Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Ali Blake

Singer-songwriter Ali Blake is one to watch in 2020. Set to drop her new album, Blood, later this year, Ali opened up to us about the process of putting the collection together, discovering her voice and self-worth, and how her family inspired the eight-track release.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Ali: As soon as I learned to talk, I started singing. I’ve been doing it my entire life. Although my parents didn’t pursue musical careers, they exposed us to music and the arts from a young age. We would always listen to the Beach Boys and different musicals. We’d also go see musicals, and I fell in love with The Little Mermaid. I would watch it every day and sing for hours. It wasn’t until later on that I explored pursuing it as a career.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Ali: I would say my brother. I have three older brothers, and the middle one is my best friend. He’s my mentor, my friend, my sage, and my brother. I really look up to him and take to heart what he has to say. In college, I spent my first year abroad. Ultimately, I didn’t want to go to college. I was going through this weird time with my family, and I just wanted to get out and travel. From there, I went to the University of San Francisco, and I was struggling to decide what I should pursue a career in. I had interests in being an animal rights or environmental activist. Over Thanksgiving, my brother and I were in Chicago and he basically told me that I should give music more of a shot career-wise and focus on it more. He suggested that I live in New York and see what that was like. That was a very pivotal and important conversation, and it influenced my trajectory.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Witness.” What was the inspiration behind the song?
Ali: “Witness” is off my new album, Blood. I call it a family concept album because each song represents my experience in the family. There are eight tracks total, and each focuses on a different family member and my experience with them and/or what we might’ve been through. I’m the only girl, and I was the youngest growing up.

I was in Atlanta writing most of these songs—not all of them. I’ve always been drawn to the South. There are so many layers and different things about it that I find haunting and beautiful. So while writing “Witness,” I was listening to Mahalia Jackson, and she inspired the melody. I realized that it was really connected to the same brother who had a very tumultuous childhood. Even though I wasn’t alive during the beginning years of his life, I’ve always felt like we were soulmates. I always wanted to keep him safe and give him unconditional love. That was the seed of the song. It grew into my passion for wanting all children to be safe and have the nurturing that they need.

PC: With this being such a personal project, did that add a different weight/pressure?
Ali: There’s a pressure that I put on myself. I find that it was challenging to write about someone that I have a deep, complex relationship with. I really want to do justice and honor these people. It was a really interesting, cathartic process.

PC: Has your family heard the entire album? What have their reactions been?
Ali: Most of them have heard the songs that have come out. They’re really supportive. They really love it. It’s cool to have conversations and answer questions that they might have about certain songs.

PC: What did you learn about yourself during this process?
Ali: I learned so much. I learned that I have a voice that’s worth hearing and that I deserve to be seen. I can be of service through my creativity, and it can affect people in a positive, powerful way if I allow it to. As a person and as a woman, I’m learning so many things and creating new pathways. It’s been a true test of trust and faith. There were so many times that I wanted to give up, but I kept going.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ali: I have a wide range of different types of artists that I love. I tend to revert back to Motown, jazz standards, and blues. As far as new artists, I’ve been really into Daniel Caesar. I love Solange. I love Beyoncé. I also really love Latin music. I love listening to Marc Anthony and Cuban salsa music.

PC: First album you bought?
Ali: That’s hard to say. When I was little, I had a lot of CDs that were from musicals and soundtracks. Then I had Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Spice Girls. Then in high school, my brother—another brother—as well as the one that I’ve been talking about, gave me a lot of music that I hadn’t listened to like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Rolling Stones, and Electric Light Orchestra. I also got into Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann. I went through a lot of phases.

PC: First concert you attended?
Ali: Paul McCartney. I went to the concert with my dad instead of going to my freshman homecoming dance.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Ali: Off the top of my head, I would say Fiona Apple. Both of her first two albums—Tidal and When the Pawn… changed my life with her words. What I miss about CDs are the liner notes. Also The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. They’re both extremely powerful women who are fighting for the rights of women. Their words are like poetry to me. Their voices are stunning.

To keep up with Ali, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.