Family Stereo Interview: Blake Watt on Drums, Drama, and Folk Songwriting
Transmission 372: Interview with Family Stereo
Family Stereo is the recording alias of Blake Watt, a 25-year-old British singer-songwriter and son of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl. A former drummer who picked up the guitar at 15, he began writing songs around the age of 17, drawing on Elliott Smith, John Martyn, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Adrianne Lenker, after an early period shaped by Joy Division and The Smiths. His debut album, The Thread, is out July 31 via Bella Union, preceded by the single “Fault Lines”. The record was made over nine months in the north London studio of producer Sam Hodder-Williams, who also contributed string arrangements, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin and synths.
Artist: Family Stereo
Release Date: 2026-07-31
Genres: Folk, Indie Rock, Psych-folk
Label: Bella Union
Description: Family Stereo interview: Blake Watt on debut album The Thread, out July 31 on Bella Union, folk songwriting, and life in north London.
Additional musicians include Pendo Masote on violin, Tom Allan on banjo, Dov Sikowitz on lap steel, George Vaux on bass, and Ella Bleakley on backing vocals for the track “Tunnels”. The album moves through folk songwriting paired with fuller arrangements, touching on themes of distance, closeness, and the long-distance relationship that fed much of Blake’s writing during the period. Inspirations include Hampstead Heath, near his home in Camden, and the 1973 film The Wicker Man, which shaped the mood of the track “Removed”. A second album is almost written.
I guess drumming instilled a natural sense of rhythm into me that still influences my songwriting today. The words need to sound phonetically pleasing as well as being meaningful.”
— Blake Watt
Which artists and musicians had the strongest impact on your musical direction during your early years?
Well for the first couple years I was very influenced by Joy Division and The Smiths and made a very energetic and melodic kind of indie rock in reaction to that. Then I got massively into people like Elliott Smith, Adrianne Lenker and Bob Dylan at university which really turned my head, and I started making music more inspired by the American songbook.
I was in a long distance relationship for four years with my partner and so lots of my writing was being fed by this longing for closeness.’
— Blake Watt
How did switching from drums to guitar at age 15 change your approach to music?
I didn’t start writing songs until I was about 17, but I guess drumming instilled a natural sense of rhythm into me that still influences my songwriting today. The words need to sound phonetically pleasing as well as being meaningful.
How has your background in drama influenced your songwriting?
I think I always like to picture quite vivid scenes, and they help me get into the right headspace for writing. Once I can picture the setting and the feelings that accompany it, I can write more easily. I think that’s why I’m drawn to quite dramatic or cinematic terrain with regards to lyric writing, they help me to shrug off the mundanity of life and write interesting stuff!
What was the most unexpected part of recording in a home studio for nine months?
I think I am surprised how well it turned out, considering we just sort of winged it. My producer Sam knows his stuff though so it might not have worked had we been properly in the dark about a recording process.
What does the title The Thread represent for this collection of songs? Is there a literal “thread” that connects them all?
I think it ties in with the theme of distance, and wanting to tie things together and be close to them, or be close to people. I can’t say that I went into the writing process with a connective thread in mind, but it just seemed like an appropriate title.
How does the theme of “distance” appear throughout these tracks?
I was in a long distance relationship for four years with my partner and so lots of my writing was being fed by this longing for closeness. I also felt like I was coming out of my shell more so I was writing about wanting to be closer to my wants and desires and also the people that matter to me. The theme of distance seemed to sum these both up quite well.
How does your environment in North London leak into your lyrics?
I live in Camden which is very near Hampstead Heath, a beautiful and wild parkland that holds a very deep emotional resonance for me. I walk on there as much as I can and I was definitely inspired by the wild, sometimes bleak yet still beautiful terrain and the magic it seems to possess.
How did the film The Wicker Man influence the track “Removed”?
I love how beautifully shot that film is. It feels weirdly comforting at the same time as being incredibly foreboding, and I think that is achieved by the mystery of the plot backdropped against the quaint setting. I wanted ‘Removed’ to feel beautifully lush but with quite mysterious, almost incantational lyrics, like an old folk song.
You’ve mentioned you prefer asking questions in lyrics—which question defines this album?
I think the question that defines this album is “Do I really have to try?”
How do you plan to translate these studio arrangements into a live setting?
Our lap steel player Dov plays through some very atmospheric pedals that lend an expansive sound to the live show. It really helps and compliments my voice quite well.
Are you already working on new material?
Yes! I have almost written album number two.
Photos courtesy of Family Stereo
Matteo Damiani is an Italian photographer and author. Curator of the sites Retrofuturista.com; weirditaly.com; china-underground.com and others
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