Kelli Blanchett’s new EP, Casual Dining, is a heartfelt alt-folk journey through self-redefinition. Battling with a chronic illness, she channeled the emotional toll into these five tracks, covering everything from grappling with isolation to saying goodbye to the past. “I became really ill, and my life changed dramatically. I felt embarrassed about not doing the same things as everyone else, about possibly being left behind,” she continues, “I had to start living life in a completely different way, and this record is a break-up with the old version of me.”
Sonically, the EP draws from Kelli’s love of 70s singer-songwriters like Linda Ronstadt and Gram Parsons. She shares, “I knew that’s the world I wanted these songs to live in.” The result is an elegant blend of plucky guitars, mournful strings, Wurlitzers, and raw, close-up vocals. “I wanted it pared back and unfussy, just honest and direct,” she says.
The focus track, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” taps into complex friendships. “I used to have an old friend who, one day, suddenly disappeared on me,” Kelli shares. “It was a time when I was really ill myself, and this song came out of that mix of sadness and frustration.” With slide guitar and layered harmonies, it pulses with life, even while reflecting loneliness.
What makes Casual Dining so relatable is how honest it feels throughout. The artist writes openly, not afraid to talk about change, illness, friendship, and feeling left behind, which makes the EP incredibly easy to connect with. It’s the kind of EP that you’ll find yourself keep going back to, no matter what era of life you’re going through.
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Words: Alexander Williams
Photography: Jamie Noise