Released just a few days ago, this debut single from Blueprint Tokyo is doing well, with well over 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. We caught up with Andy from the band.
Can you tell us a bit about Blue Print Tokyo? Where are you all from and how did you all meet?
Kevin [Dawson] and I [Andy Hale] met after bands we were each in folded. We formed a band and released an EP that started taking off. We quickly found ourselves on bigger shows, getting label interest, performing at festivals like SXSW and others. We finished up another EP, and shortly after releasing it, Kevin was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease. It made standing, not to mention playing or touring, extremely painful. So right on the verge of becoming full-time musicians, we put things on hold. He found himself at 27, needing a total hip replacement. For someone so young, it was pretty nuts. It was a tough battle to regain his strength and get healthy again, not to mention the financial ramifications. Fast forward a bit of time, and Kevin and I wanted to start fresh. It was free of any baggage, any particular sounds, and we could hit the reset button.
If you had to sum each band member up in one word, what would you say?
Blueprint Tokyo is Kevin Dawson and Andy Hale. Kevin is curious, and Andy is thoughtful.
You recently released your debut single Panic Carefully. What does this song mean to you, as a band?
For us, it’s really about the future and how we view growth and looking ahead.
Panic Carefully deals with anxiety and the feelings of panic that [we] get in everyday life. Those can be big or small, and that they never really leave, but you can deal with them.
Is this a hint at more new music on the way?
Absolutely, more music is on the way. We’ll be releasing more singles over the coming months alongside an EP.
Who, would you say, are some of your biggest musical influences? Do you feel like their sound blends into yours?
We have a wide range of musical influences. We both grew up heavily influenced by the “oldies” stations playing The Beatles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Fleetwood Mac, The Cars, The Eagles, and others. And we also love bands like The Silversun Pickups, Explosions in the Sky, Muse, Appleseed Cast, Phoenix, The Cure, Interpol, White Lies, and Foals. We recognized pretty early on to trust our sound and let it happen organically. But bands like Depeche Mode, The Cars or The Cure certainly helped shape our early musical tastes for textured guitars and synths.
To me, Panic Carefully reminds me of a lot of new British Indie music. How is your sound being reacted to by a mostly American audience?
We love British Indie music, so we’re delighted you picked up on those influences. Music crosses borders much more freely now, and as long as it resonates emotionally with a person, that’s the most important thing. It seems like our sound is being embraced, and we hope it will continue as the song continues streaming and getting radio airplay.
Are there any plans to play live, when it is safe to do so?
We want to perform live when it’s safe.
What would you say to young bands/artists as advice when looking to make music?
We would say trust your instincts, focus on the song, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In our previous band, we were burnt early on with a bad contract. So it’s also always acceptable to say no.
Where can we find out more about you?
Our official website is blueprinttokyo.com. Our music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and others.
I’d like to thank Andy for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him and Kevin the best of luck for the future
TrueStyleMusic 