In Die Young, Blair presents a sonorous indie-pop gem five years in the making. The New Orleans native’s first full-length album, Die Young is a daydream swimming with resonant instrumentation and melodic vocals.

Blair (Gimma, when she lived here, before moving to Los Angeles then Brooklyn) sounds like a natural at crafting compelling, catchy pop songs. On Die Young, she presents such vast sound-scapes that it is hard to believe that almost the entire record was recorded in homes and closets in New Orleans. The production work of Keith Ferguson (World Leader Pretend) is impeccable.

Blair’s understated-but-earnest voice carries the record. Half Leslie Feist, half Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries, Blair’s youthful vocals breathe life into her delightfully unfolding melodies. Though lacking in dynamics, her voice still rings heartbreakingly clear. She has a definite charm.

The record is a cohesive work, yet each song shines with its own peculiarities. “Hello Halo” spins with fluttering confusion, featuring a refrain of “I don’t know what I’m saying,” whereas “So That’s It” is a slow and steady piano ballad, the only one of the album. “Candy in the Kitchen” may be the only outlier, featuring a thumping drum machine and dance-inspired lyrics, bordering more on dance than indie.

Die Young was a long time coming. It’s developed, with subtle beauty and definite direction. Blair has got a good thing going for her; hopefully it will not take another five years for her to release a record, but if she needs it, let her have it.