By: Staff
'Louder Than Sound ' is the latest album from UK singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Blake, capturing the spirit of classic power pop with catchy, guitar-driven tracks.
Recorded live at Nam Studios in Wiltshire, the album emphasizes raw, energetic performances with minimal overdubbing, resulting in a vibrant, authentic sound.
Drawing inspiration from bands like Badfinger, Blake’s new project celebrates the power pop genre while reflecting his eclectic style. Before his solo venture, Blake fronted the psychedelic rock band Karma Truffle, sharing stages with acts like The Arctic Monkeys. His journey as a solo artist began with a move towards a more diverse sound, earning a spot on the indie label Subjangle in 2020.
Experience Blake's 'Louder Than Sound': Stream or Download This Power Pop Gem Today!
We had the chance to catch up with Blake for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Hello Blake, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We’ve had a blast diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more excited to learn more about you, both as an artist and as a person.
After listening to the 1st track of your album, “She’s Inside My Heart”, we got the feeling of a blend of The Beatles and modern rock. With its grittier guitars and your powerful vocals it’s a terrific listen! Is there a specific musical influence you aimed to emulate with this track, and is this how fans typically describe your sound?"
Thank you, firstly, for even mentioning my music in the same sentence as The Beatles! They are a huge influence and the reason I got into making music in the first place. My dad was a journalist and he interviewed John Lennon in 1969. I became a huge Beatles fan as a result of hearing this story as a child. The Beatles are the zenith for songwriters and I’ve always tried my best (and failed, like everyone else) to reach their standards. If anyone described my sound as being a blend of The Beatles with modern rock or anything else, I’d be delighted!
We read this: “My mum found her diary entry from 1987 when I bought my first guitar. A momentous day. It was a Kay bass purchased from Aroundabout Sound in Cheltenham for £40.”
Tell us more about the decision to buy this guitar. Was it a spontaneous purchase or did you have your eye on it for some time? What would have been different if you hadn’t bought it? Basically we know there’s more to this story and we’d love to hear it!
I had always loved music and at the age of fifteen it occurred to me to try and form a band. My school friend Hugh had recently been given a drum kit for his birthday and I decided that a bass guitar looked easier to learn than a six-string, so I went into my local music shop and came out with the only one I could afford. For a while we were a bass and drums combo until two other school mates joined who had taught themselves to play guitar. Our biology teacher, Mrs Carruthers, suggested ‘Embryo’ would be a good name for our first band. We were hopeless! The significant thing though was that I had been bitten by the bug and I carried on playing in bands until I finally started writing songs that I wasn’t embarrassed to play in front of people. This took about ten years!
Oh, if I hadn’t bought it, what would have happened? I shudder to think of the consequences. Music saved me. I found my thing in life; my place, my purpose.
The pic of Ringo and Lennon in 3 Savile Row in 1969 and then you in 2019. We are from the states and are not familiar with the backstory of this photo and location. Can you tell us more about it?
3 Savile Row was the location of The Beatles’ Apple offices in London. It was on the roof of this building that the famous ‘rooftop concert’ was performed on 30th January 1969. The fireplace in the picture is on the first floor (ground floor for Brits) and was little changed in fifty years when I had my picture taken in the same spot. I’m not sure whose office it was at the time; it may have belonged to their publicist, Derek Taylor. If you visit London and you like The Beatles, you must do the London Beatles Walking Tour. There are so many sights to see!
We really like your cover art for this release “Louder Than Sound”. What was the inspiration behind it and what do you want the viewer to absorb from it?
‘Louder Than Sound’ reminds me of a Zen koan, like, ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping?’ A device used to elevate the mind beyond the rational. I just thought it might provoke consideration of what could be louder and more powerful than sound. Maybe love is the answer? The artwork was my attempt to represent how a graphic designer from the sixties or early seventies – the eras when the music I love most was made – might interpret the concept.
We sometimes ask what people's favorite band to play with would be, but rather than bother with the obvious, if you could play on stage with the Beatles, what 3 songs would you choose? 2 of them their songs, and 1 of them yours. Also, not to be presumptuous, what instrument would you play in the band?
I’ve been performing as John Lennon in a Beatles tribute band for over fifteen years, so it should be easy for me to answer this question! However, I would probably let the boys pick what they wanted to play and just contribute percussion. You can’t take the place of a Beatle! One of the proudest moments of my life was when I was asked by the producers of the Lennon biopic, ‘Nowhere Boy’, to sing Lennon’s parts in the songs recorded for the movie. Alas, in the end, the actor playing John, Aaron Johnson, decided he wanted to sing the songs himself. He did an amazing job, too.
"We came across this statement: “‘Louder Than Sound’ is my attempt to craft a long-player of songs that loosely fit the brief of ‘Power Pop’ – catchy three-minute, hook-laden guitar-led songs.”
As big fans of this style, we consider it a cornerstone of music. It feels like much of today's music has moved away from this classic sound, so we’re excited you’ve chosen to embrace it. What inspired you to create an album in this timeless style?"
