rlyblonde on Her Debut EP “Fantasy” and the Turbulent Notions of a Packed City
Carina Allen, also known as, rlyblonde, is certainly no stranger to the New York creative scene. From her polychromous music videos and photography to building an alternative music portfolio for herself, Allen has recently released her debut EP, Fantasy, after 2 years in the making. Encapsulating the complete opposite of biting your tongue, tracks like “My Way” and “Hot Girls Always Win” forge Allen’s stance on the baggage that comes with living in a big city (backed by infectious guitar introductions). Whether it’s behind the camera or staging a set with the outcome of a sonic atmosphere, rlyblonde takes all of Allen’s gifts and merges it onto one.
Contributing writer Alyanna Moralda had the chance to chat with fellow New Yorker Carina Allen about the opportunities this city offers while reflecting on the balance that exists with being a multidisciplinary artist and the inspirations that contribute to her songwriting from the former.
Alyanna Moralda: Hi Carina! It is so lovely to be sharing this time with you! How is everything?
Carina Allen (rlyblonde): “Hello! Everything is going! Keeps on going and doesn’t stop! No, but in all seriousness I’m good. I’m busy, as I tend to be. The summer is off to a pretty good start. “
AM: Your debut EP “Fantasy” was released on platforms earlier this June! Congratulations on such an achievement! How are you taking in the praise to this singer-songwriter process, after years of juggling photography, videography, and creative directing?
CA: “Thank you so much, it’s certainly been a whirlwind. I’ve felt a little bit like I’ve been living on my own weird planet for the past two years dreaming this whole thing up in private, and it’s been very surreal to finally have it out in the world. Juggling various artistic mediums has at once been a huge asset and also a huge challenge, but having people that are sticking by me while I shape-shift and try new stuff is really keeping me going.”
AM: Your first single “Fantasy” was announced towards the end of January, and I assume, with intention, released on Valentine's day after! You dive head first, beginning the song with “First dates are getting boring. Reciting all my bits and lines.” Being based in Brooklyn and New York City (I am too, by the way!), does the dating scene here reflect your lyrics? Are the people “just super fucking bland” as you put it? Tell me the horrors and sweet moments that you feel comfortable with!
CA: “Hahah, listen, I think anyone who’s faced single life for any significant period of time has been on terrible dates, certainly we’ve all done the dreaded swipe-swipe-swipe for hours all to no avail. I don’t find dating apps super conducive to actual connection, and for many years I found myself tolerating the whole process by making a bit of a game of it. I found it entertaining to perform this… idealized form of femininity; this dream girl character who could kind of win over anybody… and it basically worked, but it got really old after a while. Then for a while I was literally going on dates with guys just assuming they would fuck it up somehow, purposefully waiting for the shoe to drop so I could make art about it. Great material, but it became really emotionally draining and just... a waste of my time. I was like, I can’t keep doing this, but I’m also not connecting with anyone in a real way, and to be honest I’m craving something different.
After many flop relationships, awful heartbreaks, and eventually two months of dating a guy I had zero chemistry with just because he took me to concerts, I finally cracked and wrote “Fantasy.” I look back and now realize how pivotal the whole thing was, to write this song and embody it, and to also really step back and reassess what I wanted out of love, life, and romance. Now I’m finally dating women like I probably should’ve been the whole time, and things are a lot better. Hindsight is 20/20!”
AM: Shortly after the release of the single “Fantasy,” you played your first public live show! The venue, The Tubs, is a basement with some of the coolest wired setups in Brooklyn. How was that experience for you? Did it live up to the standards you may have set for yourself, and how did it feel to share a space with your fellow upcoming musicians?
CA: “We actually played a release show at Heaven Can Wait in the East Village when “Fantasy" first came out, which was super fun. But it was a bit of a comfort knowing all the people showing up were my friends and family. Everyone really came out just to celebrate and have a good time. Playing publicly for strangers at The Tubs I was definitely nervous, but it was sorta nostalgic to play in a basement venue for the first time. It brought me back to college, to going to underground shows and the like. I think for a while, a lot of me felt like I was too old to pursue music, or that I had missed the chance to do this sort of stuff, so to be able to have these experiences, however big or small, feels really incredible. It’s always cool to meet other bands and artists locally, that’s why I love going to shows already. Now it’s cool because I get to really be a part of it.”
AM: I wanted to commend you on your direction for the “Spiltmilk” and “Hot Girls Always Win” promotional photos! The “Hot Girls Always Win” single cover resembles one of Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, but in an angsty manner. Likewise for the “Spiltmilk” single cover where it reminds me of Sky Ferreira’s photo for her song “One.” What is your approach to the music videos and photoshoots that you direct yourself? Do you like to make parallels to other forms of entertainment?
CA: “Thank you! Awesome references and high praise! I definitely was going for a Carrie or Hole type of moment for the HGAW cover. I think a lot of my inspiration definitely comes from movies, other iconic musicians over the years, etc. I’m kind of in the camp that nothing is original anymore, so why not do your own take on things? I have always really loved dressing up for self-portraits in crazy outfits and almost drag-style makeup. For me it’s a way to be larger than life, to be the girl I am when I’m home alone rocking out in my living room. I think being a music artist is such a cool opportunity to embody a character, an inflated version of yourself. Kind of like what I was doing in my real life on dates, but now instead it’s creative, and not draining.”
