Through the Creative Door with Blake Williams
Creativity often asks us to be vulnerable. It asks us to share parts of ourselves, take risks and make things that might feel a little uncomfortable — especially when we're not sure how they'll be received.
For singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Blake Williams, creating a safe space to explore those feelings is an essential part of making music. Whether she's writing a pop punk anthem, experimenting with production or stepping onto a stage, Blake's creative process is built around trust, curiosity and the freedom to be herself.
In this episode of Through the Creative Door, I chatted with Blake about her journey in music, navigating creativity as an openly transgender artist, and finding the confidence to reconnect with her work after coming out. She also shared the stories behind two of her favourite songs, the importance of finding a supportive creative community, and why sometimes the best way to get an opportunity is simply to ask for it.
Blake's conversation is a reminder that creativity doesn't require us to have everything figured out. It needs space, encouragement and the courage to keep putting ourselves out there.
Creating a Safe Space to Be Vulnerable
For Blake, a creative space is first and foremost somewhere she feels safe.
Her home recording studio might not be particularly fancy, but it has everything she needs: her instruments, her recording equipment, her animals and her wife nearby. It's a familiar environment where she can settle in, block out distractions and let herself explore ideas without feeling self-conscious.
That sense of safety is particularly important when she's writing lyrics.
Sometimes a line might feel a little too personal, or she might wonder whether she's going too far. In a different environment, those doubts could be enough to make her pull back. But when she's in her own space, she feels more confident taking the risk.
There are often enough voices questioning our creative decisions without adding more external pressure. Blake describes how even our own internal commentary can become an obstacle, telling us what we should or shouldn't do.
Having somewhere comfortable to create helps quieten that noise.
It allows her to experiment, take chances and write honestly, without feeling that she needs to censor herself before an idea has had the opportunity to develop.
This is a valuable reminder that a creative space doesn't have to be elaborate or professionally equipped. It needs to be somewhere you can let your guard down.
When we feel safe enough to be vulnerable, we're more likely to make work that feels honest and true to who we are.
Keeping It Simple and Knowing When to Experiment
When I asked Blake which pieces of work she's most proud of, two songs immediately came to mind: Renegade and Anymore.
Interestingly, they're almost opposites in terms of how they came together.
Renegade, released in January 2024, was an intentional exercise in simplicity. Blake has grown up with pop punk, and the genre has strongly influenced both her songwriting and production. While she's happy with the music she's made in the past, she wanted this particular song to be straightforward.
Musically, it centres on four chords. The melody is simple, and the lyrics carry something important to her without needing to be overly complicated.
She describes the satisfaction of getting the song to sound exactly how she wanted it to. Sometimes, making something feel effortless requires an enormous amount of thought and work behind the scenes.
It's a lesson many creatives will recognise: simplicity isn't necessarily easy. Knowing what to leave out can take just as much effort as knowing what to include.
Anymore, on the other hand, came from a desire to experiment.
Released during the COVID lockdown period, it was the first time Blake had worked with loops in Logic Pro. She had always known the software contained a huge library of sounds, but hadn't really explored it.
Curious about what might be possible, she began playing around with an electronic, house-inspired loop. She added big drums and guitars, then developed a chorus melody that took her into falsetto — something she hadn't tried before.
The result was a song that moved beyond her usual approach and opened up new possibilities.
Looking back, Blake still feels proud of it. She sometimes listens again to reassure herself that she wasn't simply caught up in the excitement of making something different. The song still holds up for her.
Together, Renegade and Anymore represent two important sides of her creative process: the satisfaction of refining an idea until it's exactly right, and the excitement of following an unexpected direction.
Neither approach is more valid than the other. Sometimes creativity is about stripping things back; sometimes it's about seeing what happens when you try something new.
Reconnecting With Creativity Through Identity and Self-Acceptance
One of the most personal parts of our conversation was Blake’s reflection on coming out as transgender in 2021.
Although she continued writing and recording music, she noticed that her creative output became less frequent. She found herself questioning whether she needed to change everything about her music, or whether the work she'd made before could still be part of her future.
It was as though coming out had created an expectation that her entire creative identity needed to be reinvented.
Blake later discovered that a transgender friend, who was also an artist, had experienced a similar feeling. Both had come out and were navigating the question of what it meant for their creative careers.
Their conversations helped them recognise that they weren't alone in feeling uncertain.
Blake began to understand that she didn't have to abandon the music she loved or the influences that had shaped her. Her identity had evolved, but that didn't mean her relationship with music had to start from scratch.
Finding that perspective was important in allowing her to reconnect with her creativity.
It's a powerful reminder that personal change can affect the way we see ourselves as artists. Sometimes we place expectations on ourselves about what our work should look like after a major life transition.
But creativity doesn't have to follow a set of rules about who we are or what we're supposed to make.
We can grow and change while still holding on to the things that have always inspired us.
For Blake, continuing to make pop punk music is part of that story. Her sound, her influences and her love of songwriting remain important, while her experiences bring new layers to the person creating the work.
Finding Your People and Building a Creative Community
Blake described herself as a homebody and someone who can be quite shy and socially awkward away from the stage.
When she's performing, she feels comfortable stepping into that role. But networking, approaching people and putting herself out there socially don't necessarily come naturally.
Over the past year, however, she has made a conscious effort to connect with other musicians, promoters and people in the music community.
Part of that came from a clear goal: she wanted to start playing live shows again.
