‘It’s like going up in a hot-air balloon’: Singh & Blanes find joy in old-timey love songs at The Count’s

In an era defined by genre ambivalence, Singh & Blanes are committed stylists. The duo, featuring Hue Blanes and Parvyn Singh, specialise in old-timey romantic ballads. Their music is richly melodic and sincerely uplifting, and they’re not faking it.

“It is just a really joyous project,” says Singh, who’s chatting to Beat ahead of the duo’s rare live outing at The Count’s, Monash University Performing Arts Centre’s dedicated jazz club, known for its program of intimate midweek gigs and fully licensed bistro.

Singh & Blanes

Blanes is a jazz pianist and crooner who used to play in JAZZPARTY. Lately, he’s been familiarising himself with the repertoire of Frank Sinatra. The influence of Ol’ Blue Eyes shines through in Singh & Blanes’ original compositions.

Singh is a Punjabi Australian who puts out music under the mononym Parvyn. Her latest release, last year’s Maujuda, was named Best Independent Jazz Album at the AIR Awards. Before going solo, Singh co-fronted the Bollywood-influenced psychedelic outfit The Bombay Royale. She plays harmonium in Singh & Blanes, along with going toe to toe (or cheek to cheek) with Blanes on vocals.

The pair first connected over a decade ago. “Hue had a show and asked me if I wanted to collaborate on a song with him,” Singh recalls. That song was I choose you, the title track and lead single from Singh & Blanes’ one and only EP, which came out in 2017. I choose you laid the blueprint for the stylistic and thematic world of Singh & Blanes.

“It’s a love song,” says Singh. “It’s inspired by 1940s-style romantic, lullaby-esque music.”

The seven songs on I Choose You were all tracked live. The duo didn’t want to overcomplicate things with unnecessary ornamentation. They’ll bring the same attitude to their upcoming live show at The Count’s.

“It’s just the two of us, and it’s stripping back all of the chaos into these two voices and piano and harmonium,” Singh says.

Singh’s career is increasingly defined by the Adelaide-based artist’s versatility. The Bombay Royale was an epic, 11-piece party band with a fondness for high-concept music videos and theatrical live shows. Singh’s first solo record, 2021’s Sa, was rooted in electronic production and combined elements of pop, R&B, jazz and alternative music. The romantic balladeering of Singh & Blanes is a refreshing departure.

“[It’s] this very simple, really beautiful sentiment type music,” she says. “It’s like going up in a hot-air balloon and just drifting over the Yarra Valley.”

In other words, it’s peaceful and idyllic. But it’s also a showcase for the two musicians’ immense talents. “The virtuosity of Hue vocally and his piano skills shines out as well,” Singh says. “There’s elements of jazz in it, but then also just feel-good love vibes, which I feel like the world needs a lot of.”

Singing out-and-out love songs is like coming home for Singh – even when she’s singing in character. “It’s about tapping into emotion and empathy and going into those spaces, but that’s what music is for me,” she says.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PARVYN // ਪਾਵਨ (@parvynmusic)

Maujuda, the title of Singh’s latest album, is an Urdu word that means “to be present.” This concept underlies Singh’s entire approach to her art.

“What I’m about as a person is to really connect in with my emotions and feel wholeheartedly the feeling of whatever I’m singing about and then sharing that out with everyone,” she says. “So, with love songs, it’s not even just love for a specific person. It’s unconditional love for everything.”

Even before working with Blanes on I choose you, Singh had plenty of experience singing all-encompassing love songs. “I started out singing devotional spiritual Sikh music with my dad – I toured the world since I was a child singing that stuff,” she says. “And so, devotional music, yes, it’s got the religious aspects to it, but it’s devotion, right? So, I’ve been tapping into that part of me for a long time.”

She’ll be drawing from this deep well of experience when Singh & Blanes come to The Count’s.

“Just expect a breather moment,” Singh says. “Relaxed environment, very chilled, simple, but full of beauty.”

Get your tickets here.

This article was made in partnership with The Count’s.