AM: From Jean-Luc’s “Green Light” to Lady OFLO’s “BETTER” music videos, along with some promos that you have done, which by far was your favorite experience to direct? What was the process of assembling a vision(s) alongside the aforementioned artists? Was it as simple as compiling Pinterest mood boards, or sketching everything by hand?
CA: “Selfishly, I have to say that self-directing my “Fantasy” music video has been my favorite project by far, but of course I’m biased! It was just such a dream project, and it was truly my vision from start to finish. I started with the Bachelorette spoof idea and went from there, making moldboards for styling, makeup, set design, etc. I then incorporated everything into an overarching deck that also included a beat by beat shot list with references from other music videos to flesh out the vision, including transitions, camera movements, framing etc. I feel really proud of that project and feel like it embodies me as an artist really well. I hope I can continue to deliver similar caliber work as an artist, although it is really challenging.
I do have a special place in my heart for the first video I directed with Jean-Luc in 2018, called “Would You Leave?” We were babies in the city, truly, and barely knew what we were doing, but JL really trusted me with the video and we managed to make something really fun. We had a similar process, he brought me initial ideas and a general mood board and we fleshed out the rest of the shot list to tell the full story. All the projects with him have been really fun & challenging, the “Somebody” video was another one that was a full on beast but I’m really proud of the final product.”
AM: I hate to pull up the archives — although this one isn’t too old, I saw a TikTok where you mentioned that you were having a meltdown about your career paths in life and how art is hard labor (which it is). Like your track “Alone” where you say, “Why’s it so hard to go when the party is over? I’ll be staring at my phone riding home in the Uber,” how do you find solace in the Big Apple, especially where art and romance thrive here?
CA: “Oh, I’m always having a career crisis. I don’t think it ends, honestly. It’s weird juggling music, photography, and creative production. I’m playing a show one night, in the photo studio the next day, then shooting a wedding on the weekend, then taking calls with other artists all week and prepping their shoots, then going to shoot a concert, then writing my own music in any spare time I have. I feel a little crazy a lot of the time. I don’t know what the next few years will look like, and I’m sure things will evolve and shift, but I’m just going to keep working hard and putting my energy into the things I love.
I think I find solace being in New York because it allows that much opportunity, it allows me to pursue all these things at once so I can in turn, keep them all moving. You can always try something new here just by reaching out to someone or going to an event, which I think is so cool. I stay inspired by going to shows all the time, live music just really keeps me present and excited and it’s always happening in the city. I have also just managed to build a really beautiful circle of friends, lovers, and creative collaborators over the past couple years here and I really cherish my little bubble of New York.”
AM: Since we are nearing the end of Pride month, have there been some LGBTQ+ artists and other forms of media that have resurfaced back to your heart?
CA: “I think this has been the first year I’ve felt properly out and enjoying Pride month as a queer gal and as a queer artist. It’s been so affirming and beautiful to feel like there is this community that I’m welcome in, one that I’ve basically already been in and around for years. I got to shoot the “Fletcher & Friends” Pride Festival at Stone Pony in New Jersey with Olivia O’Brien and UPSAHL. It was just so fun to be there, celebrating with this huge crowd of queer folks and rocking out to these badass queer pop girls. Huge #goals. I’ve also been loving the new albums from The Aces, Arlo Parks, and Sir Chloe. There’s so much depth and dimension in the queer existence and hearing everyone’s beautiful interpretations of their own individual experiences is super inspiring.”
AM: With a badass debut like Fantasy, can listeners expect another single coming soon? Or more shows within the East Coast area?
CA: “Hoping to have a new single ready by the fall, although no promises! I’m definitely overdue for a break, I’m really trying to enjoy my down moments of the summer to just live and experience life. Need new experiences in order to make more music, you know? I have an NYC show coming up on August 24th with @sadgirlhoursnyc at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn! I’m also hoping to organize a show in LA this October! There’s lots more in the works, but I’m trying to be really intentional with everything.”
AM: Where else can our audiences at Periphery find you, and engage with your works?
CA: “You can find me on various platforms listed below! For music, photo, and general vibes can find me on ig at @rlyblonde, and for creative production, photography, and video direction, you can find me at @hotcreative.xyz :)”
Periphery Magazine thanks Carina Allen for her contribution and wishes her luck with her future releases! You can find her on social media and streaming platforms here:
Instagram: @rlyblonde
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlyblonde
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rlyblonde
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/00krjiFaGjIHL9VKUwtITg?si=n16Q7eNVSvKDBAPOkmznpA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rlyblonde/1664268329
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rlyblonde?feature=shares
Website: https://rlyblonde.com/
More Socials: https://linktr.ee/rlyblonde
Cover photo courtesy of Carina Allen (@rlyblonde)
If you are interested in being featured in Periphery Magazine’s interview series surrounding interesting people in creative roles, please contact Madison Case at theperipheryzine@gmail.com.