12630/Truthseekers Podcast: Alison Blaire

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Truthseekers Podcast: Alison Blaire
Date of Scene: 30 August 2022
Location: Truthseekers Studio
Synopsis: Alison 'Dazzler' Blaire is a famous performer and singer. Her stage shows are reknown for their wild light shows, and wonderfully soothing lyrics. She's releasing a new album this October and comes to the 'Truthseeker Podcast' to talk to April O'Neil.
Cast of Characters: April O'Neil, Alison Blaire




April O'Neil has posed:
April's podcast studio is setup quite nicely with brand new equipment scattered around the room, and a good amount of wild, and silly decorations that have been gifted to her by her variety of guests she has throughout the weeks over the past year and more.

Her show manager sits off to the side, tending to the equipment, and televisions in the room, along with the cameras and mics, while April sits on the left side of the main show table. She's wearing a Cobra Kai tshirt with a pair of headphones on, her hands together on the table after having just sat down.

The intro music for her show plays, and her manager gives her the signal, as April looks over the desk toward her guest.

"Well well well..." She says, with a big smile on her youthful face. "Alison Blaire. It's a pleasure to get to meet you, let alone have you on the show. You're... quite a celebrity." She says kindly, playfully even, to break the ice and get the guest settled in for the show having started.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison's agent had reached out to her about doing the podcast and she'd agreed. Obviously she's doing the press tour for her new album set to release next month, but when she arrived she did so with a big grin that seemed more genuinely excited than selling something. She'd shown up wearing a faded Pink Floyd t-shirt, skinny jeans with tears in the thighs and knees, and a pair of cropped riding boots. A beanie sits high on her blonde hair, which is worn short, and died pink at the tips.

"Thanks for having me, I'm actually a big fan of YOURS.." She says from her position across the table from April. "One of my friends got me into the podcast scene a few years ago, a little late I know, when you did that piece on Harley Quinn. So It's a real pleasure to be here."

She sips from a mug of tea she's got sitting off to the side, lifting one leg to cross over the other as she gets comfortable.

April O'Neil has posed:
Off to the side of where the desk is a counter filled with drink options, all kinds of alcoholic beverages, and even odds and ends like cigars, cigarettes and strange snack foods from all around the world. They're there for the guests to sample and enjoy if they like!

At Alison's words, April just continues to smile. "God, that interview." She says before laughing. "Life changer, to say the least... You know how you got moments that just reshape it all? Well, that one was a big one of those for me." She says of her fateful interview that lead to her roommate becoming quite a key figure in her life!

"But yeah. I heard your new song, it's fantastic. So to know that you're a fan of me? Well... that's just awesome..." April shoots a grin over to the singer. "So what drove the change in tone and style for you? I've always known you to be more of a ... traditional pop star style of performer. Now, you're getting in to the moody stuff. You're gonna end up doing the soundtrack for Vampire films." She jokes toward the other woman across from her.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I can only imagine. I'm not ashammed to admit I use to follow her on twitter, which I probably shouldn't..." Alison takes a deep breath and laughs, waving the thought of damaging her reputation and image off with a twist of her hand, "It was a good interview. There's two shows I wanted to do, Truthseeker and Hot Ones." Another short laugh and another sip of her tea. Then she's pulling open a bag of cashews.

Popping one in her mouth with a series of short nods, "I'm pretty proud of the new song, though I'll probably take a lot of hits for it from my diehard fans. It definitely isn't my traditional sound." Motioning across the table at April who says that very thing, grinning herself.

"I came to the realization that at a certain point in your creative career, you have to decide what kind of body of work you want to leave behind... or what you're trying to say? If that makes sense. And don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with making a life long career in Pop Music, but I felt that I had a lot more in me. So I suppose I just wanted to test myself artistically?"

That probably feels more like a canned, prewritten answer. She's probably said something almost identical on other talk shows the last few days. Though she does laugh at the last bit, "I can only hope? Interview With a Vampire is getting a new show on AMC I hear. Maybe I should have my agent reach out?"

