Halifax-based pop/R&B singer-songwriter Avery Dakin releases her new album, Bloom, on July 7. She will celebrate with a release party that same day at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax.
I view this album as my opportunity to present myself as the grown-up, but still growing, version of myself that I’ve worked hard to find. – Avery Dakin
In this Q&A, we learn more from Avery about herself and the album.
You can learn more about Avery and her new album at averydakinmusic.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok, as well as on Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.
This interview has been edited.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Avery Dakin, a pop/R&B singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’ll be releasing my debut full-length album Bloom on July 7, and you’ll be able to listen to it on streaming platforms at Bandcamp.
How do you describe Bloom?
Bloom is dreamy, warm, sun-kissed, and very vulnerable and authentic. I’m really proud of the sound, and I feel like it’s the most personal and accurate representation of my taste and sound out of anything I’ve released. Shout out to my producer, Alex Meade, for his expertise and care in pinpointing that sound and lending his compositional magic to Bloom. There were a lot of really special collaborations on Bloom, and I think that range of influences mesh beautifully together.
Why Bloom as the title?
I chose Bloom as the title because its title track is one of my favourite songs on the album and is representative of its themes of growth. I also love springtime imagery and wanted this album’s energy to feel joyful, sweet, and full of sunshine.
What was the inspiration for the album? Is there a theme?
The inspiration for the album came from the desire to present myself and my artistry in the most truthful and vulnerable way possible. I have done a lot of work in the last few years to grow as a person, reckoning with hard truths, showing up for myself in terms of mental wellness and neurodivergence, and trying to find the path and people that make me feel fulfilled and at home.
As I mentioned, the major overarching themes of Bloom are growth and coming of age. I view this album as my opportunity to present myself as the grown-up, but still growing, version of myself that I’ve worked hard to find.
Some specific topics I explore are the state of my mental well-being, feeling unequivocally drawn to this life path of being an artist, acknowledging the pain I have felt at the hands of others in relationships and friendships and the pain that I have also caused, feeling safer to unpack and sit with hurt and fear, knowing I deserve to ask for what I need from the people in my life, and finally moving forward as a happier, more balanced, and better person.
The final track on the album, Comin’ Up, feels very hopeful, and even though there are some heavy topics on Bloom, I think hopefulness and the pursuit of a healthier, better life is what’s really at the forefront. I want that to be the final and most present feeling the album evokes.
What is your favourite song to perform off the album, and why?
Don’t Come Home is my favourite song to perform off the album. It’s a sassy, groovy little bossa nova breakup song, there are some really fun ear-candy elements, and I get to perform it dramatically and tell a story about being treated poorly by someone who turned out not to be worth my time, which I think is a pretty universal experience and a frustrating feeling. It feels super fun and not at all bitter, just a playful and overdramatic way to move on from something that probably hurt the ego more than the heart in the end.
What can audiences expect from your live show?
At my album release show on July 7 at The Seahorse Tavern, audiences can expect a legendary lineup of femme acts: my friend and featured artist on my song Hurricane Season LxVNDR, Lindsay Misiner and the 7th Mystic, and Shay Pitts. They each bring such amazing, powerful energy to the stage, and I can’t wait to ride that high into my set. We’ll be playing the album tracks and a couple of unreleased and older tunes.
I’m looking forward to communicating these ideas, feelings, and music and sharing in the celebration of Bloom being out in the world with a room full of friends, old and new.
Beyond that, I’m performing solo a bit this summer, which I think nicely exposes a lot of my music’s heartfelt and earnest qualities without anything flashy surrounding it – just me and my guitar and piano telling stories from the heart.
What’s next for Avery?
Firstly, I’m really excited to rest. Part of learning more about my neurodivergence and capacity is how to slow down and create space to be and be content. But after some good restorative rest, I’m looking forward to a little East Coast tour in the fall to share Bloom live. We also have a sweet little cover song single/video release to be announced later this summer, which the band and I had a ton of fun recording live off the floor at Fang Recording in Dartmouth.
You can learn more about Avery Dakin and her new album at averydakinmusic.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok, as well as on Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.