Blair Davie Talks New EP, Favourite Instruments And More

Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie has released their new EP, First And Last, out now via Giant Music. We wanted to find out more about the new EP: 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

I had a kids cassette player and I remember putting in a cassette of a traditional Scottish pipeband and hearing the bagpipes blast out the cassette player. If my dad hadn’t started guitar lessons and I hadn’t fallen in love with it, I may have ended up playing the bagpipes! 

When did you begin songwriting?

I was maybe 8 years old when the first songs started arriving. I don’t know if at that point I was even consciously aware of the act of “writing” a song, I was just kind of doing it instinctively, it was a need! 

You have your new EP ‘First and Last’ out now. How did you want to approach the making of the EP?

With a lot of love and care! I knew I wanted to go to a residential studio so that I could live and breathe the songs and completely immerse myself in the world of it.  

Where did you record the EP and who produced it? 

It was produced by Edd Holloway and recorded at the beautiful Middlefarm Studios. I had written a lot over the last year with Edd and I loved the way we worked together when we would demo the songs at the end of every day. We have a trust in each other and a trust the process that makes it all super streamlined and instinctual. And I never could have imagined how much impact Middlefarm would have on the project. Such an amazing space with the kindest souls and an incredible history. 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

My first thought when I think about those 8 days recording the EP is getting to share the experience with my little brother, who was the videographer/photographer for the sessions. With us both being adults and me living in London now, we don’t see each other half as much as I’d like. But I got to share those beautiful 8 days with him and it was magical. At the end of each day, when everyone else had gone to bed, we would sit in the kitchen at watch back all the footage from the day and just laugh hysterically at all the hilarious moments that had happened. They were some of the happiest nights I’ve ever had. 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

You’d have to ask Edd! I think we used a U67 on my vocal and most of the acoustic guitar on the record is my precious Martin. 

Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective? 

I think the song Crashing The Car is the song that covers the widest range of emotions. It’s got the joy of falling in love balanced with the fear that it might slip away from you. 

Who were the musicians who were on the EP with you?

I had the wonderful Mat Swales on drums and he was also the chef, what an amazing combo. It was engineered by an incredible human named Soren Bryce who also added some BVs and ambience. I also had my brother and one of my best friends Mark Prendergast add some additional BVs. Everything else I think I played myself. I’m a bit of a control freak in that way and I love getting stuck into the arrangements. 

Does the EP’s title have a specific meaning/significance? 

The EP is basically a love story from that first point that you meet them to forever. All the steps you go through together – running off into the sunset, moving in to your first apartment, first dance and then realising that this is a love that will never fade. 

 

Was it a difficult EP to write?

No, in fact it’s probably the easiest set of songs I’ve ever had to write. I think these songs were just in my heart, waiting to come out. 

Who designed the EP artwork?

I did! I had this idea of all of the artworks being these little time capsule Polaroids. Then I thought why don’t we stick them all on a fridge with little fridge magnet letters and take a pic! I had the lovely Henry Croston do all the pics and videos for the whole project and he captured it all perfectly. 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

My hometown is Perth, Scotland. My five words would be – 

Honest

Kind

Beautiful 

Family 

Community 

How do you look after your voice?

When we were making the EP I was taking a lot of Strepsils and drinking endless amounts of lemon, ginger, honey and hot water. 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025/2026?

Oh yes! I’m opening for Skerryvore, a brilliant modern-trad Scottish band, on their UK tour in a couple weeks and then ending the year with my own headline tour of the UK in December, I’m so excited. And then 2026 for me is just about playing everywhere I possibly can. 

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I don’t think I’ll ever leave the stage if I can help it! But my one dream is just to be able to go to different places in the world and have people sing my lyrics back to me, 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

It’s just me and my Martin and that’s how it will be for a while I think, I like it that way. Sound engineers love me for it too! 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

The Catcher In The Rye. Might be a bit cliché, English teacher classic but I’ve always been drawn to coming of age / rite of passage stories and I think Catcher is the best of them. 

One of the tracks is ‘Coming Back Babe’. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

Coming Back Babe is the start of the story. You might the person that you know is about to change your life and you decide to run away with them. You know, “tell my mum I love her, but I’m off! See ya!” 

Do you have any visualisers to accompany the music?

Yeah we made a couple music videos that I love! I really enjoyed the process and I’m looking forward to making more and really diving in to the story telling aspect. 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I’m a bit weird when it comes to music, I don’t really listen to a lot of stuff these days, so I wouldn’t really say I’m actively influenced by anyone. Of course I’m influenced subconsciously by everything I’ve loved all my life, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Katy Perry, Dr Hook, Tom Odell etc but I’m not sure how heavily it informs my process. Right now however, like everyone else I know, I am loving Adrianne Lenker. Everything she does is golden. 

What makes Blair Davie happy and what makes you unhappy?

Oh gosh how deep should I go..? I’ll go not deep. I’m in LA right now and yesterday I had a basque cheesecake and it was delicious beyond words. Basque cheesecake makes me happy. 

Slow walkers in London make me unhappy. But also good for you for taking your time and enjoying a slower pace. I just wish you would enjoy your slower pace on the other side of the road hehe x

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Dawbell PR

Blair Davie’s new EP, ‘First And Last’ is out now via Giant Music.

Listen Here: https://found.ee/FirstAndLastEP

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blairdaviemusic/#

Upcoming 2025 UK & Ireland Dates:

November 2025

(Supporting Skerryvore)

● Fri 07 Nov – Perth, UK – Concert Hall

● Thu 13 Nov – Carlisle, UK – Old Fire Station

● Fri 14 Nov – Newcastle, UK – Boiler Shop

● Sat 15 Nov – Stroud, UK – Sub Rooms

● Sun 16 Nov – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall

● Tue 18 Nov – Bury St Edmunds, UK – The Apex

● Wed 19 Nov – Southampton, UK – The Brook

● Thu 20 Nov – Shrewsbury, UK – Theatre Severn

● Fri 21 Nov – Holmfirth, UK – Picturedrome

● Sat 22 Nov – Bridlington, UK – Bridlington Spa

● Sun 23 Nov – Settle, UK – Victoria Hall

December 2025

● Tue 09 Dec – London, UK – Folklore Hoxton

● Thu 11 Dec – Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut

● Fri 12 Dec – Dublin, Ireland – The Workman’s Club

● Sat 13 Dec – Manchester, UK – The Castle