Canadian artist Blair Lee has a new EP called The Puppy Game that has cracked my top 10 EPs of 2022. The five-song release was produced by ModMaxx, who has previously worked with Drake and Tinashe.
The first single from the EP was “Hurdles” – a touching song that sounds like it was
written by James Taylor and Paula Cole. The new single “Last Bite” has a majestic Beatles feel. Some albums and EPs (like the latest one by Yeah Yeah Yeahs) are so histrionic that I seldom listen to the entire opus in one sitting. But The Puppy Game is one of those records you can enjoy from start to finish – and even on repeat.
Blair says: “One thing I hold onto is my inner child, and my right to create freely. It’s important to me, and I think it comes out most when I am making music. That’s why I called the EP ‘The Puppy Game’. It’s a game we played as kids (me and my cousins and siblings), but when I think about it now, I’m still pretending to be a puppy in some ways. This is also probably why I chose to use a childhood photo as the cover art. It’s like an ode to my younger self.”
Lee’s voice has a warmth and innocence that provide the perfect complement to her
songwriting. Based on the quality of The Puppy Game, Blair Lee needs to make space on
her mantle for some JUNO awards.
Watch the video for “Last Bite” below or find it on the streamers.
The Puppy Game is out now. Follow Blair on Instagram.
