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Despite his recent departure from Arista Records, Blake Lewis is not stopping by any means. He’s still going forth with
his second album under 19 Recordings, which will be a follow-up to his debut LP, Audio Day Dream. StarShine watched
Blake Lewis perform at the Canal Room in New York this week and spoke to him the next afternoon about his music.
“For me, I just want to make music.” Blake says. “I like pop music, which is good.” He laughs, but he goes on to say there’
s more to him than just pop. Blake, as everyone who’s watched American Idol knows, loves beat boxing, but also house,
electronic, hip-hop, rock and just about every other style of music.
“I made some compromises with this record [Audio Day Dream]. It’s all about compromise when you get into this
mainstream industry.” Blake says, but funny enough, he didn’t feel he had to compromise himself much when he was on
American Idol. “I got to be myself.” He says. What Blake did sacrifice on American Idol wasn’t much at all. “Time and
missing out on life other than Idol, which isn’t so bad.” He laughs.
Blake was able to work with many of his musical influences on his debut album, like Ryan Tedder of One Republic.
“Within in twenty minutes, we decided we should have known each other for the past ten years. He’s one of the most
talented people I ever met.” Blake revealed he hopes to work with Ryan again in the near future. Another one of Blake’s
influences he was able to work with in the studio was BT. “Working with BT, my favorite producer was a dream come
true.”
Audio Day Dream is full of what made Blake a hit on American Idol--beat boxing and croon-worthy vocals. “I’m so
inspired by music and noise.” Blake says. The album only took a month to create, but Blake says that will never happen
again. “That’s ridiculous!” He laughs. Next time around, he wants his album handled more delicately.
Songs like “Break Anotha” and “How Many Words” were released as singles, but one of Blake’s favorites seems to be
“Know My Name”. “It’s about a celebrity crush.” The song was originally called “Natalie Portman” since he’s a fan of
hers. “I’ll meet her someday and woo her.” Blake tells StarShine with a laugh.
When not on the road or planning to woo Natalie Portman, Blake is in the studio. He has three studios in his home and is
making music twelve hours a day. Talk about being a slave to your art! “It’s like our little hobbit village.” Blake says who
is currently producing his record with his drummer, KJ Sawka. Blake also recorded a track at 311 front man, Nick Hexum’
s house for the next album.
Next up, Blake finished a charity song called “Selfless” with Darude for Dance 4 Life and should be released soon. In
September, Blake will be featured on a song for BT’s album, which he says is a “throwback to Flock of Seagulls.”
Whether Blake Lewis has a mainstream record deal or not, he is still here making music and always will be. StarShine
had the pleasure to watch Blake in action. It was just Blake, some instruments, and sound machines on stage in the
Canal Room. He controlled the sound and played every instrument himself. When he wasn’t actually playing anything, his
mouth was. Blake puts a fresh spin on a classic style of music.
For more information on Blake Lewis: www.blakelewisofficial.com and www.myspace.com/blakelewis.
What song would Blake Lewis dedicate to his fans?
“Thank You” by Boyz II Men
“I love that arrangement! That’s a throwback to my a cappella and beat boxing.”
his second album under 19 Recordings, which will be a follow-up to his debut LP, Audio Day Dream. StarShine watched
Blake Lewis perform at the Canal Room in New York this week and spoke to him the next afternoon about his music.
“For me, I just want to make music.” Blake says. “I like pop music, which is good.” He laughs, but he goes on to say there’
s more to him than just pop. Blake, as everyone who’s watched American Idol knows, loves beat boxing, but also house,
electronic, hip-hop, rock and just about every other style of music.
“I made some compromises with this record [Audio Day Dream]. It’s all about compromise when you get into this
mainstream industry.” Blake says, but funny enough, he didn’t feel he had to compromise himself much when he was on
American Idol. “I got to be myself.” He says. What Blake did sacrifice on American Idol wasn’t much at all. “Time and
missing out on life other than Idol, which isn’t so bad.” He laughs.
Blake was able to work with many of his musical influences on his debut album, like Ryan Tedder of One Republic.
“Within in twenty minutes, we decided we should have known each other for the past ten years. He’s one of the most
talented people I ever met.” Blake revealed he hopes to work with Ryan again in the near future. Another one of Blake’s
influences he was able to work with in the studio was BT. “Working with BT, my favorite producer was a dream come
true.”
Audio Day Dream is full of what made Blake a hit on American Idol--beat boxing and croon-worthy vocals. “I’m so
inspired by music and noise.” Blake says. The album only took a month to create, but Blake says that will never happen
again. “That’s ridiculous!” He laughs. Next time around, he wants his album handled more delicately.
Songs like “Break Anotha” and “How Many Words” were released as singles, but one of Blake’s favorites seems to be
“Know My Name”. “It’s about a celebrity crush.” The song was originally called “Natalie Portman” since he’s a fan of
hers. “I’ll meet her someday and woo her.” Blake tells StarShine with a laugh.
When not on the road or planning to woo Natalie Portman, Blake is in the studio. He has three studios in his home and is
making music twelve hours a day. Talk about being a slave to your art! “It’s like our little hobbit village.” Blake says who
is currently producing his record with his drummer, KJ Sawka. Blake also recorded a track at 311 front man, Nick Hexum’
s house for the next album.
Next up, Blake finished a charity song called “Selfless” with Darude for Dance 4 Life and should be released soon. In
September, Blake will be featured on a song for BT’s album, which he says is a “throwback to Flock of Seagulls.”
Whether Blake Lewis has a mainstream record deal or not, he is still here making music and always will be. StarShine
had the pleasure to watch Blake in action. It was just Blake, some instruments, and sound machines on stage in the
Canal Room. He controlled the sound and played every instrument himself. When he wasn’t actually playing anything, his
mouth was. Blake puts a fresh spin on a classic style of music.
For more information on Blake Lewis: www.blakelewisofficial.com and www.myspace.com/blakelewis.
What song would Blake Lewis dedicate to his fans?
“Thank You” by Boyz II Men
“I love that arrangement! That’s a throwback to my a cappella and beat boxing.”
| More Photos... |
| Blake with StarShine's Sa'iyda, Sandy and Suzie. |
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| Photos & Story by Sandy Lo Editor-In-Chief Added June 27, 2008 |