Who is Blake Appelqvist
Hi, my name is Blake Appelqvist (they/them) and I am a Māori (Ngāti Porou) and Swedish multidisplinary artist based in Naarm. I’m a creative across a few different industries and am currently focused on helping develop new musicals/plays to be mounted, recording new music and collaborating with local producers/songwriters, platforming underrepresented groups alongside emerging talent and supporting intersectional diversity within media.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Since I was a kid, I always had one goal for my future – becoming an architect. In high school, I was doing all the subjects I needed to study to have that career, and had a week of work experience in an architecture firm that ended up being so boring. The office was bland, the air was stale and I got a genuine taste of what my life could look like. That week I swapped all my subjects to electives I was good at, but didn’t know if I could have a career in. It was a scary change, but ultimately one of the best decisions I made, to trust my gut, follow my foolish dreams and invest in my creative intelligence.
Who inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by the music artists I listen to (like Frank Ocean and SZA) for their lyricism and casual modern romanticism, impactful theatre, the kindness of strangers and questions that keep me thinking. When I’m writing music, I find inspiration can hit at any time, and I keep a daily practice of being inspired by the world by actively accepting the curveballs I encounter.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
The difference I make is by showing up and doing the best that I can everyday. It’s in the choice of language that I use to ensure I include people of all gender identities, its in the way I move through spaces as a queer person and how I take responsibility of our collective future. Everyone has the ability to make an impact on the world, however big or small, we’re all essential and we all are the difference.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Aotearoa 🌿 I just came back from a week there and had planned to do all these fun tourist things, but ended up following my family tree, meeting cousins and heading to where my mum and grandma grew up. I am Māori (Ngāti Porou) and it was my first time being on my whenua, so it was a tremendous experience reconnecting with my whakapapa in Aotearoa and I am already planning on going back next year.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Not really an attraction, but I would take them to my favourite cafés and restaurants – Naarm has so many incredible local eateries and coffee spots, and I find spending time with people over food always ends up being more memorable.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished 16,000km or so a divine release of poetry by tyrnyr and have just started A Bathful of Kawakawa and Hot Water: Selected Writings which is a collection of selected writings by Hana Pera Aoake. I tend to lean more towards poetry for physical books, and gravitate to reading plays digitally a few times a month.
What are you currently listening to?
Currently listening to the unreleased tracks off my debut EP HOPEFUL ROMANTIC coming out this November. I’ve started releasing music this year, and have been blown away by the responses from music channels, radio stations and strangers, and am pumped to share some secret collabs next year!
Happiness is?
Staying curious, finding what you love, trusting your intuition and sharing that happiness with others.
What does the future hold for you?
Hope.
Blake stars as the Lost Boy in Opera Australia’s production of Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan – which plays the Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne from 21 – 28 November 2026. For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Blake Appelqvist (supplied)