Misty Blue Eyes starts with a phone call to someone who isn’t picking up. But who is it? We hear the dial tone as Poppy Blond’s latest single kicks in as she leaves a voicemail for an unknown individual against a backdrop of R&B vibes and funky energy.
With such diverse musical influences and a long list of previous projects, Poppy Blond was never going to deliver your average pop song. Following on from her solo debut, 2 Hour Thoughts, Misty Blue Eyes combines elements of TLC-esque vocals with a hint of Grand Theft Auto-inspired soundscapes, creating a sound that’s impossible to characterise.
As the song unfolds, Poppy’s lyrics explore an intimate relationship, and it’s impossible not to get drawn into the narrative. She has a magnetic storytelling ability, and the elusiveness of her character makes it feel like a serious gossip session.
Explaining the meaning behind the track, Poppy told The Leopheard: “Well, I have had a few experiences where people can’t or won’t look at me in the eyes, and have seemed to focus on other physical aspects of my body. So finding someone who isn’t scared to look deeper is very important. For me, when it comes to connection with a partner, it’s all about the eyes. The eyes are the key into someone’s soul, helping to determine your connection. So could it be “Misty blue eyes” who has found the key to mine?”
And it’s a sense of connection and intimacy that drives Poppy Blond in her artistry, with live performances being what she looks forward to the most. It was actually at The Honey Box where I heard Misty Blue Eyes for the first time, where Poppy used a 90s-style landline for sections of the track. Her theatrical approach to live shows comes from her degree in musical theatre, with Poppy explaining why that physical element to her music is so important.
She said: “Performing live is what I love best. We’ve started to live in a digital world so getting people back together in a room is what it’s all about. I really hope community spirit doesn’t die out and we can keep supporting each other in person and not just behind a screen. From experience watching a gig or show is something we all need. An hour or two of escapism is so important.”
The production is slick and polished, with each instrument adding to the landscape of grooving beats and infectious melodies behind Poppy’s raw vocals and fluttering vocal riffs. The mixing is experimental and engaging, the way the phone conversations are integrated is really playful and effective, showcasing Blond’s creativity and artistic vision for the track.
As only her second solo release, we’re still very much getting to know the Poppy Blond alter-ego – which is very different from the Pops of Sal&Pops or the Yoodoo Voodoo Poppy Berisford – but with Misty Blue Eyes, she’s certainly delivered a unique blend of genre-defying charisma and storytelling.
Released April 12, listen to Misty Blue Eyes here:
