‘Knoxville House’ opens its doors wide, we dare you to come in.

In search for creative catharsis, Long Island-based Constantine Anastasakis, disguised under the name of Blonder, has abandoned the pursuit of a post-college career and learnt from scratch the art of emotive songwriting. Once mastered the technicalities, he fused grunge, alt-rock and synth influences into one stable construction aka his debut album ‘Knoxville House’. Despite the urge to define sounds, Blonder encourages experimentation and venturing out of the comfort zone just like he did. We're here for the journey stories. Join in.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Hi, okay, my real name is Constantine Anastasakis, I’m a native of Long Island, New York and have spent time living in NYC and Los Angeles over the years - now currently residing on Long Island at a home that also houses my studio and rehearsal space.

How did it all start?

I was at one point really into academia and wanted to pursue a scholarly career in philosophy or art history - then, when living in New York post-college, I realized I wanted to lead a creative life and started from the absolute mud teaching myself how to use production software and how to write songs. I was a drummer my whole life, then turned towards the emotive power of songwriting.

If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before, what would you say?

The new record is an embrace of something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: grunge, alt-rock, dare I say punk. My sound used to be more affectionate and soft, but this record has been described as ‘barbed wire and kettlebells.’ Someone recently described my forthcoming LP as ‘pissed off’ - and that was perfect to me.

How do you produce your music?

I get excited and demo songs with a vision in mind, then work on those demos by finishing structure, arrangement and lyrics over a period of time- often months. Then I typically take the distilled collection to various studios, or friends who make music, and complete them - working with engineers and players I respect to create the premeditated final product.

How are you feeling about the release of your debut album Knoxville House?

Thus far only 2 singles have come out of it - it’s due Februrary 11th 2022 - but overall very proud of the feeling I’ve captured in the songs. Recent press has been cool and nice and it seems like what I intended to make is being understood by the audience.

Where did you get the name for the album?

I began writing this record in an unoccupied Air Bnb/ studio in Knoxville, Tennessee at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Lyrically, I’m fond of literal, matter-of-fact descriptions in songs and the title ‘Knoxville House’ was simply what I labeled the private soundcloud link after my first demo sessions. It came to really describe what this album is: a distinct sound captured in a house, at a certain place and time.

What inspires your music?

Emotion, ambition, desire, catharsis? Haha. I was searching for something definitive, direct and real for this collection - went back to my roots and got back into the energy of the early 90’s and guitar music in general.

Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that has nothing to do with music?

I have read 9 novels by Haruki Murakami in a row.

What’s it like working with the label Week In Pop?

They are not a label, just a press outlet that wrote about my music. I started my own label, called Cool World Records, and signed myself. Working with myself is interesting - easy to keep track of it all, and also easy to lose perspective. So I’m always putting on different hats to see things differently and get different things done - whether it’s writing, cover art, mixing, emailing, song picking etc.

What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to you?

Be real? Haha. Make sure the music sounds exactly how you feel. And it’s okay to write 5 songs in a row that aren’t it - the 6th one will be. It’s all process and design, it’s a living organism so never get attached to any part of it at any one particular stage as it will change until it’s finished.

If your music were a film or TV show which would it be and why?

Mulholland Drive by David Lynch, I don’t know why.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

I’m not listening to anything exactly from a past time, I usually drop stuff and then come back to it. Right now I’m listening to Radiohead Hail to the Thief… it’s way more complicated and also way less complicated than when I was just listening to it as a younger person.

What do you hate right now?

Art that sounds “De-clawed.” There’s a LOT of filler these days.

What do you love right now?

Rehearsing my Knoxville House live set. I love the sound of a bass and a drum set and real guitars. I love singing my songs.

Is there any new music from 2021 that you’re enjoying?

Young Thug - Stupid/ Asking. Dean Blunt. Porches. Wet. Mitski. Thyla, a little bit. This one song by Current Joys - American Honey, that’s the perfect amount of real and cheesy. I don’t know!

What comes next in the Blonder story?

Live. Music. Performing my heart out. And of course, demo sessions for the next thing - whatever that is.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Thanks for listening to my music, it means the world to me <3

Start Listening To: Blonder