April O'Neil has posed:
Another laugh comes from the show host as she keeps eye contact with the lovely singer across from her. "Maybe you should... I mean, I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing that show in my household. It's right up our alley." She says with a little chuckle following. Her head then goes on to shake back and forth.

"I think you have made the right choice. I mean, I'm no singer, I break mirrors if I try, but... if I were... I'd want to change it up now and then, to keep my mind fresh. It seems to me if you try new things, you'll get new inspiration that may give you totally awesome results, when you decide you want to go back to something else." She slowly shakes her head then as she considers that.

"Maybe I'm way off. But in my writing experience, if I take a break from something I've focused on a lot... I'll come back later with a fresh perspective, and it's like a floodgate of creativity has opened up since I was working on other things."

April shoots a grin at the woman then. "So, does this mean that a touch of Country is in your future too?" She teases.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"If Greg Nicatero is involved, I'm sure it'll be great." Alison clearly has no problem holding her own in the popculture department, "I'll have to record it, unfortunately. My tour starts mid October, but you can bet once I finish the last date, I'll be binge watching it!" She swallows a bit more tea and tosses another cashew in her mouth, nodding along with April's observations.

"You stagnate, yeah. At least creatively. When I decided that this is what I wanted to do for a living, I had to come to a few realizations about who and what I was... specifically, I mean, I wasn't going to be eighteen forever. As much as we might wish we could..." A clipped laugh, a slight shrug, "Besides, there's something truly lovely about a meloncholy ballot. It's no different for a group like Rush. They just went the oposite direction."

When asked if there's country in her future, however, she laughs. "Maybe. If Clive Owens asked me to do a song with him, I definitely wouldn't turn it down. And I've got people in talks with Kanye West for him to sample one of my earlier works on his next album."

April O'Neil has posed:
"Kanye, yeah?" April says, still showing a little grin. "Boy, that should be a memory or two..." She adds with a soft upturn to her lips corners. "And yeah, I can think of a couple artists who branched out, and tried new things... maybe with more questionable results. Like, I remember... Garth Brooks? He had a whole character designed for his moodier music, didn't he?" She asks then, laughing softly and shaking her head. "It was my mother's influence that even lets me remember that much. She was a big fan of his."

April laughs a little more before she raises her hands up to press her fingers under her chin as she stares across the table. "What do you want to be remembered for most?" She asks next. "Like, lets say you've had this amazing career, that has spanned decades, and now you're mostly retired, and bathing in jacuzzis with rose petals all around you, bitching about life on Twitter, like Madonna..." April grins again toward Alison.

"At that point, what would you like your fans to remember most about your impact on the cultural zeitgeist?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I can imagine it will definitely leave a lasting impression or two yeah." Working with Kanye, though she didn't specifically say she'd be working with him. Alison knows how to tap-dance a delicate situation. There's some people who aren't real pleased with the man known as West. "Chris Gaines." She says of Garth Brooks, laughing herself. "You know, you knock it, but there were some really great songs." Smiling easily, as if nothing really tempers her sunny disposition.

"Remembered for?" She blows out a long breath, "I suppose that I was willing to be me, no matter what. I'm taking a big risk, creatively, with this album, but it's something I'm passionate about. So long as it reaches one person, I'd like to say I'd find some contentment in that, artistically." Which wasn't really the question.

"I really don't think I'll have much impact on the cultural zeitgeist, however. I'm notoriously closed off in my personal life and have only a minor footprint on social media, but I'm honest. Both to myself and my fans. So, I'd like to say that, if anything, I'd be remembered for that. Even when she failed, she stayed honest."

April O'Neil has posed:
A warm smile crosses over April's features then as she listens to this response from the other woman. "I think you might underestimate your impact." She softly says back to her. "But, that's humility for you. A good trait to have, I should add." Another little grin comes and goes quickly before April tilts her head to the side then.

"Are you looking forward to the tour? Is it all across the US, or other locations beyond it? I can't imagine doing anything like that. I don't like flying, you see... I don't even go see my sister in California because of it." She states that last part with a smirk.

