“Receiving a degree in violin performance from the Peabody Institute of Music was not easy,” says Baltimore singer/songwriter Cameron Blake, who suffered an extreme case of conservatory burnout half-way through his first semester of graduate school. However, it led him to discover his gift as a songwriter where he found freedom in developing an artistic technique of expression rather than “note-perfection.” Influenced by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Nina Simone, mewithoutYou and The National, Cameron’s music is a healthy blend of folk, classical, and indie rock. Cameron’s often Irish sounding voice and powerful performances are ‘straight-up’ charisma, while his classical music training is most evident in his rich and varied instrumental arrangements. Like Bob Dylan and Derek Webb, Cameron’s songs are full of storytelling, politics, and spirituality and represent an artist who truly “has something to say.” In the past year, this unique combination of charisma and artistry has brought him to perform on stages from Michigan to Paris, France.