Q&A: Blair Lee on Her Latest Single “Flower Mind,” Having a Green Thumb in Your Mind & Her Debut EP ‘The Puppy Game’

 

☆ BY GRAYSON KEGLOVIC ☆

Photo by Felice Trinidad

 
 

OUR MIND IS LIKE A GARDEN — It’s important to care for it like one. In her latest single, “Flower Mind,” Canadian singer-songwriter Blair Lee expresses the importance of tending to your mind as you would a garden. The single was the “grand finale” of teasers for her debut EP, The Puppy Game, released on Dec. 2. 

Known for vulnerability in her lyricism and the music industry, Lee gives listeners a look into her mind through her singles off the EP. In the past few months, Lee has released three singles in light of her December release that act as the beginning of the young artist’s foray into the music industry.

Luna sat down with Lee to learn more about the garden in her mind. Read below to hear more behind her single “Flower Mind,” her thoughts on the importance of mental health, and working with producer ModMaxx.

LUNA: You have to cultivate a garden frequently, and the same can be said for a person’s mind. What is your advice to those who don’t have a “green thumb” when it comes to mental health?

LEE: Ah, hmm… I could use some advice myself ;) I’d say one of the biggest things that have helped me is that I’m able to talk with more and more people about mental health, struggles, and life, and I feel connected to those who share their stories with me — whether it’s in person, online, through music, art, etc. It seems obvious, but it’s really important to remember that we’re not alone.

LUNA: Your debut EP is called The Puppy Game — how does the title of this EP relate to the meaning behind “Flower Mind”?

LEE: The Puppy Game is a game I used to play as a kid with my cousins and siblings. I think “Flower Mind” is related to its longing for change/healing — wanting to take care of my inner child.

LUNA: “Flower Mind '' was described as a song that “pulses like a heartbeat through narratives of wanting your own life to have as much color as other people seem to have.” Why did you choose to have a heartbeat mimicked in the single? What does the specific pulsation mean?

LEE: One of the main ideas behind the song is to keep going, even through the rough patches and dark days. I think a heartbeat represents that well — it’s the clock that keeps ticking as long as we’re alive. 

LUNA: Your new single, “Flower Mind,” can be described as the pruning of bad habits. Can you recall a time when you felt consumed by your “bad habits”? What did they consist of?

LEE: Ohh, it might be hard to choose :) Maybe when I was living alone, smoking weed and drinking wine almost every night by myself.

LUNA: How does “Flower Mind” differ from singles you have released in the past? Has your new sound developed since your 2019 releases?

LEE: I think it’s different in the way I use my voice in the chorus. I’m pushing it a little more. I think my sound is becoming clearer, maybe more chiseled in the mixes, and I do feel like a bit of a world is forming sonically. Still, lots of room to grow :)

LUNA: ModMaxx has produced for music legends like Drake, Roy Woods, and Tinashe. Describe the production process when working with him.

LEE: I’ve always liked the collaborative process with Max because he invites me to be myself and is very open-minded. We usually go back and forth when making up a song — with chord progressions, and instrumental ideas, etc., but once the initial demo has formed, he’ll spend hours and hours tweaking it.

LUNA: Would you say working with ModMaxx helped you evolve as an artist? If so, how?

LEE: Definitely. I had a lot of trouble finishing songs before we started working together, but I found my way with him.

LUNA: According to your press biography, your music is heavily focused on “the darkness that comes before the light.” Why is it important to acknowledge the dark?

LEE: A lot of my songs come from me struggling through something or trying to figure out a feeling. For me, dark moments can feel very, very dismal — and I know I’m not alone in that. To acknowledge those moments and to be curious about them means I don’t have to be so afraid of them. Hiding becomes exploring.

LUNA: The final single before the release of your debut EP was “Flower Mind.” Why did you choose this single as the “grand finale” before you shared the EP with the world?
LEE: This song is full of wanting — “wanna” be — the hope for change, improving me, or at least healing… Understanding that my goals are worth the effort, that I shouldn’t give up or stop believing in me in moments of sadness or self-doubt. I like that this song comes before “All Day” and “Last Bite” because I feel like both those songs are very accepting of what is versus reaching for something else.

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