"It's so hard to get music out there these days too, I've heard. Since everyone is online now, and we're all being fought over for our attention... Do you have any tricks for getting your music in more ears?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Maybe so-" Alison laughs at the notion of her being humble, but sometimes the very expensive shoe does fit. "I just try not to put the cart before the horse, is all. I'm one of those people who wants to see how the story ends before she starts writing her autobiography. I think it was Back to the Future, what if we go to the future and we've become assholes?" Though it probably seems unlikely for her.

"Mm.. I am actually. There were a lot of set backs on my last tour, had to cancel a few dates at the tail end because of the invasions in Metropolis, but I'm really looking forward to it this year. We've got about fifty two dates already set all the way through March. Starting with a domestic schedule into November, then I'll go international for the last leg." She grins about this, offering a flick of her hand and taking another cashew in her mouth.

"I leaked a few early cuts from my new album online a few weeks ago to drum up initial interest, which has been mixed with the fans, but I'm drawing in a whole new demographic..." She clears her throat and furrows her brow. Hand pulling down the corners of her face, she glances over at the production manager, then back to April. "I'm sorry, is it alright if I'm candid? I'm so tired of regurgitating the same tired crap on every show, do you mind if I speak frankly?"

April O'Neil has posed:
April is just softly nodding her head to what Alison says before that last part gets a bigger amused expression to roll over her features. Vernon, the show manager, looks up from his computers to the two women, before April just laughs and nods her head. "Of course. I got you for a little while, so I'd prefer to get to know you as best as possible. Be as candid as you'd like to be."

"Oh, speaking of that..." April reaches down to the desk shelf at her right, then pulls up a photo of Dazzler that she offers over with a marker. "I got a guy, my listeners all know him. 'Mikey' is desperate for a autograph from you. He told me if you ever need a date, or a long term boyfriend, to keep him in mind." She says with a grin as she offers the items over for Alison to engrave with her signature.

"But, that being said..." She laughs a little again. "If you got stuff you'd like to get off your chest, lets hear it. Express your grievances, I say." She states with a half-cocked grin given over then.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison takes a breath and looks between Vernon and April as she speaks up about speaking frankly, then lets her expression flicker back into place when the photo is handed over, "I'd be happy to. You have a pen?" Since she's clearly not carrying one around with her. "And let me tell you, Mikey. If I end up winning a grammy this year, I'll let April know to tell me what your tux size is, huh?" She waits for the pen and signs it, To Mikey, don't be dazzled, be the dazzler Alison xoxo

She hands both over and takes sip from a glass of water she'd poured for herself at some point, getting her mind back on track towards what she has to say.

"You asked me what I feel like my contribution to the industry would be and I'll be honest, I didn't really know how to answer that.. I guess my publicist gave you the list of questions for the interview." She sighs, shaking her head, "He's suppose to be protecting my image and bless him for it, but if I'm being completely factual? I'm /tired/ of trying to pretend I'm something I'm not."

She looks over at Vernon, then again back to April. "Since I was fifteen years old, I've been a mutant and I've hidden it that whole time. You asked me why there's a change in my style and tone? Because I'm not very good at making speaches, so the only way I know how to show people deal with on a daily basis is through my music."

April O'Neil has posed:
April accepts the photo and pen back with a grin. "He'll be ecstatic..." She quietly says before slipping them away again. After that, April gives the performer her full attention, as she rests on her elbows on the edge of the desk. Her blue eyes on Alison, she listens to the woman, seeing the inner turmoil as she begins to share her personal information.

When it comes, April's eyebrows go up, her hands clasped together in front of her chin.

Vernon is similarly watching, but staying quiet as he normally does, just operating the tech side of things.

April glances off camera, then back toard Alison. "No shit?" She asks. "Wow... I bet that has been hard to hang on to... But hey, you're in good company. Most of my closest friends are mutants too.." From a certain point of view. "So you've had to sit by and watch the... injustice mutants have faced. That must've been very hard..." April says in a soft tone.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison breaths as if a burden has just fallen off her shoulders, though it is entirely possible the turmoil has just begun for her. "It has, yes." She murmurs quietly, wetting her throat. She glances down at her phone, glad that these things are recorded and not live for no other reason than her Publicist would be lighting her up with calls right about now. Why hadn't she run this past him first?!

