Words by Willa Rudolph / Photos by Adelyn Karnacewicz
Blue* is a vintage beauty, with a vintage disposition. Her persona on stage feels plucked from the wide open road in the 1960’s. But she laughs and screams like it’s 1999. Or 2026. You know what I mean.
She first got her sea legs playing solo, and has recently brought company on stage with her: Lee Cocco (bass) and Joe Cohn (drums). They began playing together in the spring of this past year, but practiced a few times before their most recent set at Purgatory.
Blue* has a sound not widely heard in the scene–guttural vocals with a folk underbelly. She wears prairie skirts with garters, curls her hair up real nice, styles boots with old dresses, and accessorizes to the nines. Her world is Dolly and Elvis, Angel Olsen and Liz Phair, leather and lace, desert and highway.
Blue*: “‘I’m Blue (on the Highway)’ and ‘Dress Up’ have been in the rotation with Joe and Lee since the beginning, and we play them almost every time, but we’ve been expanding our typical setlist a bit.”
At Purgatory, Ella Newgarden joined them on violin for “Ohio is for Lovers” in place of the banjo solo from the album version. Anytime there’s a violin on stage, I practically go weak in the knees! It’s such a rare and special addition in the NYC DIY music scene. “Ella brought a beautiful and emotionally fitting rendition of an additional instrumental part, that I have really missed in performing that song live,” Blue* explains, “I definitely think I’d like to keep performing that song with her.”
If you’re new to Blue* [editor’s note: she should play Nublu!] she suggests listening to “Dead Ringer” first (the album mix), or “Ohio is for Lovers,” which she considers opposite ends of her musical spectrum. “I’m pretty proud of my debut album, ‘I Can Feel You Think of Me,’ as a full body of work.” She claims, however, “the best entry point for my music is coming to a show! I always play a mix of both my published and unreleased songs, as well as an homage to an influence of mine. That’s the best place to get to know me as an artist.”
At Purgatory that night, Blue* opened for Slowgrrl, and then Aidan Puntes played a set with AYLA as the closer. “I remember the sounds of everyone’s music making the air feel really warm and bright,” Blue* recounts. “Incredible vocalists all night, super tight instrumentals, great sound production too–shout out to [soundman] Harold at Purgatory; you were so lovely!”
The crowd was so well-lit that Blue* could see everyone’s expressions as she played, adding to the intimacy of the evening. The atmosphere was loving, vocal, and even cacophonous at times, but everyone was engaged and the energy was high. “It was SO surreal to have sold out the venue; that was definitely not anyone’s expectation, and it took a lot of love to get that many people out on that glum, rainy day!” says Blue*.
When asked about playing live, Blue* tells The Deli, “There is no state quite like what you slip into on stage. Maybe it’s a ‘me’ thing, but I feel like I feel like I enter another mode of being awake–not like I’m on another planet or anything, but, like, another room in the house. It’s distinct and elating, and I feel like nothing can go wrong in that moment–that it’s all part of the show. I think that’s my favorite feeling outside of music in my life! I just love to be the princess of the room sometimes (I’ve got Leo placements all over the place, and I love a little spotlight, okay?! Is that such a crime?!!!)“.
“Being on stage is great because it’s time designated for me to command attention, and it’s the most appropriate place to do that. That’s my element, alongside being able to share some of the art I’m most proud of–specifically my lyrical content and style is something I’m proud of and like to share.”
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The Deli: What is Blue* hoping to accomplish in 2026?
Blue*: More music community, for sure, but I would really like to keep expanding my “Blue*” world that I create as a home for my music: visually, lyrically, digitally, as well as my range of sound in future releases.
I’m working on new music where I’m experimenting with more instruments, leaning into my influences, and trying to be more intentional about how I write, instead of letting the spirit move me, which is what I usually do. I think both modes are useful, but I don’t want to lean back on what I already know. I want to push myself and ask questions about what I imagine for my sound. Nowhere to go but up, nothin’ to do but improve, right?!
What should people look out for from Blue*?
B: Probably some SoundCloud bedroom acoustic drops, hahaha. Going through a big change in my life, and maybe even a bit of a hermit phase right now, which feels like the most apt time for those anyway.
But also more merch. I’d love to bring back the cow tags that I did for my release show as promo for my album. Those were a hit, and I like doing something eye-catching like that. I have some other new ideas but those are secrets for now.
How would you describe your music / vibe in just a few words?
B: I struggle with giving a name to the genre often, so I end up calling it bleeding heart music, because I think that tells you more about it than alt/folk rock, you know?
I think I have some strong folk influences; there are definitely elements of alt-rock and grunge, but the driver of it is that it’s confessional, and the sound is a vehicle for the emotions conveyed. I think different songs’ lyrical missions end up leading to different sonic pathways. Verbose, sorry. Is that too many words? [editor’s note: nope, just the right number!]
Keep up with Blue* here, and make sure you check out a live show ASAP! Her upcoming shows are:
2/4 @ Sugar Mouse
3/14 @ Bridge & Tunnel Brewery