She hadn't performed much since COVID, and she was keen to get back onto stages she loved, playing alongside bands she admired.
Rather than waiting for opportunities to appear, Blake decided to take action. She began emailing venues and promoters — lots of them.
Most didn't respond. Some said no. But a few got back to her, and one of the opportunities was a show at Crowbar in Sydney, one of her favourite venues.
That experience encouraged her to keep reaching out.
As she made more connections, something else happened: networking began to feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity to meet people she genuinely wanted to spend time with.
She found like-minded creatives, made friends and became more excited about going to shows and being part of the community.
It's a reminder that building a creative career isn't only about the work itself.
The relationships around that work can be just as important.
For someone who finds social situations challenging, Blake's approach is refreshingly practical. She started with a goal, took small steps towards it and gradually became more comfortable.
Her advice is memorable:
Email people until they tell you to shut up.
It's funny, but there's a genuinely useful idea underneath it. You can't always wait to be discovered. Sometimes you have to introduce yourself, ask for an opportunity and keep going when the first few attempts don't lead anywhere.
And along the way, you might find more than just your next gig. You might find your people.
Learning Your Craft: From Guitar Lessons to Music Production
Blake's musical journey began with guitar lessons when she was around six years old.
Those early one-on-one lessons gave her a foundation, and over time she reached a point where she felt comfortable finding ways to develop her skills independently.
She still values the experience of learning directly from a teacher. There's something special about that personal connection, particularly during the formative years when you're first discovering an instrument.
But she also recognises that there are now countless ways to learn.
For guitarists, she recommends www.ultimate-guitar.com, which offers chords, tabs and learning resources. If there's a song she wants to cover or a particular riff she's keen to learn, she'll often try to work it out by ear first. If she gets stuck, she'll look up the tabs or chords.
Her approach is flexible: use whatever method helps you make progress.
When it comes to music production, Blake uses Logic Pro.
Her introduction to production began with GarageBand. She started experimenting with the software, exploring what the different inputs, EQ settings and compressors did.
A short songwriting and production course offered through her school then introduced her to Logic Pro. She was drawn to it because it looked familiar, but offered far more possibilities.
From there, much of her learning came through trial and error.
She experimented with the software, explored its built-in plugins and gradually discovered additional tools that helped her achieve the sounds she wanted.
YouTube tutorials became useful when she reached a point where she couldn't quite work out how to do something herself. Often, learning one new technique would introduce her to another possibility, creating a chain reaction of further exploration.
Blake is also honest about looking back at recordings she made as a teenager. At the time, she thought they sounded amazing. Listening now, she can hear how much her production skills have developed.
But those early recordings were part of the process.
Her advice to anyone interested in music production is to start with what you have. If you've already played around with GarageBand, give it another look. If you're ready to explore further, Logic Pro might be a natural next step.
You don't need to know everything before you begin.
You need curiosity, time and a willingness to experiment.
Finding Inspiration in the Artists You Admire
When I asked Blake which creative she'd love to have on the podcast, she immediately thought of two people who have had a significant influence on her musical journey.
The first is Luke Hemmings from Five Seconds of Summer.
Blake has been a fan of the band since they first emerged, and their story has always felt particularly inspiring because of their Australian roots. Coming from the Penrith area herself, she saw them as a local band who had managed to achieve something extraordinary.
Watching their success gave her a sense that big creative ambitions weren't necessarily out of reach.
If they could do it, perhaps she could too.
The second person she'd love to hear from is producer John Feldmann, who worked on Five Seconds of Summer's first two records.
Blake admires his contribution to pop punk, alternative rock and the music that shaped her own tastes. Many of her favourite albums from the 2013–2017 period were connected to his production work.
What she'd really love is the chance to hear these artists talk about their creative processes — not just the big-picture ideas, but the small details of how they work.
She's fascinated by the decisions that happen behind the music: how songs develop, how sounds are created and how producers approach the many little elements that eventually come together in a finished record.
It's a reminder that inspiration often comes from looking closely at the work of people we admire.
We don't just listen to their songs or watch their performances. We can also learn from their approaches, their choices and the journeys they've taken to get where they are.
And sometimes, seeing someone with a similar starting point achieve something remarkable can help us imagine what's possible for ourselves.
Final Thoughts: Make Space to Be Yourself
My conversation with Blake was an honest look at the relationship between creativity, vulnerability and identity.
Her story reminds us that a creative space doesn't need to be impressive. It needs to feel safe enough for us to take risks, explore ideas and make work that reflects who we are.
She also shows us that our creative journeys aren't always straightforward. Coming out, navigating self-doubt and finding the confidence to return to performing all became part of her experience as an artist. Through it, she discovered the importance of staying connected to the music she loves and finding people who understand and support her.
Whether she's writing a simple four-chord song, experimenting with electronic loops or emailing venues to find her next gig, Blake approaches creativity with curiosity and determination.
Perhaps the biggest lesson is that we don't have to wait until we feel completely confident before taking action.
We can write the song, send the email, try the new software, reach out to another musician or share something that feels a little vulnerable.
And we can do all of that while continuing to learn who we are.
A x
Listen to the Full Conversation
Listen to the full conversation with Blake Williams on Through the Creative Door S1. E17, to hear more about her journey as a singer, songwriter and producer, the role of vulnerability in her creative process, and how she's finding her place in the music community.
