U.S. political singer-songwriter and general rabble rouser for good, Carsie Blanton returns with new single ‘My Good Friends’ on Friday 3rd November. 

The single is the third to be taken from her forthcoming new album After The Revolution, due for release on 21st March 2024. 

An honorary Irish person at this stage, Carsie returns to our shores this November for a string of her own shows, in addition to opening for Declan O’Rourke on his extensive Irish tour across Ireland between 27th October and 25th November. 

1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
John Prine, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon were on regular rotation in my household of origin. I remember my mom putting on Bonnie Raitt's 'Nick of Time' in the morning to wake me up, and I'd come screaming out of bed to dance. For my thirteenth birthday, my Grandpa sent me a stack of jazz CDs - Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald. The single greatest gift anyone's ever given me.

2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
Young, hot, good. (That's the chant my band and I do pre-show... "We're young! We're hot! We're young, we're hot, we're good!")

3. How do you wind down after a gig?
Usually I don't! Maybe once I can afford a tour manager and a roadie.... these days it's usually just sell merch, pack the van, drive somewhere and crash into a deathly slumber.

4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
'Born a Worm' by Dan Reeder.

5. What is your pet peeve?
People standing in the middle of the airport walkway or driving slow in the fast lane; lazy song lyrics; when somebody says "I'm not into politics".

6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see. 
Nina Simone's Here Comes the Sun, a mostly-live album of mostly covers, in which Nina attempts to create an alternate reality of joy, liberation, and revolutionary optimism through the power of totally sick grooves. Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed, a sci-fi novel about an earthlike planet which has a revolt against capitalism. And Dirty Dancing! I've loved that movie forever, but I love it even more ever since I learned that the screenwriters are two socialist women who decided that their radical ideas might gain more traction via a glittery pop culture vehicle. 

7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Tim Burton directing Helena Bonham Carter. Essentially it's just spooky Alice in Wonderland again but there's music, and behind the film is a torrid love affair.

8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Pork Lo Mein.

9. Describe your perfect day off.
Wake up at 11am. A handsome stranger brings me coffee and a chocolate croissant. Read a book for 2-3 hours. A bit of a snuggle. Jump in the ocean. Soak in a hot tub. A steak dinner with my best, funniest friends. Play a few songs in a pub with a pint, but Oscar Peterson is there to accompany me on piano. A different handsome stranger walks me home. Another snuggle, but then he leaves so I can sleep for fourteen uninterrupted hours.

10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
In between dirty jokes and sweet songs, I'll do my best to provide a bit of hope. It's a scary time on earth and we need each other.

BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.  
Upstream is a really good political one, from the belly of the beast (my home country of the USA). The Dream had an amazing first season, all about multi-level-marketing scams. Good craic!

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'My Good Friends' is released on November 3rd. Carsie Blanton tours Ireland throughout November - see here for full listings.