Following a string of celebrated releases over the past five years, Melbourne's own Blanco Tranco have unveiled their debut album, 'The Imagined Life'. This highly anticipated record is a stunning and emotionally resonant blend of surf rock, shoegaze, and dream pop, creating a lush, polished sound that's also raw and deeply personal. Each track is a self-contained story, pulsing with its own life, driven by rich melodies, dynamic guitar work, and brutally honest songwriting. The album has been a labour of love, drawing on everything from the melancholic jangly sounds of The Smiths to the emotional depth of The National, all while carving out a unique space for the band.
Lyrically, frontperson Tiff Brown takes listeners on an introspective journey, exploring the disillusionment, identity crises, and emotional fragility that come with growing up. The songs tackle the pain of dissolving relationships, the struggle to feel like you have your life "on track," and the often-deceptive idea of an “imagined life.” Penned over several years, the album captures the cyclical nature of heartbreak and healing, confronting the difficult gap between the person you hoped to become and the person you are in reality.
We recently caught up with the band to chat about their journey so far, their creative process, and the stories behind their new record.
Hey Blanco Tranco! It’s so great to be able to catch up with you; thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions about the new album. First up, when did Blanco Tranco start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?
"Hey Broken 8 – thanks so much for having us!"
Matt: "In 2019 I put an ad on Gumtree looking to start a band. I had just moved to Melbourne and was keen to get involved in the local music scene, make some friends, and find a creative outlet. The ad was answered by Sophie (drums) and Mark (bass), and we started playing together as a three-piece instrumental band. While we had a good thing going, it felt like something was missing."
"In early 2020, I found Tiff's music on Soundcloud. I was so impressed that I reached out and asked her if she would be interested in joining the band. She came to our practice, and it was a game-changer. She had already written lyrics for two of our songs, "Petrichor" and "Homecoming," and when she performed them with us, we were completely blown away. That's when Blanco Tranco began - her voice and songwriting (and stage banter) completed the line up."
Congratulations on the new album! Can you tell us a bit about ‘The Imagined Life’ and what it means to you?
"'The Imagined Life' is our debut album, and it's a very personal collection of songs that we're thrilled to finally share with the world. We've been working on it for over three years, so releasing it is a huge relief and a chance to share a very personal part of our lives.
The album is a raw and introspective look at the disillusionment of young adulthood. It explores the difficult process of growing up and the gap between the life you imagine for yourself and the reality you live in. The songs, which were written over several years, explore themes like the pain of repeated heartbreaks, the struggle to let go of the past, and finding peace amid personal chaos. We feel this album is a major step forward for us as a band, and we can't wait to see what comes next."
Were there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the project?
Tiff: "Our individual music influences are like a big four-circle venn diagram and this album is at the centre. My writing in particular was very much fuelled by my experiences and emotions I was struggling to process. A big inspiration for me was when Olivia Rodrigo’s 'GUTS' album came out. I hadn’t really been a fan before, but that album made me connect with my inner angsty teenage girl. It broke my fear of being cringe while being vulnerable, because teenage girl things are always seen as cringe. Changing my lyrics to try and sound cooler or more palatable takes away the vulnerability, which to me is the most important thing within my writing. So many influences, but she has stood the test of time for me since then."
What was the band’s songwriting process for the album? How did it all come together?
Matt: "We usually start a new song with me creating a full demo in Logic. I'll then share it with the band, Tiff writes her vocal parts, and we all workshop it from there. This album had a few exceptions. 'Cloud Talk' and 'Bold For a Moment' were unique because Mark wrote every part for both songs."
"Sophie had a major influence on 'Cloud Talk', contributing significantly to the shape and feel of the track with her drum and percussion composition. For 'Baby Blue', we built the entire song around a vocal and piano voice memo Tiff had recorded in 2018, with me arranging the instruments to complement her original performance."
What’s the most important thing when you’re writing a song?
