About Blair
Born on the East Coast, and home to the West, Blair Borax’s musical journey began unexpectedly in 2016, when a friend gifted her a cheap guitar.
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Since then, Borax has become a prolific songwriter, recording artist, and performer, known for her distinctive voice, captivating melodies, and thoughtful songwriting that taps into the heart of being human. Since she quit her day job in 2022, she has released two full length albums and played over 300 shows across the country.
With more sophisticated songwriting, a newfound confidence in fingerpicking guitar, and a move towards dynamic acoustic folk production, her latest record, “Tender Lately” (2024), offers gentle reminders to quiet the inner critic, find joy in the small things, and embrace the precious brevity of our time on Earth.
Photography by Jess Buckley
“With rich lyrics and a voice like molasses, Blair Borax makes music that moves you to the heart of being human, offers you a warm cup of tea, and invites you to stay a while.”
Performance history
Blair Borax has been captivating audiences as a solo artist and with her band since 2018. Since making the bold decision to she quit her day job as an educator to pursue music wholeheartedly in June 2022, she has performed over 150 shows across 8 states, at prestigious venues such as Mississippi Studios, Polaris Hall, Show Bar, and the Belfry (OR); Trout Lake Hall, Ballard Homestead, Sou’Wester Lodge, and the Fremont Abbey (WA); as well as, Hotel Cafe, Lost Church, and the Golden Gate Park bandshell (CA); Skylark, Wolverine Farm, Jamestown Mercantile; and the Roxy (CO), among many others.
She has had the privilege of sharing the stage with talented and esteemed artists like Marty O'Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra, Josiah Johnson (formerly of the Head and the Heart), Jacob Miller, Sam Weber, Kendall Lujan, Halley Greg (of the Voice S20), Caitlin Jemma, Alexish Wildish (of the Voice S24), and Miranda Mallard. Her diverse musical experiences and collaborations contribute to the rich tapestry of her evolving artistic voice.
She is currently booking shows, festivals, and house concerts for 2024. Please email blairborax@gmail . com with booking inquiries.
Photography by Camille Bruya
REviews
“It seems almost mandatory to mention an artist from Oregon’s Portland every month and here it’s Blair Borax who, on ‘Tender Lately’, cleaves to the folkier side of the Portland Community. If you can consider her midway between Anna Tivel and Kassi Valazza that might give you an indication of how she sounds although we’d also toss in Alela Diane for comparison. Anyhow, Borax has a delightful voice which seems full of innocent delight, there’s a moment on the best song here, ‘A Wink Or Worse’ where she positively yelps.” -Americana UK
“It is singing that sometimes resembles the idiosyncratic folk singers who made their way within psychedelic folk in the 1960s, but I also hear something from idiosyncratic singers of the moment such as Regina Spektor, Adrianne Lenker and especially Haley Heynderickx…Ultimately, no comparison can hold up for very long, so let me just say that Blair Borax has a special voice… that certainly draws attention to Tender Lately, which is Blair Borax's second album. -De Krenten Uit De Pop
“Defying external pressures and expectations, “I’m Not Listening” is a serenade that will strike an immediate note with many. A delightful brainchild of Blair Borax, this record weaves a deep narrative that unfolds over unfaltering vocals and a shimmery instrumental. The titular song of the latest EP (which itself is a part of her album “Tender Love), the song has other intriguing companions such as “Call Me Lazy” and “While The World Grew Wicked”; the American singer-songwriter chooses various topics anywhere from worldly changes to intimate heartbreaks, interpreted into bold and creatively written songs with her distinct vocals acting as a guiding hand.“For Borax, quitting her teaching job was a step into believing in herself and her music, enough to know she can do it full time and put her everything into her art. It’s all evident in her new music, both recorded and live. Though as Borax said, growing her confidence is still a constant practice, where she is now and where she’s heading is more her than ever before, and the best of Borax is still to come down the road.” -A Song in Life
“For Borax, quitting her teaching job was a step into believing in herself and her music, enough to know she can do it full time and put her everything into her art. It’s all evident in her new music, both recorded and live. Though as Borax said, growing her confidence is still a constant practice, where she is now and where she’s heading is more her than ever before, and the best of Borax is still to come down the road.” -Indie/Alt
“We like the holding, flowing, and sincere character on this song. The style is brimming with acoustic pop-inspired elements blended with folk and singer-songwriter textures through the flow. It makes for an easygoing, soothing, spacious character. Musically it gives off this light and soft feel. It hints at the likes of Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Regina Spektor, Big Thief, etc. Appreciate the lyrical prowess complemented by the simple rhythm.” -UNXIGNED on ‘Never Mine, Never Mind’
“Now, if you’re ready to jump on this good-thoughts bandwagon, but don’t know where to begin, try this: listen to the music of Blair Borax. She writes songs that are meant to bring joy, laughter and healing, and she sings them with, surely, the new, best voice to come out of Portland. If you like Suzanne Vega, Charlotte Martin, Sam Phillips, Hayley Williams, Tori Amos, Georgia Buchanan (Call me Loup), Regina Spektor, and, yes, maybe even a little FKA twigs, you’ll want Blair Borax on your playlist.” -Bridgeliner
“For Portland singer-songwriter Blair Borax, music and yoga are inextricably connected. In her own personal journey, one would not exist without the other. They have both given her tools of self-awareness—to be able to express herself, to trust her voice and to be vulnerable. And it is all of this that is embodied in Borax’s latest single, “Empty”—a beautiful acoustic pop package that explores how an empty room can open a channel to explore the big questions in life.” - Vortex Magazine
“Blair Borax brings us another lovely tune with her newest single Days Like Today, which showcases her talent in lyrical imagery and songwriting structure.” -Local Roots Music
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