Today we’d like to introduce you to Blaze Francisco.
Hi Blaze, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began playing music when I was 12 in South Florida. A pre-bar mitzvah boy wanting to be in Blink-182. You know? That old chestnut. Fast forward almost two decades later, I moved to Los Angeles in the Fall of 2017 to attend UCLA’s Acting for the Camera program. I know. An actor AND a musician in Los Angeles!? Somebody stop this guy.
I worked as an actor for a while, doing a lot of theatre and fast food commercials. When the pandemic hit, I felt a rush of creativity and didn’t quite know how to express it. So, I started making music on GarageBand like anyone stuck in their house in 2020 does.
Alongside this, I also started a career working as an EMT at the height of the pandemic and still work in EMS currently. I have a love for it as well.
I was going through a massive career/life change and trying to figure out how to express my feelings towards all of it. Which leads me to – Blaze Francisco.
My girlfriend and I moved to Topanga Canyon in 2022 and along with our two dogs, two cats, fish and neighborhood peacock- there was a sense of creativity and energy there that can’t be explained. I know it sounds so “woo-woo” to say, but living there really made me dive even deeper into writing music that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to. I’m still extremely involved with the community up there through Topanga’s Coalition of Emergency Preparedness (TCEP) which helps inform and protect the community and surrounding areas in times of emergency and disaster.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Making a living out of playing music is nearly impossible. Let’s be honest. That’s not why I’m doing this. I don’t think anyone who goes into this or any facet of the entertainment industry can be successful if they are doing it for the money. You have to do it because you love it.
I had a blockage in where I never wanted to share what I did with anyone. I felt too insecure that I was going to be fully putting myself out there. I think it’s one of the hardest and most vulnerable things you can do and I give so much credit to people who do it on a daily basis. Truly, my girlfriend and my parents were the first people I showed my poorly recorded demos to and they made me feel like what I was making was actually decent.
I remember being in my car with my girlfriend after we had only been dating for a few months and showing her a song I wrote about her and I was straight up about to pass out in my car. When she said she genuinely liked it- I think I may have actually passed out.
My very good friend Nate Sander then came along after we were connected by one of my college professors/old bandmates (Devin Arne) and we turned these demos into pieces of music I never thought imaginable. He gave me so much confidence to pursue my passion and is a huge reason I still do to this day.
My family is incredibly important to me as well and I wouldn’t be anywhere I am today without them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I try to make music that is a collective of my favorite bands and genres. There’s no one type of genre I feel that we fall into. One time after a show, someone walked up to me and said “Man. That was awesome. It’s like Radiohead meets Rage Against the Machine.” Another came up and said “Dude. I loved that. It’s like driving through the desert on acid.” So, that’s now how I describe Blaze Francisco if anyone were to ask. You just have to come to check it out for yourself.
It’s been a bit since we’ve released music. I’ve been focusing more on performing the last year or so, but I’ll be releasing new music towards the end of the year and cannot wait for the future. A lot of exciting opportunities are coming up that will be announced soon. Stay tuned and thank you to everyone who keeps supporting the blaze. 🫡
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I was Mr. August in the 2019 Nice Jewish Guys Calendar. It’s my claim to fame and I can’t even walk into a temple anymore since it dropped.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/blazecisco?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Blaze-Francisco/100054025357087/
Image Credits
All images: Mathias Fau (@mathiasfau)