"And capitalizing on it in some cases, which is another reason for my change in style. It's gotten to be increasingly difficult to seperate what I do from who I am.. There's a reason I went to such personal trouble to keep my private life a secret." She motions around as if that explains, or could explain, everything.

"But I want to be a voice that mutants can listen to and know that she's going through the same thing as them. Telling their stories... expressing their pain and fears. Because I /do/ understand it. I've been very lucky, blessed even, some haven't. So I'm doing this all for them."

April O'Neil has posed:
April's forefingers press tip to tip as she holds them up against her chin and lower lip. She listens closely to Alison, before she glances away again toward the location of the doorway where Alison's manager is on the other side in the lounge outside. April looks back, and casts Alison a grin. "You're an honorable person, Alison Blaire. Doing this, is brave. You know the ... sad truth of what is likely to come from it. At least from some corners. While I think you might be surprised the amount of love, and acceptance that you'll be getting from a new audience base that will be learning of this for the first time, of course."

April pauses there for a second.

"What do you expect to do... with this, going forward? Is this what the focus of your tour will be about? Mutants, and mutant issues?" April then asks. "Or are you looking to just make it about the music, and let it speak for itself?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison glances over at her manager there behind the glass, who for all the world looks like he's been frozen solid by an arctic blast. His eyes wide enough that any of them could walk inside and see what he's thinking 'there goes my career'. She looks back to April with her brow spiking and her cheeks puffing in that smile, which lacks the same humor and general optomistic energy it had moments before her bombshell.

"I just want people who have very little going for them to know someone is out here making the best despite the worlds indifference to us. I'm not clammoring for acceptance or trying to sell records with this... I'm trying to make a statement. Be part of a solution that's long overdue."

She opens her hands in a little shrug.

"Some of both, I guess. Obviously, by the look on my managers face, nobody on my team was aware I intended to make this revelation tonight, but they're all aware of who and what I am. So it's no surprise to them... nor to some of my biggest fans who I've never gone out of my way to hide from." She's speaking directly to the kids at Xaviers, whether she says so overtly or not. "So I'd like to say it's about the music, and that really is my intention, but we both know that it wont be entirely true. My songs /are/ about mutant struggle, especially on this new album. Whether that caters or panders... It isn't intentional, but if through what I'm doing on this tour, I can shine light on a pretty glaring dishonesty in the system?"

She shrugs and sips some water before adding, "Well, what artist doesn't hope for that?"

April O'Neil has posed:
April lowers her hands back down to the table where she lays them against its surface. She gently nods to Alison's words before shaking her head lightly. "Well, I applaud this. Now that you say it, it makes things have quite a bit more context too.."

After a light breath, April tilts her head again very softly whilst staring over the distance between them. "Have you had to struggle with your mutation?" She asks next. "I mean, in the sense of those who have not had control over their own? I haven't ever seen any evidence that you've had such issues, but... as you said, you've lived quiet a private life." She ends those words with a faint smile that is gone rather swiftly.

"I think, this will mean a lot to young mutants out there, who may be struggling with their own mutations... to be sure. I mean, you've made it a long way with yours, even if you've had to hide it up to this point..."

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison doesn't try to interject while April formulates questions off the script that Dazzler's people had provided, but this was specifically why she'd chosen to do this show... Grinning, both inwardly and to the reporter, when she bounces right into the questions. "Not to the extent others have, no. I was very lucky. I had people who took me in when I was young, taught me. A luxury that we can only hope for.. but I received an excellent education, both formally and in the control of my mutations." She settles her hands in her lap.

There's a slight grin that creeps onto her face, conspiratory almost.. "I really haven't hidden them as well as you might think." She says with a glance around at the production table and interview room before returning her gaze on April herself, "But I hope it does. I hope that some little girl or boy struggling with finding their identity as a mutant sees me up on stage and realizes that they are not what people say they are. That the only thing that holds them back is themselves because we /are/ people. I hope they reach out and grab the stars and find whatever their hearts desires.. If I can do anything, at all, in this life, it would be to inspire just one person to know they can be whatever they want. All it takes is hard work, dedication, and belief in yourself."

