PAY YOUR DUES

Blake Appelqvist (they/them) is a Naarm-based artist making alternative R&B through expansive production, soulful vocals and intimate songwriting. Following the release of CALI and IKYLT, Blake has introduced a sound that feels both expansive and singular, ahead of their debut EP arriving this November. Rooted in queer storytelling and shaped by the intimacy and emotional precision of theatrical musicianship, their music moves between atmospheric pop, electronic textures and soulful R&B to create a world entirely their own. Song Info: PAY YOUR DUES came from an encounter I had with someone who had their life planned out, but still wanted me - despite having mapped out the rest of his life. As queer people, we’re often building our own blueprint, because society has not built one for us. Attraction gets tricky when you’re falling for someone who’s following a future that doesn’t always leave room for you, or their complexity. This song sits in that contradiction and was recorded alongside my entire EP in a 4 day creative sprint with my producer and collaborator Stu (Self Tape).