EP, ‘You Like Ugly, Don’t You Babe?’ which is about being healed by love. You know how they say, “you need to love yourself before you can love someone else”? Well, for me it was the complete opposite. I had to experience someone else’s love for me before I could learn to love myself, and that journey is what the EP is about.

You’re booked and busy with shows this year! What can fans expect from your upcoming live performances? What are you looking forward to the most?

⁠Ah, I’m so excited for these shows; they are going to be joyous! I’m bringing a small band set-up with me for the first time, so I’m so curious to see how that’s gonna feel, but I’m sure it’ll be special. I’m looking forward to the connection with people that I feel when I get on stage, there’s nothing like it.

Over the last four years, you have opened your heart to music listeners worldwide through your thoughtful music. How have you evolved as an artist since releasing your debut single in 2022? What lessons have you learned?

⁠I guess when I was starting out, the songs were a bit darker, more mental health-focused. Then I fell madly in love and wrote a lot of super joyous, optimistic songs about it. I think now I’ve found that there’s a sweet spot in the middle of all of that, and maybe that’s where the magic is.

Looking ahead, what are your top three goals you want to achieve as a music artist?

I think, being Scottish, I’m not much of a dreamer, so my three humble goals are to headline and sell out the Barrowlands in Glasgow, headline 1000-cap venues across Europe, and keep music as my job for as long as possible.

Listen to Blair Davie’s latest single ‘So What?’ and ‘When You Fall In Love’ here or below.