"A cliche is only a cliche because it's true."

April O'Neil has posed:
"Well, I think you're going to have a lot more mutant eyes on your performances going forward..." April softly tells the other woman. "I mean, you likely already had a lot, but now... a lot more are soon to come." She shows a playful grin again before raising a hand up to adjust the headset she's wearing, and the microphone she's talking in to just a little.

"I imagine your socials are gonna be blowing up here soon too." She tells alison with a little laugh.

"I think I can hear your manager sweating through his suit jacket in the other room too. But, this is great, and I can't wait to see how it unfolds for you going forward. I'm curious if you have anything available for mutants who need help? Like resources and such that they can reach out to. If not, you might wanna get that setup soon. Because you, for all intents and purposes, could very well become /the/ face of Mutants around the world..."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I hope to attract a few non-mutants too. Maybe shine through some of the hatred misplaced upon us, but that's just me trying to see my bottomline." Alison jokes with a wave of her hand and return of her good natured smile. As if nothing can really phase her.. she mirrors April adjusting her headset, mostly out of habit.

"It's going to be complicated since I generally respond to everyone who posts on my social media platforms, but... bring it on, you know?" She laughs as well, quiet and soft.

"Yeah, I can almost hear him burning my contract. It's alright Steven, trust me? How long have we been working together?" He looks terrified, already starting to make phonecalls. She shrugs and looks back to April, nodding to this next question.

"I do, or have anyways. I'm a trustee on a foundation that helps young mutants who have been seperated from their families. Silently, unfortunately... at least until now. I would have brought the information, but if your production manager wants to get with me after the show I can provide it?" She glances to Vernon and raises a brow, then looks back to April. "I've also donated to a scholarship specifically for mutants to get college tuition for advanced studies." As for being the face of mutants around the world? She laughs and shrugs, "There are people far better suited for that kind of accolade than me, but I'm in a position to help people.. so it seems wrong of me not to."

April O'Neil has posed:
Vernon leans toward his own rarely-used-microphone. His deep booming voice speaks up in to it. "Any excuse to get to spend a little time with you, Miss Blaire." He says with a charming smile given over to the woman. He's a notorious ladies man, Vernon Fenwick.

April smirks at Vernon before she nods her head. "We'll have all of that listed under the video in the show notes." She says before smiling faintly again, and then shaking her head once more.

"Mutants have it rough, ya know? They don't choose to be what they are, and their mutations seem to have no limits on what they can manifest themselves as... To just wake up one day? Suddenly your mutation makes itself known, completely out of your control... and people get /mad/ at them for it. I mean, I get it, sometimes. Those mutations can harm people around the young mutant, innocent people. But it's not like ... it's not like the Mutant /chose/ to harm them. I mean, of course there are bad actors out there who use their mutations for nefarious purposes... but there's so many who don't, or don't want to. Yet they get treated like shit too. It's just so unfortunate. We need to band together, as a people, to be there to help our youth settle in to their mutations. At least, that is how I feel about it."

April shows a smirk at herself then before she motions toward Alison. "What do you expect from all of this?" She asks then.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison smirks at Vernon and nods, "I'll give you an autograph too. It'll be a gas." She teases and shakes her head to look back over at April, nodding her appreciation for having the information added to the splash page for the show.

"It's true, to an extent, that there have been situations where mutations have manifest in a way that can be harmful to those around the young mutant.." Alison breaths a shallow sigh, "But it's rarely the first time those powers manifest. It's when they hide it.. because the world we live in villifies them to such an extent that they feel like they HAVE to hide. Rather than coming forward to their parents, their friends, and telling them what they are and what's happening to them? They have to pretend that it hasn't.. They never learn to understand it, to control it, and then something happens..." She shakes her head and looks genuinely sad about this fact.

"I wish there were easy solutions to difficult problems, but there's not. The only thing we CAN do is encourage young mutants to feel comfortable in their skin. To come forward and seek out help... but to do that, people have to be willing to help. More than just some singer of songs, we need more people out there saying.. it's okay. You're safe."

