Blondshell Shares What She’s Been Carrying in Second Album “If You Asked For A Picture”

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Blondshell’s sophomore album If You Asked For A Picture is a retrospective review of oneself and the environment we choose to surround ourselves with. Sabrina Teitelbaum, a Los Angeles native, is a voice of the new indie-folk rock sound. With a voice reminiscent of the 90’s alt girls, she discusses the journey of finally feeling like yourself and feeling through what you go through. 

One of the stand-out tracks in my personal opinion is one of the singles on the album, “What’s Fair” that was released in August of 2024. In this song she is talking about reflecting on how she has changed since someone, that I believe to be a mother, has been cut out. This one hits hard. The way that she approaches this conversation is super interesting because it does not follow the familiar trope of “my parents messed me up” it is a more mature approach. She asks how to properly bring up that her mom is not perfect, without it being a full blow-out argument. She knows that there are things she does not understand about not being a mother but how does she bring that up in a healthy and respectful way?

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Another single that had a great impact on my listening experience was “ Event of a Fire” This song stood out to me because in her video with VEVO describing what the song is about she talks about being on tour when writing this when a fire broke out and how she felt confused and trying to find her footing to keep herself safe. She relates this to trying to use her past experiences to help her navigate life. It feels like knowing the safe way out but losing a sense of control over the feelings that spill over in the immediate moment something happens.

One song that was not a single that I absolutely loved was the opening song “Thumbtack”. It is an acoustic song with really poignant lyrics. She is apathetic towards someone that she knows is bad for her, simply because she knows that they provide a great distraction from her own mind. The idea that keeping a toxic person in your life is better than being the toxic person in your own life is super interesting. It is almost a form of hurting oneself because it feels like what we think we deserve at times. 

“Model Rockets” closes out the album with a pull-on-your-heartstrings, melancholic song. It simultaneously feels very introspective and navel-gazing, while also feeling like an outsider looking into her own mind for the first time. She knows how she feels, but she also knows how she will be perceived based on her reaction. The pick up at the end of the song allows the impression that she is back in her own mind and being in the moment with her own emotions even if they hurt.

If You Asked For A Picture is a complex snapshot of her most personal moments and sentiments towards each one.