Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Lewis.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always have to start by saying… I was a weird kid.
I grew up an only child who was constantly singing, making noise, and mimicking everyone (and everything) around me. I could do all of the voices of the cartoons that I watched, and I would pretend I was a part of the shows! That’s what you get when you grow up on a street with no other kids for the first ten years of your life. Haha!
Origin story… Cue the laugh track!
When I was 10 years old, my parents moved us to a street that had about 20 other kids on it. It opened up a whole new world for me. I got acclimated to a life of after-school fun, sports and music. Everyone on our block took piano lessons from the same teacher, and I FINALLY made friends that were into the same things as I was. We were always filming homemade horror movies, making up songs and just creating all the time…
Flash-forward to high school, circa 1997, where I discovered an a-cappella group called M-Pact. One member, Matthew Selby, was a master vocal arranger and beatboxer. The first time I saw him perform live, my chin hit the floor. I was like, “Wait a minute, I’ve been doing this my whole life, not knowing this was a thing? A profession? An art form?!”
After the show, I was lucky enough to chat with Matt. We were making noises, beatboxing and I channeled my best Cartman (South Park) impression. I told him I’d be at their next concert to battle him…
I came back, we battled, and developed a lifelong friendship that I will be forever grateful for.
The next few years were pivotal on who I would become as a musician…
In 2000, at the direction of Matt, I auditioned for an a-cappella group called Kickshaw. I was chosen to become the group’s new beatboxer/vocal percussionist, and my life changed for the better… quickly.
Fresh out of high school, I found myself in a group that was booked solid for months. It was an intense learning experience—I was surrounded by four other fantastic vocalists, songwriters, and all-around badasses, which was a unique insight into the creative process as well as the inner workings of the entertainment industry.
Each of us used different vocal FX on our mics (a bass pedal, a guitar distortion for a vocal guitar sound, etc.). We were a vocal band, not a group, and we had so much fun. This was where I started to develop my signature sound as “Bshorty,” a stage name my best friend gave me that stuck.
In the midst of all of this, I was also part of a rap group called Unexpected Arrival. We had a #1 song on Seattle radio called “Take Control.” It was a proud moment for me, because I wrote the hook on that track, and it led to so many more opportunities. From hosting massive 4,000-person raves every weekend, to developing my own loop-based, one-man show, to my friend KJ Sawka and I having our own improv/freestyle nights… I was living it up, and then… BAM!
A friend called me and asked me if I wanted to go with him to audition for American Idol, and the rest is history that I never saw coming! It was the most surreal experience of my life. I was the runner up on one of the biggest shows of our time. HOLY F! I still can’t believe it.
Since then, I’ve been given so many opportunities in all aspects of my career. As a producer, I started my own record label. As a musician, I’ve gotten to tour the world and score two #1’s on Billboard Dance. The best part? Never having to give up on my “only child hobby!” What once made me the weird kid now gives me the grown-up title of “voice-over artist.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth. Nothing can prepare you for “overnight success.” I went from local success and having a pretty nice career in Seattle as an underground artist, to being on one of the biggest stages in entertainment at the time.
I was freaked out, became anxious, didn’t trust people and got really depressed.
Without getting into too many unnecessary details, I was dropped from my label, and became a recluse in the town where I had laid all of my roots. I eventually snapped out of it enough to get up and move to Cali—just me, my things, and my rescue dog, Diddy.
That next year was brutal. It felt like I had been carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I’d been very independent my entire life, and so I never knew that asking for help was something you could actually DO without feeling ashamed. The only thing that was saving me was creating.
I made my second album, Heartbreak On Vinyl, during that period of my life. Considering the place I was in mentally, completing that project was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I’m very proud of that album. It was my catharsis and my therapy.
After Heartbreak on Vinyl, I was motivated. I stopped the pity party I’d been having for myself, got off of my ass, worked out, worked on my spirituality and started helping others who had gone through the same wringer.
I experienced the the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows, but I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change a thing. I have never been as happy as I am right now.
Audio Day Dream Records – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think the biggest thing is my ability to instantly recall grooves, and beatbox them to give the artists a quick “visual” of what we’re creating. It almost serves as a secondary form of communication that really helps to keep things moving. It’s like a bonus “tool” that you can’t just go out and buy for a studio. I’m blessed to be able to offer it. And it makes things fun!!
Also! Shameless plug… I just produced an album for an awesome new artist, Olivia Kuper Harris. It’s coming out this year, so be on the lookout!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is a day-to-day thing. I’m always looking toward the next creation, and trying to build and make that a success in my own eyes. And if anyone else likes any of what I do, that’s just a bonus!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/blakelewis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakelewis
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blakelewis
Image Credit:
Corey Nickols, Ten Hundred, Grant Horiuchi, Micheal Proffit.
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