In the wake of election season tensions are high and many people are vocal about their politics. Carsie Blanton is a singer-songwriter vocal about her views and political standing. She started her career about 20 years ago writing love songs but has since made the switch to protest and political songs.

“I’ve been writing songs for about 20 years and I used to write like a lot more love songs and now I write a lot more protest songs, political songs,” Blanton said. “Lately it’s been mostly, the inspiration is sort of wanting the world to be better and people to be treated better.” 

Blanton recently performed her music at the Oswego Music Hall. Throughout the concert, she talked about her political views and views on the state of American society.

Many of her songs reflect that such as “Party at the End of the World” and “Cool Kids”. She became inspired at a very young age by playing music with her parents while also taking inspiration from John Prine and Nina Simone.

“I started playing music pretty young,” Blanton said. “Both my parents played music so they were part of the inspiration…And then, there are a lot of artists and songwriters I looked up to…like John Prine was a big inspiration…I got into jazz, [and] was really into Nina Simone.” 

Blanton left her home when she was 16 and has not looked back since to further her music career. She has been on tours with various music artists, opening up for them for the last 20 years. 

“I was 16 when I left home and I moved in with a bunch of musicians who were in bands. So I went on my first tour when I was 16 and kind of got hooked,” she said. Blanton’s experience is reflected in her stage presence as well as in her songwriting capabilities during her shows.

As a socialist, Blanton tries to create a fun environment that is “hopeful and celebratory and funny.” She said her shows are like a rally.

“The people who already agree with me can come and feel good about their work,” she said.

Through her folk-country music, Blanton is creating an environment influenced by culture. She believes that doing her small part can help build and change the culture in which people are influenced and how they see the world.

“I feel like culture is very influential on how people think,” Blanton said. “I’m kind of doing my small part to try and build what I think of as left culture…when I think of left culture in America, I think of this sort of like, shrill, scolding kind of energy. And I just want it to be a lot more fun and celebratory to be on the left,” she said. 

Her 2021 album, “Love and Rage” has been described as “anti-fascist anthems.”

Blanton believes the biggest message coming out of her concerts would be, “We should all take care of each other. And also, like, f**k fascists and billionaires.”

Photo by Maria Pawelczyk