The Weather in Her Songs: A Conversation with Theo Bleak

Photo by Joy Gansh 

With over 36,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Theo Bleak’s music has found its way far beyond Scotland, resonating with listeners from London and Glasgow to Melbourne, Sydney and New York. Her most streamed track, ‘I Look Like A Fool To You’, has surpassed 360,000 streams, while her latest EP ‘Bad Luck Is Two Yellow Flowers’ released this May, marks a new chapter in her evolving sound.

Citing Jeff Buckley as one of her inspirations, and with a sonic palette that recalls artists like The Sundays, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lorde, Theo Bleak’s music captures the strange duality of growing up and looking back – soft and sharp all at once. We caught up with Katie to talk about the world of Theo Bleak, her connection to Dundee, the making of her new EP, and where she sees it all heading next. 

For anyone listening to Theo Bleak for the first time, how did this project begin, and what inspired the name?

The project began when my old one came to an end, and I wanted to start something new. I’ve been working with my best friend Mark for years, so we decided to try something different together, which eventually became Theo Bleak towards the end of 2021. At first, we didn’t really know what it would become, but it’s turned into its own world – my world. 

The name came from wanting to escape myself a bit, to have a character I could live through who embodied traits I felt I lacked. ‘Theo’ always felt like a beautiful, androgynous name, while ‘Bleak’ felt very gothic and Scottish, like the weather. It gave me a sense of separation from myself while still feeling true to me. 

You were based in Dundee but now are in Glasgow. How has either environment shaped your sound and the way you make music? 

Dundee is really home. It’s where I went to school and university, and where most of my important experiences have happened. That sense of familiarity, isolation, and nostalgia feeds into my music. I often write about rare feelings and about missing childhood and innocence – things I return to when I feel low. The East Coast in general has a forgotten musical history; I think of bands like Big Country and The Associates who came out of it. Glasgow gets most of the attention, but there’s so much great music from other parts of Scotland too. 

Photo by Joy Gansh 

Your latest EP ‘Bad Luck is Two Yellow Flowers’ feels both nostalgic and deeply personal. What was going through your mind when making it?

It’s funny to look back on, because the EP feels rather righteous in tone. I think I sensed my impending self implosion coming when I was writing it. Listening to it now, it almost feels prophetic. I felt at that time as if I was imparting a lot of philosophical wisdom, as if that was mine to hand out, whereas I'm at a stage now where I realise I know very little about life and what can happen at any time. The energy of those songs were honest, and energy never lies.

With artists like Jeff Buckley as inspiration, what have you learned from listening to the artists who have moved you most? 

I’ve always been drawn to artists who are messy and raw. I don’t like things that feel overly polished or wholesome. It doesn’t feel like me. I relate to those that are understanding, those who see life beneath the surface and who are in tune with their darkness. I'm so chaotic myself so I'm particularly drawn to those who explore those things right now. 

Your music has found listeners all over the world, from London to Glasgow to Melbourne and New York. How does it feel knowing that people so far away connect with your songs?

It’s surreal, honestly. I don’t expect commercial success, and I’m okay with that. What matters to me is that people listen and relate to what I make. When someone connects a song to their own experiences or emotions, that’s the whole reason I release music. If I thought too hard about it, I’d probably implode. 

My songs often take on new meanings for listeners. Sometimes people completely reinterpret what I’ve written, and I've learned to love that. You’ll never be fully understood as an individual, and that’s fine. Music is about shared feeling, not total understanding. 

You have such a strong visual identity, from your albums’ cover art to your blog. How do visuals influence the way you write and think about music? 

I see the world very visually. I read a lot and have a vivid imagination, so the world of Theo Bleak came together quite naturally. I’m inspired by Gothic literature, especially from the late 1700s onwards, and I think that sense of drama and melancholy filters into everything I do. 

I’ve also always been drawn to certain clothes, colours, and textures. Over time, those things became part of the character and aesthetic. I’m lucky to collaborate with artists who understand what I’m trying to create, because I can’t always do everything myself (videos, styling, photos). But because I know so clearly what I want something to look like, I’ve been able to work with the right people who bring that world to life. 

Lastly, where do you see Theo Bleak heading next? 

I have no idea. I’ve just finished a mixtape of thirteen songs coming out in December, and it feels very raw and different from anything I’ve done before. I keep myself busy, but I’m done trying to predict where I’ll end up…I didn’t even think I’d even get here. I just hope I can keep releasing music and find ways to make life work around that. If it doesn’t get easier, I’ll still find a way to do it. 

Follow Theo Bleak on Instagram to keep up to date with her, and listen to her on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.