Priscilla Block Finds Power and Perspective on Sophomore Album ‘Things You Didn’t See’: ‘It’s All Just Navigating Life’

At the tallness of the COVID-19 pandemic, erstwhile galore artists were weathering vocation blows near and right, Priscilla Block experienced the benignant of breakthrough galore artists crave. Her heartbreak ballad “Just About Over You” went viral aft she posted it connected TikTok. Soon, the North Carolina autochthonal signed with UMG Nashville (now MCA). The opus went connected to scope the apical 15 connected Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, and she followed it with the apical 5 deed “You, Me & Whiskey,” her collaboration with Justin Moore. In 2022, she released her full-length debut, Welcome to the Block Party, marking her accomplishment arsenic 1 of country’s astir charismatic, entertaining caller voices. She besides became a champion for assemblage positivity and acceptance connected songs specified arsenic “Thick Thighs” and “PMS.”

But with her sophomore large statement medium Things You Didn’t See, retired Friday (Oct. 10), Block lets fans successful connected the three-year travel of self-discovery beyond the signifier lights, the effervescent, unfiltered personality, and the bold fashions.

“I consciousness similar this grounds benignant of wraps up my twenties successful a whole,” says Block, who turned 30 successful August. “It’s each the emotions that you benignant of spell done successful your twenties wherever you consciousness similar you person beingness figured out, past you recognize you person thing figured retired and you’re falling successful love. Your heart’s broken, past you’re uncovering emotion again. It’s each conscionable navigating life.”

Working with producers including Jesse Frasure, David Garcia and Dave Cohen, Block shaped Things You Didn’t See into a reflection of some her creator and idiosyncratic growth, aft Block’s conversations with trusted manufacture colleagues caused her to upend plans for the album’s title, contented and merchandise schedule.

“Initially, it was going to beryllium released past year, and called Vanilla Ain’t Me,” Block says. “But I had a infinitesimal that truly shifted this record. I felt similar determination were parts of maine that the manufacture wasn’t understanding. I started calling radical — concern management, songwriters, statement people, my set — that I truly respected successful the industry. I opened myself up to disapproval and was like, ‘What bash you deliberation mightiness beryllium missing? What bash you deliberation I should truly amusement connected this record?’ And I kept hearing, ‘The branding is truly strong. We privation radical to cognize you the mode we cognize you.’ It inspired maine to spell constitute my story.”

Since her debut, Block has evolved from an ambitious newcomer into an creator who has doubly been nominated for ACM caller pistillate creator of the twelvemonth and opened shows for Shania Twain and Cole Swindell. But wherever wit and invincible assurance person go her hallmarks, the songs connected the caller album, specified arsenic “Couldn’t Care Less,” which she calls 1 of “the astir vulnerable, earthy songs I’ve ever written,” amusement immoderate of the susceptible cracks successful the armor.

“There’s nary denying that it’s a pugnacious manufacture and you got to person heavy skin,” she says. “I’ve ever been known to beryllium this confident, positive, bold property girl. Writing ‘Couldn’t Care Less’ was benignant of my diary. People mightiness deliberation that I couldn’t attraction less, but I truly couldn’t attraction more. This is each I’ve ever wanted. I felt similar I was successful this vibe of the miss that likes to person fun, enactment songs and bully vibes each the time. So it was important for maine to conscionable get backmost to the roots of conscionable penning my life.”

She touches connected aged heartbrea...