But there's no easy way to fix this. "Expect? Nothing.. not really. I'll probably get a lot of hatred on the internet, probably protesters at my shows. That's fine. The only way for this evil to continue is for good people to continue doing nothing. My conscious wont allow it anymore. So here I am... standing up for who I am, be damned the consciquences to myself." Since she's careful about outing anyone else who isn't ready for that.

April O'Neil has posed:
A light smile is shown then as April listens. "Well, the internet is full of people who love to be as terrible to each other as possible. So yeah, that one is a given, for sure." She smirks once more before drawing in a breath and giving one singular nod to the other woman. "Establishing safe havens for the young Mutants, who need help, hell... even the old ones, is everything." She says while shaking her head slowly side to side.

"I'm no mutant, I can barely put my pants on in the morning without falling over. No super powers here to speak of. But I'm happy to do what I can to raise awareness, and reach out to find help. So if any mutants reach out to me, well I'll gladly forward them on to you too, if needs be. But in the down time, I plan to just enjoy your new album, and the wonderfully atmospheric songs within it."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I have two stylist and a personal assistant that helps me get my pants on without falling over." Alison jokes with a laugh, shaking her head at her own self-deprication, "Unfortunately, my mutant abilities did not take the form of pantsology." Her grin widens a bit, "But yeah, I didn't mean to make this about some hidden mutant agenda or anything. Hyjack your show for my own ends, I just.. it's something that's been weighing heavy on my heart and soul. I figured there was no better place to lift the burden than here."

She settles back and nods, grinning wider with a wink across the table, "I hope many people do. Both reach out and enjoy my new album. It'll be available for download on the second of october and it's titled Truth or Dare. And tickets for the first tour date go on sale the following week.." She glances at her manager who tries not to scowl. At least she's still /trying/ to make it about the album?

"Sorry, shameless plug after all that heaviness. I don't want my manager to fire me."

April O'Neil has posed:
April just grins wide over at the other woman. "I don't think you're gonna get fired.. and if you do? You'll probably get eight hundred new offers for employment within the week." She assures her with a light laugh. "Plus, this is the place for you to talk about yourself, anything you're willing to talk about. This show may have my name on it, but I'm just the vessel to get to know Alison Blaire more... Same goes for my listeners. They're listening because they want to know the depths in which the Dazzler dwells."

More grinning is given before April motions to Vernon. "We got our tickets for your show at the Garden. I'll be the one sitting beside the girl with pink and blue hair, who'll probably have twelve hotdogs on her lap, and at least two beers in either hand." She's kidding, sort of, about her infamous roomie again.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I'll get you a couple back stage passes and maybe some tickets to give away to your listeners. I use to carry my first CD with me, so I could hand them out at press events, but nobody even owns a CD player anymore." Alison snickers and holds up her palms, "But I really just want people to realize I'm not any different than them. That's always been the message I tried to give in both my music and preformances. I don't think it's any different now."

Even if it very much is.

"I'll keep an eye out. Hell, I'd like to meet your roommate anyways." She's got a sinking suspicion that's Harley she's referring to. "I'm a fan of hers. Not many people can go through what she did and come out the otherside. If people are looking for a role-model, whom they should cherry pick as far as behavior to immulate... You know, the good stuff... Anyways." That's a dark hole.

April O'Neil has posed:
April holds the pen that she had given to Alison to sign that autograph for Mikey. She pinches either end of it as she listens, and grins. "Yeah, well, Harley Quinn loves dark holes. Like, I'm not even kidding. If she sees a dark hole somewhere, she's like 'Hey, Ape! Lets drop a 'thing' down there and see how long until we hear it hit the bottom.'" April continues to grin affectionately at describing her roommate. "You'd love her though. Lots of fun."

"And you know what? I hear records are making a comeback. So you might want to put your album out on some vinyl. I hear they got all kinds of new players up for sale on Amazon, and the like. So, along that trend, another decade and we might be back around to CDs again." She says with a little laugh.