Artist: BLOND:ISH
Title: Never Walk Alone
Label: Insomniac Records
Released: 14 February
Sounds like: BLOND:ISH casting a spell of vibrant Afro and Dance-Pop beats on summer 2025.
Ibiza announcement season is in full swing, the time of year when that one friend in the group chat claims they already knew that the next big residency reveal was coming. Who do they think they are?...us?
Even the most seasoned clubland gossip has been tested this time around. Proving to cut through the noise of every bombshell news drop of late, one name in particular has been on everyone's lips: BLOND:ISH.
BLOND:ISH in her new Ibiza home, Pacha.
Under her globally celebrated pseudonym BLOND:ISH, Canadian DJ and producer Vivie-ann Bakos is set to history as the first female to lead her own headline residency at Ibiza's original super-club Pacha.
Across 11 Wednesdays, she'll make Pacha's famous cherries pop to the sound of her Abracadabra label event series with special guests and friends in tow for a magical mid-week quest.
With a skip in her step, and boombox under her arm, BLOND:ISH strolls into summer with sophomore LP Never Walk Alone.
Album review
From the DMs to the dancefloor, BLOND:ISH turns to the love and adoration she's felt from deep chats with fans over the years to inspire Never Walk Alone.
Questioning how she can show up for fans in return through her music, BLOND:ISH answers with a 12-track long-player that offers a hand in friendship to listeners. Packed with diverse personalities, a kaleidoscope of genre influences, and rich affirmations of self-love and acceptance throughout.
First dropped back in summer 2024, title track Never Walk Alone is a carefree, kindred spirit, much like those you might bump into on the Pacha dancefloor. Steve Appleton's warm vocals put feelings of unwavered loyalty and unity into words. All to a rhythmic Indie-Pop beat, brought to life with vibrant twangs of guitar.
Followed by Can't Let You Go, the spontaneous late-night drive friend. Contributing equal measures of deep thought-provoking beats and effortlessly cool Afro-House swagger with due credit to Zimbabwean vocalist Bantu for his slick delivery.
Self Love is your ride or die. Lyrics like “when you gonna realise you're young and you're worthy?” call out any niggles of inner self-doubt over an uplifting House melody that radiates empowerment with prominent keys and fizzing electro effects.
The pick-me-up friend, the one whose physical presence alone is an immediate mood boost, is Shout It Out. Together with live electronic duo Night Tales, BLOND:ISH sends serotonin levels surging with sun-soaked organic rhythms, a medley of lucid synths and a catchy vocal hook.
Wearing the kind of self-confidence you hear amongst night-out pep-talks in the girls' bathrooms, BLOND:ISH and Paperwater slow down the tempo with unwavering assurance on How Does It Feel. Matching the easy-going tones of featured artist Dakota.
The one who is always down for a good time with no questions asked, look no further than Higher with Albian-Swiss maestro Black Circle. Evoking outbursts of full-bodied euphoric release with every uplifting drop that descends into a deep-moving dancefloor daze. A direct flex of BLOND:ISH's signature human touch in the studio.
Different Way, Besitos, and Kimbe are amongst the mish-mash of vibrant characters you've yet to meet when you accept BLOND:ISH's invite to Never Walk Alone.
And, by RSVP'ing to Abracadabra this summer at Pacha, you can experience the same unifying community ethos in abundance on the dancefloor.
Highlights: Never Walk Alone, Can't Let You Go, Self Love, How Does It Feel, Shout It Out.
Never Walk Alone is available now to stream and purchase on all major platforms.
BLOND:ISH hosts her first spell-binding party at Pacha on 21 May and continues to shine every Wednesday until 30 July. Bringing her crew of star-studded TBA besties along for the ride.
Tickets for Abracadabra are on sale now and available to purchase below.
