International Anthem / Worldwide / 2025
Alabaster DePlume's A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole explores the theme of healing, a journey he embarks on after realizing that many seek healing through his music. DePlume, a Mancunian singer-saxophonist and poet, reflects on the complexities of self-worth, dignity, and healing in a world where these ideas are often commodified. His own search for healing involves slowing down, practicing jiu-jitsu, and writing poetry, including a book titled Looking for My Value: Prologue to a Blade.
The album's lyrics, drawn from his poetry, emphasize agency, self-determination, and the process of confronting life’s pains instead of avoiding them. The metaphor of a blade—something that must remain whole to be functional—captures the album's message that self-respect and personal dignity are essential to healing. Tracks like Oh My Actual Days and Invincibility focus on embracing one’s emotions, while Form a V is inspired by his jiu-jitsu practice and symbolizes resilience.
DePlume, who previously worked in collective improvisation, composed and produced this album himself, collaborating with other musicians. He also reflects on his past as a support worker and his connection to activism, with his 2020 breakthrough album To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1 marking his international success.
In addition to his album, DePlume released a three-track EP partially recorded in Palestine, addressing themes of dignity in the context of political struggles. A Blade intertwines personal healing with global issues, including the oppression faced by Palestinians, linking dignity to the larger human right to life and freedom from suffering.
Ultimately, the album and DePlume's broader work suggest that healing is a continual process, one that requires ongoing effort and reflection. It’s about recognizing our own worth and working through pain, both individually and collectively.