Carsie Blanton

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Carsie Blanton
Carsie Blanton at Milkboy
Carsie Blanton at Milkboy
Background information
Birth nameCarson Amanda Blanton
Born (1985-07-22) July 22, 1985 (age 36)
OriginLuray, Virginia
GenresSinger-songwriter, rock music, folk, jazz
Occupation(s)Vocalist, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2005–present
LabelsIndependent
Associated actsDevon Sproule, The Wood Brothers, Anaïs Mitchell, Mark Erelli
Websitewww.carsieblanton.com

Carson Amanda "Carsie" Blanton (born July 22, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter based in New Orleans, who performs on guitar. Blanton has released six studio albums and three EPs, all with a "pay what you please" pricing strategy. Blanton wrote "My true calling as an artist is to share…What I actually want to do is make beautiful music and then give it to everyone, regardless of what they give me back".[1]

Gene Shay called her "one of the best singer/songwriters in the business."[2]

Blanton says she writes "a lot about sexuality and gender and a little bit about politics as well."[3]

Early life[]

Carsie Blanton grew up on a former cattle farm in Luray, Virginia. She underwent homeschooling and her parents were hippies.[4] She began taking piano lessons at age 6, and playing guitar and writing songs at age 13.

In 2002, at age 16, Blanton went to live in a group house with other artists and musicians in Eugene, Oregon.[5] In Eugene, she sang back-up vocals for a touring funk group, took up swing dancing, and started her first band, The Short Skirts.

Career[]

Blanton recorded and self-released her first album Hush in 2002. Her first studio album Ain't So Green, produced by Steve Van Dam of Everything, followed in 2005.

In 2006, Blanton relocated from Eugene to Philadelphia to pursue her music career full-time. She began working with manager Bill Eib (Amos Lee, Mutlu Onaral), and by 2007 she was playing over 100 live shows a year.

In 2008, along with Jon Darvill, Blanton created Quidplayer, an embeddable "pay what you please" MP3 player and store.[6]

In 2010, Blanton performed live on NPR's nationally syndicated program, Mountain Stage,[7] and opened for The Weepies,[8] and Shawn Colvin.[9]

In February 2011, Blanton toured with Anaïs Mitchell's Hadestown, playing the role of Head Fate.[10]

In November 2011, Blanton opened several shows on Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What tour.[11]

In 2013, she ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund her album Not Old, Not New, raising over $60,000.[12]

In 2019, she released Buck Up, which Ken Tucker, reviewing the album for NPR's Fresh Air, called "delightfully surprising".[13]

Discography[]

Year Album
2002 Hush
2005 Ain't So Green
2009 Buoy
2010 Beau EP
2012 Idiot Heart
2014 Not Old, Not New
2016 So Ferocious
2019 Buck Up
2021 Love & Rage

References[]

  1. ^ "Carsie Blanton (3 Albums, 20 Tracks)". Free Music Archive.
  2. ^ Maros, Ahrre (March 18, 2010). "Carsie Blanton & Victoria Vox Perform at the Watchung Arts Center!". Patch Media.
  3. ^ ALLEMAN, ANNIE (March 7, 2018). "Singer Carsie Blanton likes to talk about sex". Chicago Tribune.
  4. ^ Hoffman, K. Ross. "Carsie Blanton". AllMusic.
  5. ^ JANCI, JENELLE (February 22, 2017). "Carsie Blanton to show off independent spirit at Lancaster Roots & Blues". LNP.
  6. ^ Nagy, Rob (October 4, 2012). "Philly's own Carsie Blanton returns to Steel City". The Mercury (Pennsylvania).
  7. ^ "Carsie Blanton on Mountain Stage". NPR. September 30, 2012.
  8. ^ Benson, John (November 1, 2010). "Married indie-pop duo The Weepies, now parents, return with reflective album". The News-Herald (Ohio).
  9. ^ Latner, Ann W. (February 13, 2011). "Shawn Colvin Serenades Sold-Out Landmark Audience". Patch Media.
  10. ^ MCDONALD, SAM (February 15, 2011). "Songwriter Anais Mitchell brings "Hadestown" folk opera to Norfolk". Daily Press (Virginia).
  11. ^ Davis, Hays (December 1, 2011). "Paul Simon Still Approaches His Songs with Enthusiasm". The News & Advance.
  12. ^ Wannop, David W. (October 9, 2013). "Carsie Blanton set to jazz it up at Steel City in Phoenixville". The Mercury (Pennsylvania).
  13. ^ Tucker, Ken (March 21, 2019). "Carsie Blanton Is Delightfully Surprising On Buck Up". NPR. Retrieved April 26, 2021.

External links[]

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