Kelli Blanchett releases Casual Dining, an alt-folk EP shaped by illness and self-reinvention, channeling vulnerability into honest, intimate songs.
Kelli Blanchett releases her new five-track EP Casual Dining, a deeply personal alt-folk project shaped by illness, reflection, and self-reinvention. The Corby-born, London-based singer-songwriter channels lived experience into intimate storytelling that explores disability, friendship, love, and emotional change.
She builds on years of collaboration with pop artist Self Esteem. However, this EP marks a clearer step into her own artistic identity. Blanchett uses the record to process a difficult period in 2024, when chronic illness forced her to step back from music and daily life.
She describes the project as a break-up with her former self. Furthermore, she confronts isolation, physical limitation, and emotional disconnection across the five tracks. She also reflects on the frustration of feeling left behind while life continues for others.
Blanchett turns these experiences into songs of acceptance and transition. In addition, she embraces vulnerability as a creative force rather than a weakness. The result feels raw, honest, and emotionally direct.
Sound, Memory, and Growth
Blanchett shapes Casual Dining with a clear sonic vision. She draws inspiration from 1970s singer-songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, and Gram Parsons. Moreover, she builds a sound rooted in warmth and restraint.
The EP features plucked acoustic guitars, soft Wurlitzer tones, expressive strings, and subtle flute textures. She keeps the production minimal. However, she layers emotion into every detail. Her vocals stay close, fragile, and expressive throughout.
The focus track “Hiding in Plain Sight” captures themes of distance and confusion. Blanchett writes it after a friendship ends suddenly without explanation. She reflects on mutual absence, illness, and emotional disconnection. As a result, the song explores how relationships fracture under pressure and uncertainty.
Despite its themes of loneliness, the music feels alive. Harmonies and slide guitar add warmth and movement. Furthermore, the arrangement lifts the emotional weight rather than deepening it.
Blanchett continues to grow her audience through live performances and recognition. She sells out events quickly, performs at major venues, and supports established artists. In addition, BBC Introducing names her Artist of the Week twice, and Channel 4 features her work on Big Mood.
Through Casual Dining, Blanchett redefines her voice. She turns hardship into clarity and invites listeners to sit with their own uncertainty.
Press Release
