“Blake is a budding performer who aspires to be more than simply another graduate with a Masters in Music. In years to come, I can really see him as a seasoned professional in the world of singer/songwriters. He not only sings, but he can play the violin, harmonica, piano and the guitar. (Just to name a few). Taking his songs to new heights, Blake ties in every instrument brilliantly with his Irish like crooning. (I swear listening to some of his songs whisks me away into a bar in the heart Ireland where folk music reigns). His debut album, Over and Over, personifies what Cameron Blake is all about. The songs tell stories and each one symbolizes something important the artist wants to share with listeners. (I personally love Where the Blossoms Fall. I think the song is a beautiful addition to my list of great folk music).”

—Megan Johnson (bmoretunes.com)


By Ben Dunning:

Reviewers have used words like “passion”, “brilliant”, and “beautiful” to describe Cameron Blake’s debut album Over and Over, which contains tracks ranging from an upbeat and even whimsical tone to a moody aura overcast with somber rumination. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Nina Simone, mewithoutYou and the National, Blake’s compositions are highly original in their ability to be both simple and complex, complimented by his Irish-like crooning.

His music comprises “a healthy blend of folk, classical, and indie rock,” in Cameron’s own words, boasting a wide array of unconventional instrumentation- a typewriter, megaphone, record player, electric razor, and ambient sounds recorded from the city (to name a few). These unusual aural combinations, woven through rich “classical” orchestration, create his signature sound. Lyrically, Cameron’s songs take the listener on a journey of storytelling and boldly address sensitive topics like politics and spirituality. The British magazine The Mag even described one of Cameron’s songs as a “confession of naughtiness.”

Blake can often be found wandering though the historic dives, local shanty-towns and art lofts of Baltimore, investigating the city’s more obscure creative venues and unfiltered urban decay. While completing his master’s degree in violin performance in 2007, he split his time between the halls of the Peabody Institute of Music and the streets outside, where he befriended many of Baltimore’s homeless residents. These relationships, along with a hunger for fresh artistic expression and a grueling semester of conservatory burnout compelled Cameron to begin songwriting.

The artistry and charisma of Cameron’s live performances have gathered a loyal fan base who has seen him perform in numerous clubs, coffee shops and churches throughout Maryland, Texas, Michigan, the East Coast, and even Paris, France. His concerts often draw in crowds as diverse as his music, as homeless and business men and women alike congregate to hear him sing and sometimes play up to five instruments in an evening. Performances following the release of his debut album Over and Over in July, 2008 earned him accolades including the 8×10 Club’s August 2008 Artist of the Month in Baltimore’s City Paper and winner of the World Café Live’s Philly Rising Open Mic competition in Philadelphia on July 21 of 2008.