Blondshell’s new album is a defining moment. ‘If You Asked For A Picture’ is where Sabrina Teitelbaum stops defining her sound and starts defining herself. She blends intense vulnerability with a massive sonic wall, using cathartic grunge to amplify her personal anxieties. It’s a loud, honest self-inventory.

Your new album feels both urgent and reflective. What emotion kicked off the writing, if you could name one?

If you asked for one, I’d say it was really reflective. I feel like that’s accurate. I think a lot of different emotions, so not one in particular. But the whole thing was just really trying to find answers.

What’s the first lyric you wrote that made you think, okay, we’re onto something?

I didn’t really take a break between writing the first album and writing the second album. So, I was just sort of, “Oh, I like this song that I have and this song,” and then it sort of… the shape came together. It took maybe six months or something, but “Head Start” first.

You’ve described your sound as grunge meets honesty. What’s the most grunge thing about your songwriting?

I think I probably just said that I like grunge music. But… I don’t know. The guitars, maybe?

What’s one of your influences that people wouldn’t expect?

I love big pop records, and I feel people wouldn’t expect that for me. But yeah… I’m a big fan of huge pop, really sort of clean production type records, and I feel that would surprise people.

Your songs explore shame, humor, and self-awareness. How do you decide if something stays a lyric and what stays private?

I don’t, honestly. There’s a lot of stuff that makes me uncomfortable for people I know to hear, but I would never not put something out because of that. So there are things that I’m, “Oh, I wish people didn’t know that about me personally,” or I don’t care if a stranger hears it, but my family or whatever. It’s hard to not have boundaries in that sense, but I would never not put out a song for that reason.

How do you balance vulnerability with control, or do you let the song decide?

I feel that balance is kind of chosen for me by the nature of the songs. So, in terms of vulnerability, I’m not, “Oh, I’m going to be 30% vulnerable today.” It just is what it is when I wake up. So, I don’t even balance it… I wish I could balance it.

If your debut album was about becoming, what’s this new one about?

I think the same thing. It’s just I’m a little bit older, so my perspective is a little bit different. But in a way, it’s kind of the same thing. I think the first record was a lot of bad dating situations and then the second record was, oh, I’m not really doing that… Why was that happening? So, it was just more under the surface of the first record.

What do you hope someone discovering your music this weekend for the first time walks away feeling?

Just… “Oh, I like that. I’m going to go look it up.” Totally. I don’t know. I think… without music or life can get a little bit stale, and I feel going to a show that you like, that’s a new show, can make it feel less stale. And so I just hope that happens for people.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give your younger self or just someone starting in the industry?

You are so cute, girl. Don’t feel so bad about things. You are cute and special.