Introducing: Pippa Blundell
Introducing:
Pippa Blundell
Glasgow-based songwriter Pippa Blundell quickly established herself as one of Scotland’s most compelling new voices. Her acclaimed debut album ‘Common Thread’, released in June last year, drew praise for its emotional honesty and poetic reflections on the many ways we experience love — confirming Blundell as an artist capable of pairing lyrical intimacy with quietly powerful songwriting.
In 2026, she returns with a more stripped-back approach. Her forthcoming acoustic EP Songs With James, due in April, captures Blundell at her most intimate: just two guitars, her voice, and the quiet atmosphere of a single afternoon recording session in a studio near Lochwinnoch. The project follows her haunting interpretation of the Burns ballad ‘Ca’ The Yowes’, and second single ‘Waning/Waxing’.
Having been recognised by the Scottish Album of the Year Awards and the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, and named Rising Star at the Scottish Jazz Awards in 2025, Blundell continues to carve out a singular space within Scotland’s songwriting tradition.
Ahead of the release of ‘Songs With James’, we catch up with Pippa about the method in her recordings, the beauty of restraint, and the power of simplicity.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Gates
When did this project start to feel like something substantial?
“It was probably when I played my first headline show, and the first time I ever played my music with the live band. I’d been gigging as a solo musician a lot before this… in pubs and clubs and supporting other artists so when I stepped out onto the stage that night and saw all the beautiful faces who had bought tickets to see us play it felt pretty damn substantial”.
Which track in your current catalogue feels most like a statement of intent, and why?
“I’d have to say “love her” from my debut album common thread. Lyrically it’s weird and wordy but also sweet and tender. It was a tune that wasn’t going to make it onto the record but I’m so glad it did. We built it up in the studio from the basic guitar and vocal part. Double layering the guitars… which has become a well-used method on this new EP. Added felted keys and delayed, sparkly electric guitar that sounds like it’s going through tape. At the end I added a voice note I had on my phone from my mum and it became such a special little song that summarises what I was trying to say with that record quite clearly”.
What usually comes first for you: lyrics, melody, rhythm, or atmosphere?
“Often when I’m walking words come to me like mantras and these are the beginnings of songs, themes or perhaps lyrics to a chorus. However, a lot of the time everything comes at once. In moments that some would call ‘divine inspiration’ when you have cleared away all the possible blockages to let that greater self of songwriting pour through… and you are merely the conduit. I’m trying to write every day at the moment and it allows this to happen more often”.
How has your environment—your city, scene, or isolation—shaped your sound?
“Glasgow, my beautiful home city has hugely shaped my sound, from the chaos of Friday night pints to beauty and solitude in the hills on the edge of town. I love this crazy city and it finds new ways of inspiring me every day. I’ve actually been away from Scotland for a few months to start writing my next album and find some new inspiration but I find that I’m writing even more heavily about Glasgow now that I’m away. It’s ridiculous, It’s a love story I’ll never get over”.
What role does collaboration play in your creative process?
“This answer has slowly shifted over the years; I started as a very solitary music maker and still am in many ways. I write all the songs and feel most comfortable doing this initial stage in isolation. Then over the years I’ve been piecing together the live band of folk whom I dearly trust emotionally but also dearly admire musically. However, the songs on this release songs with james never quite belonged with the band. It’s just me and, if you couldn’t guess, ‘james’. James has been a part of my musical journey for maaaany years now. From being in the empty crowds at my first ever gigs, then coming into the project as a guitarist, to now co-producing just about everything with me. We spend many evenings playing fingerstyle patterns together round and round in meditations. Using the twelve strings between us to create harmony that two hands alone could never do. It is my favourite way to write these days and this EP is six tunes of exactly that”.
What’s something that didn’t work early on but helped define who you are now?
“Being an independent artist. It's a long and challenging journey but it’s something I’m so proud of and empowered by. I have learnt so much in the past few years being independent. Especially, in an industry still so dominated by men it is really empowering to know what you’re talking about in spaces where people sometimes don’t think you do”.
What does your live show offer that listeners won’t get from the recordings?
“For the duo band you’ll hear a lot of James trying to flex his jazz chops on improvised sections (and succeeding). But in all seriousness across both the duo and full band setup we focus a lot on finding a true deep groove, we spend most rehearsals working on the cyclical time signatures that I tend to write into our bodies as a collective …and a lot of guitar tuning.”
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from playing shows so far?
“That honesty always wins. It is so important to me to be an authentic human telling stories and not playing the part of ‘artist on stage’. The songs are my stories and my artist name is my real name, it’s just me, no strings attached. I’ve seen people greeting their eyes out and hugging each other in the crowd. To facilitate a space where people feel comfortable to be vulnerable in a room of strangers is the closest thing to magic and deep connection we have in this disconnected world. We are all going through our own shit, if we can find a moment to open our hearts up to something a little deeper than the surface of our phone screen then honey call the babysitter and let the music play!”.
