From The Heart Of THE MURDER CAPITAL: GABRIEL BLAKE Talks Touring, Music, And Inspiration

Interview by Angela Croudace
HEAVY caught up with Gabriel Blake from The Murder Capital to chat
about their latest album, Blindness, their exciting upcoming
Australian and New Zealand tour, and the band's incredible journey
so far.
When asked about the themes of Blindness, Gabriel explained, "The
album is about love, being Irish, and dealing with the blindsiding
aspects of life. It touches on things like distance, both physical
and emotional, and the feeling of not being able to see someone you
love."
The conversation then turned to their history, with Gabriel
reflecting on their previous albums. "Our first record dealt with
grief, and the second was more of a celebration of life. Blindness
is a departure—it's more about loss, and not just in terms of
death, but also the emotional distance between people."
The Murder Capital's touring journey has been nothing short of
intense. Earlier this year, the band had the incredible opportunity
to support two legends: Pearl Jam on their UK tour and Nick Cave
& the Bad Seeds, one of Gabriel's biggest idols. Reflecting on
their time with Nick Cave, he described the experience as surreal.
"It was truly amazing," he said. "Nick Cave is one of the greatest,
and we were lucky that he really connected with our music. He even
invited us to dinner with him and The Bad Seeds—just the chance to
share a real human connection with someone we've admired for so
long was unforgettable."
The conversation then moved to their debut single, More or Less,
which took off online, and Gabriel admitted it was a lot to handle.
"It was fun but also intense. We didn't expect it to blow up like
that, but we worked hard for it, and it was what we wanted."
As for Blindness' artwork, Gabriel explained that the band worked
with Victor H, a renowned album cover artist. "The album cover
represents potential and the inner emotional struggle of looking
out into the world while feeling lost inside."
Reflecting on their journey, Gabriel shared a personal insight: "If
The Murder Capital never started, I'd probably be working as an
undertaker. It's a family business, and I've always had an
appreciation for both the highs and lows of life." Gabriel came to
an interesting realisation; he sees people at their best, enjoying
his music at shows and witnessing people at their lowest, grieving
for loved ones through his undertaking job. Gabriel also believes
that working as an undertaker has made him more empathetic,
emphasising that it's not about the individual but about supporting
the family in their time of need. He shared that his philosophy is
to set aside one's emotions and ego to be a steady presence for
those grieving. The role involves being calm, offering physical
help, or providing comfort when needed. He reflected on how this
perspective has shaped his appreciation for life, highlighting the
importance of putting others first and maintaining emotional
composure during challenging moments. Gabriel believes this ability
to reserve one's emotions in such situations is key to offering
genuine empathy.
Gabriel's confidence in the band's growth and future was evident as
the interview concluded. "This third album feels like we've truly
earned our place. We're not an overnight success—we've put in the
work."
Catch The Murder Capital live on their Australian and New Zealand
tour in April 2025, and experience the raw emotion and depth of
Blindness firsthand.


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