Matt: "For me, the most important thing when writing a song is to have a compelling hook. Whether it's a catchy bassline, a unique guitar riff, a memorable vocal melody, or a strong drum pattern, there needs to be something that makes the song instantly interesting. If that core element isn't there, there's little point in pursuing the idea further. Beyond that initial spark, a song should ideally be emotionally resonant."
"I believe music should connect with people on a deeper level. I'm particularly drawn to music that captures the ambiguity of life—those moments that are neither strictly happy nor sad but a blend of complex emotions. So much of our existence lacks a clear-cut meaning, and our feelings often reflect this, with moments of joy being tinged with grief. It's this emotional grey area that I try to reflect in our music."
"The arrangement is crucial. It's essential that each instrument has its own space to breathe. The goal is to ensure the guitar, bass, and drums don't clash, and everything works together to support the vocals. A well-crafted arrangement allows each element to stand out while contributing to the overall feel of the song."
How would you describe your sound on the album? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you began?
"Compared to our earlier work, this album differs in its newfound emotional depth and dynamic range. We intentionally moved beyond a single emotional tone to explore a wider spectrum of feelings, all while complementing the music with subtle details. This makes the album not just something to listen to but a genuine journey of emotional discovery. The result is a sound that feels like a natural progression of our style, showcasing a richer, more mature version of our music."
"There has definitely been an evolution in our style since we started. Our first EP, 'I've Been Dying To Tell You', had a grungy, lo-fi, jangle pop sound. We worked with producer Darius Papak and focused on themes of nostalgia, giving the music a raw, unpolished feel. For our second EP, 'Get Back To Me When It's Over', we shifted to a more polished, hi-fi sound with producer Calum Newton. The songs became more danceable with stronger rhythms and more vocal harmonies, exploring themes of young love and nightlife."
"On this release, 'The Imagined Life', continues this collaboration with Calum Newton, pushing the production even further. We've added a lot of "ear candy", experimenting with guitars to make them sound like anything but a guitar—using reverse guitars, pitch-shifted guitars, and randomised loops. The music also features more distortion and longer, more suspenseful breakdowns. Lyrically, our themes have matured to focus on introspection, personal growth, and acceptance."
What has been your best moment as a band so far?
Mark: "A real highlight was when Louise, who runs Honey Glider records booked a mini festival of Honeyglider Records acts at Tanswells Hotel in Beechworth. Doug, who runs gigs there, was an amazing host, and it was such a great crowd of locals and people that had travelled there for us. We played with other Honeyglider acts, No Statues and SERF that we love, and Tanswells is a classic pub, and we even all stayed upstairs in the haunted old rooms."
Tiff: "A personal highlight for me was our 'Get Back to Me When It’s Over' EP launch party. I didn’t personally expect the songs to resonate as well as they did, so to see all of that support was incredible. The size of the audience we play to ranges from literally two people to a packed room, but the fact we had a full room of people who came just to see us and support our EP was incredible."
Is there anything you would like to say to our audience before you go?
"To everyone who supports us, thank you. Your support truly means the world to us. Please continue to listen to our music, collect our records, and come to our shows. We're always so happy to hear from you, so feel free to message us and let us know what you've been enjoying about our music. We'd love to know how you have been connecting with the album. Tell us your favourite song!"
"And to our friends in Melbourne, mark your calendars! We are playing on 3rd October with Tin Pot Clay Man and TILE. We've got a special ticket and record bundle for just $54. We would love to see you there!"
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to Blanco Tranco for taking the time to chat with us. Their willingness to open up about their songwriting process, influences, and personal experiences has given us a fascinating glimpse into the heart of their music.
'The Imagined Life' is a testament to their dedication and artistry, and it's clear they are a band poised for great things. Be sure to check out the album, grab a record, and catch them at a show near you—their live performances are not to be missed. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this incredibly talented group.
You can stream the new album above, and for more, make sure you connect with Blanco Tranco on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp.
