LA-based singer-songwriter Tash Blake grew up immersed in the world of music, dance, and musical theatre. Learning the power of stage presence from a young age and experimenting with writing songs from the age of eight years, she has honed her sound and created something truly magical. After releasing her debut single, “Mannequin”, in December, Tash has grown a substantial fanbase who connect with her honesty and powerful inspiration. With follow-up singles “So Bad Together” and “Inject Me”, it is clear that she knows who she is — and has the ability to help others feel the same through her music.
“Inject Me”, the most recent single, is an infectious and theatrical track with a statement of love and distress, passion and vulnerability, magic and darkness. These dualities are exemplified by the complex production, bringing the contradictions she sings about alive in the sonics. Energetic, empowering, and explosive, this third release is a standout.
With live performances set for the summer and an EP out later this year, Tash Blake is just getting started! We were so excited to chat with Tash Blake and hear about her songwriting process, bursting into the industry, and her dynamic trio of singles.
Stream “Inject Me”…
Now for the interview…
When did you start creating music?
I’ve been singing since I could talk. I started writing songs when I was 8 that I’d be embarrassed for anyone to hear now. When I was 15, I recorded my first song and I knew that I needed to be creating music forever.
How would you describe your sound?
Dance pop with a hint of darkness, grit, shimmer, and love!
How did your upbringing in dance and musical theatere influence your music?
It definitely influenced my music. Whether it’s in the production or in my vocal melodies, I love to incorporate dramatic, theatrical aspects to my songs. Dancing is so important to me because it’s so freeing and a great way to express myself, so a good beat is always essential!
What are you currently listening to, and does it influence your own work?
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Rosalía, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Miley. I don’t think that listening to their music directly influences my work, but certainly listening to artists that I love always inspires me and motivates me.
Do you have a typical songwriting process?
My songwriting process definitely changes depending on the day. Half the time, a concept or a melody will come to me and I immediately have to voice memo it or write it down. Other times, in the studio, I love to just vibe with the producer and see where it takes us!
How did your debut single, “Mannequin”, — and its visuals — set the stage for what listeners can expect from you as an artist?
Dropping “Mannequin” first was important to me in multiple ways. I definitely had to get certain emotions off my chest in order to move forward, and I also wanted it to be known that I am not afraid of saying things others don’t necessarily feel comfortable to say out loud. Visually speaking, the goal was to represent myself in an equally raw and provocative way because that is who I am at my core. Because of this, I feel that I have the ability to express myself in many different directions — no limitations.
How do “So Bad Together” and, most recently, “Inject Me”, evolve on this?
Each of the songs that I have released thus far deal with the strong emotions in relationships, whether they be romantic, professional, or lack thereof. “So Bad Together” was a great way to let my audience dive deeper into my thought process regarding romantic relationships and how I view them. Meanwhile, “Inject Me,” although a fun dance record, is very personal to me and vulnerable as it highlights a void I feel when I am not feeling loved. I continuously want to show my audience more and more layers of myself and hopefully, we all feel less alone. The more I write, the more I realize how much work I need to do on my messed up thoughts regarding relationships, haha!
Could you tell us about the inspiration behind “Inject Me”? How did it come about?
“Inject Me” was extremely easy to write because for my entire life, I have craved a love so deep that it feels like it could be deadly, and yet, I simply don’t care if it hurts. This song was bound to come out of me because it is simply how I have felt forever.
What are you hoping people take away from the single?
I hope that “Inject Me” provides hope for people that the idea of a love that is passionate is out there and never to settle for less. Plus, I hope it has people dancing their hearts out and gets them hyped for summer!
What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
I am putting out my debut EP later this year and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with everyone! I also am thrilled to be on stage and to be meeting people in person. I love that type of connection. Seeing their reactions will be everything to me! I’ll be performing this summer — definitely hitting New York, Chicago, and LA.