US Secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken is a guitarist with three singles on Spotify

Joe Biden’s nominee for US secretary of state Antony Blinken – alongside his day-job as a politician – is also a guitarist, who’s published three songs under the moniker Ablinken.

The songs (Lip Service, Patience and Without Ya) are available to listen to on Spotify. All three are blues-rock numbers featuring laid-back lead playing from Blinken himself.

The current acting secretary of state is Daniel Bennet Smith, who took over from Mike Pompeo on 20 January this year along with Joe Biden’s inauguration. Blinken is expected to become secretary of state as soon as his nomination goes to the US Senate.

Neither Daniel Bennet Smith nor Mike Pompeo play guitar – that is, not publicly. Whether Blinken will keep playing and releasing music alongside his presumably busy role as secretary of state remains to be seen.

You can see Blinken take on Hoochie Coochie Man below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtNsKrxFRhU

Blinken is modest about his musical skills. When an eagle-eyed viewer noticed a familiar headstock behind him in a video interview, they asked Blinken on twitter about the guitar. He responded: “It’s a Martin. Which I don’t deserve.”

It’s a Martin. Which I don’t deserve. And mostly blues and rock. Not good enough for bluegrass. https://t.co/WUWgtH1212

— Antony Blinken (@ABlinken) October 18, 2020

The viewer had also asked if the guitar was “bluegrass-ready,” but Blinken clarified that he mostly plays blues and rock, as he’s “not good enough for bluegrass.”

You can hear Blinken’s three original songs below.

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