BLAB

Name, where are you from?
Fran aka BLAB, Southend, Essex.

Describe your style in three words?
Cosy, punk, nan.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Courtney Barnett at a festival a few years ago and she was so incredible. I’ve been super inspired by her for ages so I had a grand time balling my eyes out to 'Depreston'.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Bikini Kill, because I am so in awe of everything they’ve done and continue to do. I’d also love to play on a lineup with IDLES. They’re easily one of my favourite modern punk bands. They have such a great energy.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Riot grrrl is a big one for me. I watched 'The Punk Singer' and found out about all the riot grrrl bands when I was about seventeen and I felt like I’d found a way to channel my anger and express my experiences. I started skating recently over the pandemic and it’s really helped me learn more about myself and accept who I am. I love getting outdoors and I love how skating merges art, culture, music and fashion. Everything about it has really clicked on a deep level for me. I feel really at home there more than I do in most places. Also emo, I realised that as a teenager I repressed the emo side of me but now I’m living it fully in my twenties haha.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Dave Grohl because not only is he a great musician but he seems to have such a positive energy about everything he’s part of. I’d love to be in the room and just see him cracking on with recording a Foo’s record and joking about.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I like the Sebright Arms in Bethnal Green. A few of my pals have played there and after the show’s over we’ve done karaoke upstairs in the pub. I have this memory of this bloke doing this intense rendition of 'Wuthering Heights' by Kate Bush, on a mad one, holding a bottle of wine with sunglasses on and I can honestly say it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Kathleen Hanna. No explanation needed. She’s the coolest person ever and she’s super badass.

BLAB recently released her new single 'Gemini' which you can listen, purchase or stream via lnk.to/GeminiBLAB.

BLAB will also release her debut EP 'Word Of Mouth' on 26th November 2021. You can pre-save it here or pre-order a physical copy here.

For more information visit linktr.ee/FRANBLABS.