Yes, guitar-led bands who use harmony vocals and write ear-catching melodies is not something you witness a lot in mainstream music these days. However, in the underground, independent scene there are plenty of bands and artists who love this classic style of music which includes bands from the sixties like The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who and, later, acts like Badfinger, Big Star and Raspberries. I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited to play at the International Pop Overthrow festival in Liverpool a couple of times. The festivals take place in cities across the world and are organized by power-pop fanatic, David Bash, from LA. You get to hear great band after great band influenced by the classic sounds of the original waves of power-pop artists.
We came across this statement:
‘The album's basic tracks were cut live in the studio with minimal overdubbing to capture the urgency and impact of a performance.’
What challenges did this recording approach present compared to the more traditional methods you mentioned? How did it impact the engineering and overall production process?
I began my career recording my albums at home and playing all the instruments myself. This was for practical reasons because, at the time, I didn’t have a band. I used a Tascam four track tape recorder to make my first album. Much to my amazement, a copy of it found its way into the hands of a London-based independent record label and I got signed. Unfortunately, the subsequent recording experience was disappointing, and it took a year to record three songs for my first release, an E.P. The record label was insistent that everything had to be ‘perfect’ and I nearly lost the will to live recording endless overdubs. I was aware that The Beatles had recorded the majority of their first LP in one day and, after parting ways with the label, I tried to stick to a recording philosophy that values spontaneity and passion over clinical accuracy. Louder Than Sound is no exception to this, and I knew that the methods of its producer, Jacob Tyghe, would align neatly with these principles.
We read this: “I recorded the album with my band at the prestigious Nam Studios in Wiltshire, the source of classic albums by Robert Plant, Royal Blood, The Mission and KT Tunstall. The live room there is fantastic and I was aided to get a phenomenal sound by ace producer, Jacob Tyghe.”
1st of all “WOW” - Was this your first time in this studio and how did you manage to come to choosing and being able to utilize this iconic and legendary facility?
Nam Studios happens to be on my doorstep, luckily enough! I have been using the live room at Nam for rehearsals with my band since I moved to Wiltshire in 2004. Strangely enough though, I had never formally recorded at the studio before. It was a fantastic experience, not least because Jacob ensured that the sessions were very relaxed.
"We came across this statement:
“I was listening to a lot of Badfinger when I wrote the songs for the record, and their influence is all over it. The penultimate track, “Something About You,” is dedicated to the band and features lyrics from their songs. I got stuck in a lift with Joey Molland, the band's sole surviving member, at the International Beatleweek festival in Liverpool a few years ago, and I've been a massive fan ever since.”
There's a saying, ‘never meet your idols,’ but clearly, that wasn't the case here. Your conversation seems to have deepened your admiration. What did you take away from that moment that made you such a big fan?"
Being a hardcore Beatles fan, I had been aware of Badfinger’s music for a long time, but I hadn’t really explored it beyond the hits and well-known songs. After meeting Joey and watching him perform live with his band at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, it dawned on me how great every single song he played was and what a special act Badfinger were. I obsessively bought all their records and now I bore people about them all the time!
Which lyrics in ‘Something About You’ hold the most significance for you, and which do you feel best honor Badfinger?"
The song is composed of Badfinger song titles and lyrics and I wanted it to be a homage to Pete and Tom, in particular, because of the tragic way their lives ended. These lines are perhaps the most poignant:
Wish you were here I dream I’d heard you play
That’s how the story goes
Maybe tomorrow no one knows they say
I’ll catch your heavenly show
However, I wanted the song to be a celebration of Pete and Tom’s lives and their talent, so the line, “the light shone on you, so shine on,” and the chorus attempt to highlight the joy that their music has brought to so many people. It’s very much an ‘up’ song and I hope it encourages people to explore Badfinger’s incredible musical legacy.
Is the guitar always your go to instrument for when you initiate the creation of a new song?
Yes, nearly always. My acoustic guitar is never far away from me. I often dream melodies in my sleep and so I have it near to hand for the times when I force myself awake to record the tunes I have heard into my phone. Songs seem to already exist in the ether somehow and sometimes you can be lucky enough to catch them fully formed.
You mentioned you lived here in LA! What part? How was your experience? You mentioned the University of La Verne. What did you study?
Yes, I studied American Literature at the University of La Verne in 1997 and I lived on campus. It was part of a student exchange program with my university in England. I met some amazing people and had the best time! I loved tracking down places associated with my musical heroes like Jim Morrison’s apartment at Venice Beach, Joni Mitchell’s house in Laurel Canyon and Sound City Studios where so many great artists have recorded. I traveled as much as I could when I was in LA, too, and drove to Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, San Diego and even over the border to Tijuana. I played for the La Verne Leopards soccer team and flew to Dallas to take part in a tournament. Two of the good friends I made still live in LA and I’m always threatening to come and visit them, but it hasn’t happened yet. I just need to get that U.S. tour booked! Maybe Louder Than Sound will be the catalyst?
Blake, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
Thank you. It’s been a real pleasure.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Blake’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Blake on Spotify, YouTube and bandcamp.
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