Blair Gilmour, an 18-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Irvine, Scotland, is quickly making a name for himself in the music world. With a unique sound that blends raw emotion with spontaneous composition, Blair’s music reflects his personal journey, including his experience with Tourette’s syndrome, which he believes has shaped his creative process. His latest single, “Burning Up,” demonstrates his ability to create energetic anthems with depth and authenticity, tackling themes of emotional attachment and mental well-being. As he continues to evolve as an artist, Blair is one to watch in 2025 and beyond.
Hi Blair Gilmour, welcome to NewsBlackbird and thank you for joining us! Congratulations on your new single “Burning Up.” Can you share what inspired this track and how it evolved from a songwriting camp in Spain into the emotional anthem it is today?
Well, the idea for the track first came about when my friend and I were sat around a little wooden table in the peak of the heat for the day. We knew we wanted to write a song but didn’t know where to start. My friend (Calum) went on to say something like “I’m burning up out here” and it just clicked. “Burning Up, that’s it!” I said, we went on to write a few ideas about what “Burning up” meant. This is where I got the idea of your typical love song but a little more brutal than usual. The first draft was a bit rough but we got it down on a recording software anyway because we knew it had something to it. After finishing the demo out in Spain we came back home with it. This is where I was put on to Jamie Sellers, an amazing producer and an all round amazing guy. He reinforced the feeling that this song had something to it but in his words the song just “started and finished” and that it needed to “move more”. We stripped the song down to its bones and started reconstructing it. We added dynamics, sections and so much more that I could go in to detail about but we would be here all day!
Your music feels deeply personal and authentic. How has your journey with Tourette’s shaped your approach to songwriting, performing, and connecting with your audience?
When I was still at primary school, I was excluded from most activities by other kids e.g football & basketball. I was considered by teachers to be a hazard to not only myself but other pupils. This forced me down a rabbit hole of self-awareness. There was a leaflet for music lessons handed out at a school assembly and I pounced on the opportunity because I felt that behind an instrument I wouldn’t be in anyone’s way. I chose to take up the drums first and a week into my first lessons my parents noticed that my Tourette’s seemed to reduce significantly, whether that be because my brain was active and focused, who knows? This is where my love for music began. I would say the only aspect of my Tourette’s that has helped my songwriting would be that it has gave me stories/ experiences to tell. As for performing, I would feel a tick boiling up on stage and since it would inevitably happen I’d try to incorporate it into my performance, my own choreography if you will. I feel that this helps me connect with the people in the room because I don’t feel judged, I feel accepted. Not as the boy with Tourette’s but as the boy on the stage singing his heart out.
“Burning Up” explores the complexities of being emotionally attached to something or someone, even at a cost to mental well-being. How do you hope listeners resonate with this theme?
We have all been there in some shape or form, whether you’re attached to a hope, a dream, a job… the list goes on and on. I hope that this track will ring true with a lot of people and help them connect with the song that little bit more so they know that they’re not alone.
As an 18-year-old artist already making waves, how do you balance your creative spontaneity with the pressures of being a rising star in the music industry?
As a typical 18 year old I tend not to plan or think too far ahead. I don’t know if it’s just me but my creativity comes from in-the-moment experiences, I have found that if I start to get really stressed about deadlines or other day to day pressures I fold and my brain goes blank. I have discovered that I am at my best not only mentally but on paper too when I just live in the moment and go with the flow.
Your music avoids the conventional ‘four-chord structure,’ favoring organic, spontaneous compositions. What inspires this approach, and how does it reflect your personality and artistic philosophy?
Having tourettes and being labelled as “different” from the get go I thought “why not just remain different”. I steered away from the traditional 4-chord structure that is used in most songs to interpret uniqueness within my art and I feel this reflects who I am as a person.
Fashion and image often play a big role for emerging artists. How does your personal style reflect your music, and how do you see it evolving as your career progresses?
Fashion does play a big role for most emerging artists, it helps them stand out and create a visual unique to them. Where I stand on the subject is that I don’t and never have felt that I need to comply with the latest trends, I like to be comfortable especially when I’m performing and most importantly I like to be myself. As for my music, I don’t believe that my image is reflected within it… I can’t really comment or predict where my fashion throughout my career will go, that’s something time will tell.
With the success of “Burning Up” and your growing fanbase, what’s next for Blair Gilmour? Can fans expect more releases, collaborations, or perhaps live performances in the near future?
What’s next for Blair Gilmour is releasing more songs in 2025, potentially collaborations & hopefully live performances!
