Newcastle native Brandon Blair got into music at about the age of three, listening to his parents blast 1990’s country and 1980’s pop through speakers that were four times his size.
The parents’ love of music translated into a love of his own, first with a Fisher-Price tape recorder and then with a personal computer utilizing Audacity software.
On November 5, Blair will release his second album, a new experimental Hip-Hop album titled, “There is Death for the Dogs.” He said it is a collaborative project with Canadian producer Slumcat.
Blair said he doesn’t really remember his three-year-old self, but was probably humming some melody into his Fisher-Price recorder and feeling like Mozart. At about the age of 10, Blair would record his six- and seven-yearold sister and cousins singing “Rain, Rain Go Away” and then take the recording and burn it into a compact disc.
Blair said in high school he worked with a lot of people, both online and locally, recording Newcastle students who showed an interest. He said his Mom and Dad were very supportive of his music, and let him have friends over to record. At one point, he started a group named Pteradactyl Mob Squad “with a few other troublemakers.” He said they produced only one unfinished record.
When he was in ninth grade, he co-founded an online collective called Empire IX, and was introduced to slumcat, who is executive producer on his newest album. Empire IX had limited success and worked with musicians who went on to form groups of their own.
Blair considers himself a Newcastle native, since he had gone to school here since kindergarten, however, he finished his senior year at Putnam City in 2012. He said he has a lot of family in the area and in the Tri-City area, although he added that they may not want to be mentioned due to his “delightfully subversive Hip-Hop antics.”
Blair said he took a twoyear hiatus, believing that it might be time to “hang up the cape and get a real job.”
“I had a child in 2022 and he reignited by creative ambitions in full force, as I wanted to leave something for him when I’m gone,” Blair said. “He is the greatest thing to ever exist.”
Blair said when he was younger he was set on getting out of the small town, rural scene, and that played a part in a rebellious streak that bled into his art.
“Now that I’m a little bit older, I actually love the slow pace of life here, and I wish Newcastle would slow down with all the growth,” Blair said.
He added that he doesn’t get around town much, other than taking his now 3-year-old son to Boomerang or Jimmy’s Egg for breakfast, or a trip to Walmart for groceries.
Instead, he finds himself “locked in” his house experimenting with sound or visuals. He also runs an online creative agency and record label named First Matter Creative. Their website is www. firstmattercreative.online. He said if anyone needs visual or audio creations, “hit him up.”
While Blair has had numerous releases under different aliases which he says are scattered across the internet, he released his first album, “Reanimated,” in December 2ND ALBUM on page 2 2024. He said the album is about rebirth.
2NDALBUM: Blair says album is driven by‘sharp lyricism, emotional depth’
The album “There is Death for the Dogs” is about death. It is meant to remind the listener that we all die and the reaper is not prejudiced. Again, the album will have its own birth with its release on November 5.
“There is Death for the Dogs” is a collaborative project with Canadian producer slumcat.
The project began as latenight sessions between Brandon and slumcat, trading ideas and pushing each other’s limits. What started as a few experiments turned into a fully realized record — one that reflects both of their worlds colliding.
Blair said the process was raw and unpolished, leading to a sound that couldn’t exist without both voices.
“We’ve really delved into profound themes of death, transformation, grief, and the search for light — drawing from personal experiences of legacy and mortality,” Blair said.
Blair said this is an album which blends textured soundscapes, explosive drums, and futuristic bass, driven by what is sharp lyricism and emotional depth.
Blair said he was particularly keen to share the new album with his hometown audience. He said the album is gritty yet cinematic, personal yet universal, and it represents a fresh voice in the Hip-Hop genre.
“With Death for the Dogs” I began focusing on legacy and why we’re so obsessed with leaving one behind,” Blair said. “Deep down, we know we perish even if we don’t consciously accept it. I think this is why we try and do things like make art, so I wanted to explore that and at least have it in mind when writing.”
Blair said at the end of the day, “Death for the Dogs” is a project about mortality, but also about creating something that outlives him.
Blair said, “It’s my way of carving out a place in the world while I’m still here.”
WHERE TO BUY
“There is Death for the Dogs” will be available to stream and purchase on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. You can also listen directly or purchase digital and physical copies at www.firstmattercreative. online.
To keep update with Blair’s and slumcat’s work, go on Instagram to @deepfakebrqndonblair and slumcat.way.
