Blake Tinsley was born at Fort Hood, Texas & grew up the son of a single mother who served in the U.S. Army. He spent part of his childhood & formative years in North Carolina & later the Bay Area California – experiences that influenced his outlook on life & his artistic point of view. Blake has always been immersed in the arts – before he graduated high school, he had already made independent films & records. Having child acting acting experience in feature films, etc did not hurt him either. After high school, he took on an in depth study of the arts in SF all while supporting himself with multiple jobs. At the same time, he founded a non-profit & film festival to support young independent filmmakers. After many years of being held to a dishonest contract he has developed a label for Artist who want to make art and not worry about a label taking advantage of their creativity. We spoke with Blake about his career, his mission and his passion for music…
Growing up in various parts of the U.S. and having a military family background, how have these experiences shaped your music and artistry?
Growing up we did move a ton. I don’t think I was in the same school for more than a year until high school. I think it shaped the way I hear music. I’ve always been a songwriter but those moves gave me access to new people & experiences that shaped the music I write and recorded. However dark the topics might be.
But this new record Act 2 has 30 tracks and I feel I entered a new era in life.
You’ve been involved in the arts from a young age, even producing films and records before finishing high school. How did your early creative experiences influence your career path?
Well tons of odd jobs as most would say. I mean paying your dues is paying your dues morn came in the form of heavy drinking and drugs to cope with not being where I’d like to be. It was made me get sober and through that the best work I’ve ever done is being made as we speak, along with a podcast called Trauma & Blood.
After facing challenges with a dishonest contract, you created your own label with a mission to empower artists. Can you share what drives this mission and how your label aims to protect creative freedom?
I’ve just gotten sick with these horror stories. The industry is so tainted and saturated with predators it’s hard to get through this industry. I mean look what happened to Mac Miller, Demi Lovato, hell even prince. They suffered the disease that is fame and no one with real talent wants that part, it just comes with it sadly. We lose so much great art from great artist due to drugs and alcohol being the only coping mechanism for loneliness and isolation because your under a microscope. From experiences to help artist create what they want to create. Making sure the big labels aren’t undercutting the artist. That’s where www.BlakeFordMusic.com came into the picture.
Between founding a non-profit, organizing a film festival, and building a label, you’ve worn many hats. How do you balance these roles, and what has been the most rewarding part of each?
All these roles have made me learn life’s lessons. Genre Film Festival was an amazing experience and taught me how to run an event. This helped me control my tours and shows. I like to have my hands in everything so I known from how then sound techs work, the pyromaniacs and effects, production and more. Balancing has actually almost killed me, three ODs and a huge path down the Silk Road Candy train. Thats is what this new album is about sobriety and what it can do for people. That’s why there’s an artist donate button on my page to help support artist struggling with the battle of is art worth sanity.
What advice would you give to young, independent artists navigating the music industry today, especially those who want to maintain creative control over their work?
Advice find another path don’t go the traditional path. Do want you have to survive but never become prey or predators. Read anything you sign. Make sure to have a great team around you. Without this you will be prey and this industry loves the weak. Grounding and stability are the only way to get through and survive the 27 club.
Thanks for your time, Blake! Best wishes in the future…