Q&A by Erandhi Mendis // Photography by Lucas Creighton
Bass virtuoso Blu DeTiger is bringing her debut tour down under. Already a favorite in her hometown’s Lower Manhattan scene, Blu’s journey from punk-loving teenager to global bass icon has been nothing short of meteoric. A fixture on TikTok with over 1.4 million followers, her bass videos—particularly of tracks like Figure It Out—went viral during the early days of the pandemic, cementing her as both a social media star and sought-after musician. As a collaborator, she’s worked with an eclectic range of artists, from our own indie pop sensation Mallrat to global talents like Chappell Roan and Mayer Hawthorne.
The Forbes 30-under-30 recipient’s debut All I Ever Want Is Everything (2023) was an eclectic success, melding funk with alt-pop, but it’s on stage where Blu’s versatility truly shines. Her signature electric-blue bass has become synonymous with high-energy performances, head-banging grooves, and a live presence that’s rare for an artist of her stature – breaking stereotypes and showing a new generation that bassists can be the main character—not just the backup. And now the New York City-born prodigy is bringing her infectious blend of funk, pop, and indie rock to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. In addition to her headline shows, Blu will also grace the stage at Kiama’s Changing Tides Festival, sharing the bill with local favorites like Hilltop Hoods and Ocean Alley.
Ahead of her tour, we caught up with Blu to chat about the record and the power of the bass.
Ramona: Let’s talk titles – All I Ever Want Is Everything, feels like a declaration of ambition and desire. How did that album name come about and what does it mean to you?
Blu: I like that the album title is a cheeky way of saying I want it all. It’s about the wide range of emotions that come with this life and learning how to love where you’re at.
You’ve mentioned in previous interviews that you’re influenced by a wide variety of genres, from pop to jazz and everything in between. Can you talk about any specific influences or musical risks you took on this album?
I explored a lot of different genres in the album which was very fun. I’ve been through a lot of different musical phases growing up; I started with rock, then funk, then jazz, then indie, then electronic, etc. I had a lot of fun exploring all of these influences and putting them together in a unique way that felt like me. The thru-line is the bass throughout everything. It’s always the emotional center for me in every song.
I’m such a huge bass fan and love what you’ve done putting bass in the spotlight. Did you ever feel any nerves about putting something that traditionally drives rhythm/keeps time so front and centre?
I wasn’t necessarily nervous about it, but I have had people advise me against it. Isn’t that crazy? People have tried to tell me or convince me that no one cares about the bass and that it should stay in the background. When I ultimately leaned into my natural inclination to bring the bass forward, it all started connecting.
You’re about to embark on your first Australian tour – what does it mean to you to take your music to this part of the world?
I’m especially excited because I’ve never been to Australia. I have a lot of connections to this part of the world and some of my favorite artists, collaborators, friends, and people I’ve opened for are from Australia: Mallrat, Flight Facilities, Anna Lunoe, GFlip.
There are some really impressive names on your resume, friends and collaborators from lots of different parts of the industry. Of all the people you’ve toured with and made music with – who has left a particular lesson that you’ve carried into this album/touring cycle?
I’ve taken away bits and pieces of advice and lessons from everyone I’ve collaborated with over the years. I’ve loved seeing how other artists lead their teams around them. When I was touring on bass with different artists that was the biggest takeaway – how to be professional and kind to the people you’re working with. I’m also really grateful I got to learn the ins and outs of the touring business and how all the behind the scenes worked before I started doing my own shows.
How do you balance your artistic vision with the pressures of the music industry and outside expectations? Social media has been great for your exposure – do you experience any drawbacks from this?
It’s really tough to balance, but I think everyone will always have their opinions and you can’t satisfy everyone. I try to just cater to my own expectations and really have my artistic vision come from within rather than other people imposing it on me. I’m grateful I’ve found success on social media, but it’s very fickle. I think it’s important to grow your business outside of that as well and not solely rely on the online. Building those in person connections is so important.
Your music has evolved a lot in a pretty short space of time. Looking back, how do you think you’ve grown as an artist from your first project to All I Ever Want Is Everything?
I’ve gotten way more comfortable in my skin and my voice. I feel like my sound has evolved as well and gotten more refined and toned. I’ve also just gotten more confident as an artist and experienced so much during that process that I feel way wiser in general.
One of my favourite songs of yours is Hey You – we’re excited to share your music with our listeners – if they’ve never heard your stuff before, what are your favourites to share with people?
Aw, thank you! I love “Hey You” too. My favorites change every day, but right now I would say “Night Shade”, “Blutooth,” and “Expensive Money.”
The music industry is a pretty rough place at the best of times, what advice would you have for young musicians who are trying to do something different?
Figure out what your vision is, hone it, and stay true to it. Dictate what you want your career to look like. And also practice, put the work in, and stay consistent 🙂
Perfect – thanks for chatting with us – we can’t wait to have you down under!
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BLU DETIGER
2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
with special guests Juno
For tickets and further information visit www.destroyalllines.com
Thursday 12th December – Valley Loft – Brisbane, QLD (18+)
Friday 13th December – Oxford Art Factory – Sydney, NSW (18+)
Saturday 14th December – Changing Tides Festival – Kiama, NSW (18+) *
Sunday 15th December – Stay Gold – Melbourne, VIC (18+)
