Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Blake Rave
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember sitting in the backseat of my grandmother’s car. I must have been about 5 years old. I was playing with toys and started singing an impromptu song about “the olden days.”
How did your passion for creating music begin?
There always seemed to be music playing when I was growing up. I also grew up relying on imagination for entertainment… I think the 2 things just naturally intersected.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I’m currently releasing songs from my album Never Broken. It’s a shimmery pop record and something of a creative side project, giving me the freedom to experiment with new sounds, textures, and production ideas. Many of the songs were written during a particularly dark period in my life, and I wanted to balance the weight of those lyrics with a sense of musical brightness and light.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I would say it depends on the day… My live gigs tend to be more folky/acoustic when I play solo and rock/Americana with a backing band. My studio work spans several genres, most recently branching into synth pop. Typically, straight-forward lyrics and simple melodies.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I’ve learned to take my time when writing. I don’t rush or force anything. If I’m not feeling inspired with a song, I’ll step away from it and occasionally revisit it until I feel pulled in again.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Pen, paper and an acoustic guitar are my top 3 writing essentials. My phone’s voice recorder is also a pivotal tool.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I recently got hooked on a song from 2011 called “Don’t Look at Me (I Don’t Like It) by The Lovely Eggs. It’s a very unpolished, punky pop song. It’s equal parts catchy and hilarious. Most of the music I listen to comes from years, or even decades-past, but I love stumbling across something that feels this fresh and fun. As far as current artists, a friend of mine recently took me to The Windmill in Brixton to see Little Grandad. They had great songs and amazing stage presence!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
My music is 99% personal experience. I usually try to keep things a bit cryptic, as not to divulge too much information.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I just hope people feel something. If I can make someone feel understood, inspired, comforted, or simply entertained – I feel like I’ve done my job. I love when people tell me how they connect with particular songs, or when they say it feels like I wrote it specifically about them.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I think the biggest thing music has taught me is to be vulnerable. It can be unnerving to share such deeply personal songs with strangers, but it’s also incredibly liberating. I often scan the audience when I’m playing live, looking for those intimate moments when a song connects with someone.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury are at the top of my list. In America, I’d love to play Austin City Limits.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to collaborate with Amy Winehouse. Back to Black was a very influential album for me – it blew my mind the first time I heard it. I’d also love to hear Adele or Brandi Carlile sing any of my songs – they both have such powerful, incredible voices.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://www.instagram.com/blakeravemusic
https://blakerave.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@blakerave
https://www.facebook.com/blakeravesongs
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’m currently working on my next studio album, American Dreams. It’s a return to my Americana roots, but with fresh production, dynamic arrangements, and an energy that I’m genuinely excited about. We’re still in the early stages, but what we’re creating feels really special. My dream is to take this music further – to reach more people, play bigger stages, to keep growing as an artist and keep finding new ways to tell stories through music.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
There’s plenty to discover about me by digging into my lyrics. Beyond the songs, I’m a pretty chill person, low drama and easy to get along with.
