Sabrina Teitelbaum, aka Blondshell, has just release her new LP, Violins. Here, the LA-based alt-rock star reflects on four years at the ‘wonderful’ Partisan Records, retaining integrity in her music, and the joys and tolls of touring…
INTERVIEW: CHARLOTTE KROL
PHOTO: REESE LAYTON
It’s barely been a year since you released your second album and yet you already have a new one. What do you think has been the driver there?
“Writing is just a muscle. The more you work the muscle, the stronger you’ll be. I resonate with the idea that you get more comfortable with yourself as you age, and I’ll probably get even more settled into myself.”
What was your mission statement with Violins?
“I never have a mission statement when making music. The point of it is to feel better. There’s nothing that makes me happier than going through something difficult and ending up with this little gift: a song. That whole creative mission of turning different songs into a cohesive body of work makes me really happy and excited. I can always go back and analyse a record and think, ‘Oh yeah, this is really what I was talking about at the time.’”
You’ve worked with producer Yves Rothman on all your albums so far, why do you keep going back to him?
“It’s a really strong relationship. We have a similar way of making and hearing music, it’s our best asset working as a pair. Because of that, and because we’re friends with a history, there’s trust. It’s hard for me to trust people creatively because I have such strong preferences – it’s my music and I’d never want somebody else to change it in a way that isn’t how I hear it. Knowing that we see things similarly and that I trust him is the biggest thing.”
What does it mean to you to be signed to Partisan Records?
“Partisan are wonderful. I’m grateful that I made the decision to sign with them four years ago. It’s easy to make the wrong decision; you don’t really know what people are like until you’re actually in the weeds with them. I’m glad my instincts were right. Music draws in a lot of people wanting to do the glamorous side of the industry, and there ends up being a lot that’s adjacent to fame, money, etc. It’s really clear that Partisan are in it for the music.”
Did you ever consider going down the major label route?
“I met with lots of people, including indie and major labels. As a rule, I don’t think indie labels are always more ethical than majors. It depends on the indie and on the major – and a major label is just different. With Partisan, it was about the people. I wanted to make sure that whoever I signed with saw my potential as an artist, understood me, and was in it for the right reasons. There’s also more forgiveness and more leniency with timelines at an indie. There’s more willingness to be invested for longer and not see a really quick return on your investment. I’m glad because I don’t want to feel like, ‘Oh, is this music accessible to TikTok?’ That would be too hard for me, personally.”
Finally, how are you feeling about embarking upon your biggest tour dates so far?
“The tour is going to be pretty different. It’s never going to be big bells and whistles but I have new ideas about structuring it differently. By far the most growth you feel as an artist is through touring. It amplifies everything in your life: your personal relationships, your ambitions. And I’ve changed a lot through it. Each time you tour, you realise what your preferences and limits are. Touring, in general, is something that people need to discuss more. The reality of it is something some artists are afraid to show to fans, because it can make them look ungrateful for people showing up. That can be really detrimental to artists – particularly young ones starting out. Anyway, I’ve had many experiences trying to play every show possible, and my brain can want it, but my voice and body say otherwise. Prioritising things like sleep and mental wellbeing shows that I’ve figured out a little more of what’s possible for me.”
