Bland describes her music career journey from being an unknown indie artist to rising success. She enjoys expressing her emotions through song lyrics but finds performing in front of large audiences challenging due to shyness. Ed Sheeran has been hugely influential on her success by teaching her songwriting, and they may collaborate on future songs. Bland is excited to perform at the Reading Festival next year alongside Sheeran.

1. Not only does Bland have a dream to change music as we know it, she describes herself as a down to earth normal person. She allows her
personality to reflect in her music resulting in a closer relationship with her fans, as by listening to her music they get t o know her and some of
the experiences that she has gone through. As she is an indie artist she enjoys making her music sound individual and as different as possible,
however she does love expressing her emotions through the lyrics in her songs. IND found out more about this rising gem in an all revealed
interview.
Give me an impression of what it was like starting as a new musician?
Well, where do I start? Everything changes, people start to notice you when you’re out, ask for autographs and pictures and i t all just feels so
sudden. I mean it feels like just yesterday that I would be going down to the local shop in my tracksuit bottoms looking like I’ve just rolled out of
bed. But now, unless I want those awful pictures all over the internet, I actually have to make an effort all the time!
So do you net enjoy the consistent make overs?
Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing that I can now get a team of people to do my make up on a daily basis but on the other hand, I love my lazy
days. I do defiantly miss those, I don’t get any anymore.
What is the hardest thing about your new career?
I would possibly say the confident issue, I get embarrassed and sky when it comes to singing in front of a large audience or even having photo-shoots
in a room full of people. I think it will take me quite a long to become accustomed to having all eyes on me. But that’s always been part of
my personality, I’ve always been quite shy, even as a young child.
Then what is your favourite aspect of what you do?
I love all of it I really do, even when my confidence issue kicks in, I still enjoy every second of it. Just knowing that I am doing what I love and
making other people happy with my own music is the most satisfying thought in the world. It has all been my dream come true.
Your new song, what is it all about?
Well, the inspiration for Lunar Moon came from a secret love of mine, I love science fiction, vampires, werewolf’s, witches. Any film or series
with any mystical creatures in, I have most likely seen it. I have loved this genre ever since I can remember, so this is whe re this song stemmed
from, and as I have already said, I like my fans to be able to get to know me as a person, I don’t like those pop songs that have silly lyrics with no
meaning, it’s pointless.
What is your relationship with Ed Sheeran like?
Without Ed I honestly don’t think that I would be sitting her today, and I would 100% not be as successful as I am without him. He taught me
how to write my own music, without that I would still be posting music of myself on YouTube of other artists covers . Now I’m able to write my
own material and become a real musician. I owe a lot to Sheeran, he is still one of my closest friends.
It’s been rumoured that you and him could be joining up and writing a few songs together, is there any truth to this?

2. Well without giving too much away, yes we have been talking about it and we have met up a few times, possibly coming up with a few ideas but
nothing is definite yet. You will have to wait and see.
What are you working on at the moment, are there any new singles or even albums on the horizon?
Well yeah, I am forever writing down ideas and a few song lyrics but nothing serious at the moment, however then is something else that I am
quite excited to be preparing for…
Come on, we have to know now?!
Well it is supposed to be exclusive information but I can’t hold it in any longer, I’m excited to be in the line -up for the reading festival next year,
me and a close friend are indeed performing together and I’ll leave there name out and let you guess, but I think it will be a pretty easy
prediction. His strawberry blonde and that’s your only clue.
Yes we think we know who you mean, does that mean you will be performing facing the stage?
Yes, I am trying my very best to do performances now, I don’t think that I will ever get to the point of having my own concerts but performing at
festivals I think I can handle. Not to mention who doesn’t love festivals? I can perform and then join the crowd!
We would also like to talk about your quit controversial opinion of rap music, can you explain your opinion?
Yes, I suppose that is one of the only things a have a very strong opinion and dislike about, I hate rap, I can honestly say I dislike almost any form
of rap. I’m not talking about fast sections of songs, I’m talking about when you hear a song say on the radio, that you cannot sing along to
because all of the lyrics are said too fast that can’t even be understood. I find it so irritating.
But in a way, wouldn’t you class you friend and musician Ed Sheeran as slightly rap orientated?
Yes, but no matter how fast he speaks in his songs, his lyrics can always be understood and learnt, I don’t mind music like that.
You’ve had a little bit of ‘hate mail’ from this opinion of yours haven’t you?
Well, with any strong opinion when you’re in my position in the media, you’re going to get people that agree, and others that disagree but it
doesn’t affect me at all. Anything horrible I read about me I just blank out, it doesn’t affect me what so ever.
Now, getting back to the music side of things, who is your favourite female musician?
Lana Del Rey, without a doubt. She is so inspirational, her style is exquisite and her music is phenomenal. The meaning behind her songs are
what truly provoke my love for her. I would love, one day to co-produce a song with her.
We know that your latest album has been quite popular, how well has it been doing exactly?
Well I have sold over a million which I am extremely proud of, especially for a breakthrough artist like myself. And two of the songs did also
reach number one in the charts.
Is it true that the title ‘Singer-Songwriter’ means a lot to you?
Yes of course it does, over everything, I think that title is truly my greatest achievement, to be able to do the both, sing and be singing my own
material. Not just do be singing lyrics that mean nothing to me personally and come from another’s mind and not my own.