Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Campbell.
Hi Blake, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2012, at the age of 22, I wrote my first song in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. I was living in Connecticut attending Sacred Heart University at the time. Transitioning from D1 Football to life after sports and academia, some of my teammates started recording music. One artist in particular, a Florida native named ReubMac (who also lives in the Orlando area) wrote a line about the Trayvon Martin situation which inspired me to write a verse. That verse turned into a song and the song turned into a mixtape called “The Rhymebook of Eli.” The ten songs project created a buzz on campus, social media and some blog sites. “They fighting for peace in the Middle East. When Trayvon Martin just got shot for his fleece.” Based on the feedback, I knew I had to do at least one more project to see where it was going. I spent the next few years perfecting my craft, studying the art of songwriting while performing anywhere a microphone and speaker was available from local open mic nights to various events held on the college campus.
In October 2015, while attending the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington D.C., I found renewed purpose while performing in front of the largest, most accommodating audience I had encountered to that point in my music journey. Shortly after Louis Farrakhan addressed the audience at the National Mall on the topics of police reform and discrimination against black people in America, I had the opportunity to speak my piece on the issue at hand. In a moment of improvisation, while walking the streets of D.C. like all the other attendees of the event, I came across a crowd gathered around a microphone and speaker setup. When given the opportunity, I recited rhymes relevant to the occasion. The people cheered me on, recording me on their cell phones, asking for my name and where to find more music. At this point, I knew I was on the right path and music was the medium to spread my message to the masses.
I moved to Orlando in December of 2015. After one visit to Orlando, I felt at home. Orlando is very rich in creative culture. Everything from the presentation of the theme parks and attractions to Full Sail University and the independent creative community drew me into the idea of an artistic renaissance just waiting to happen and I wanted to be a part of it. ReubMac, who originally inspired me, was already living in the area and still making music. He introduced me to the sound engineer who recorded my second project. I released “Reign or Shine” in October 2017. The lead single “Distractions” featured the lyrics, “Orlando, the land to allure and attraction can lure into a world of ‘Distractions.’ Recorded mostly on original instrumentals, I transitioned from rapping on well known classic instrumentals to instrumentals I could own and sell for myself. Still, this project was released for free on SoundCloud with intentions of promoting myself as a new artist here in Orlando as I networked with other local artists, sound engineers, graphic designers, stylists, models, videographers and event coordinators.
During the pandemic lockdown of 2020, like everyone else, I was forced to adjust to the new circumstances. In a catch 22 situation, I now had unlimited time to create with no access to the creative community, as we were all quarantined. During the lockdown, I recorded two full-length music videos of myself by myself and released them on Instagram and Youtube. The second video was for a song called “Mind Right” speaking on the conditions we were all faced with. “Get your Mind Right: 20/20 Hindsight. Gotta look back to where we got off track, then get your ‘Mind Right.'” I wanted to use the music to provide comfort and guidance as we “stayed home” while we figured it out.
Shortly after, news broke about the George Floyd situation in Minneapolis. A close friend, Dalonte Henderson, who had been supporting my music from the beginning, called and specifically requested I write a song about what was going on. I reluctantly wrote the song knowing it wouldn’t bring the immediate change we needed. In the song I urged the community to unify for love to isolate hate while we organize to make structural change to the status quo. “Love is love and that’s the language, we should speak it fluently in our community.”
I knew writing a song wouldn’t be enough given the times we are living in so I decided to get active. I joined several local protests, starting at City Hall in Orlando where I first performed the lyrics to the song “Juneteenth.” From there, I was invited to perform at several local protests, including a sleep-in at City Hall during curfew, where I recorded the “Juneteenth” music video, an election night watch party by the Orlando Dream Defenders, a Juneteenth celebration at the Wells Built Museum of African American History with City District Orlando, as well as several other local events and community service opportunities with Fit For Peace, Inc. and The Reach Party.
While protesting at Orlando City Hall, I met JazDaReal who was a manager at O.R.A.P. Studios. She introduced me to Stupid Genius, the sound engineer who recorded my first fully owned, independent album “Say Something.” This album is a time capsule of the aforementioned period we endured as I viewed it. JazDaReal, who was by my side in protest, also lended her vocals for a feature on the song “Don’t Change Up,” which doubled as both a love song and a letter to Lady Liberty on the topic of Democracy. We performed that song and more, alongside ReubMac (who inspired me to make music to begin with) and Dalonte Henderson (who inspired me to write the song “Juneteenth” that set off the chain of events) in a full-circle moment at the Orlando Amphitheater, Central Florida Fairgrounds while opening up for a major artist Lil Tjay on his Orlando stop for the Destined 2 Win Tour, 2021. My heart was full to see after all these years, we are still dedicated to making positive change in our community while pursuing our music career goals together.
The “Say Something” EP is my third project, but it is the first I’ve sold. First, I had to understand my purpose. Next, I had to develop my talent and learn the business. Now that I’ve put those pieces together, I have a solid product which is a respectable representation of myself. Being an independent artist is just that, selling yourself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is difficult to pursue an independent music career. Especially given the sometimes racy, political, spiritual and opinionated nature of a bulk of my music, there is always a possibility a live crowd will reject what they hear. In a generation where feel good music and escapism is prevalent, you have to actively seek out a crowd who is socially conscious and ready to go against the grain with you. Luckily I’ve never been boo’d off a stage. “Fighting for a cause, going out with a blaze. I do this for the love, I don’t do this for the praise.”
Beyond the acceptance of the music itself, there is a lot to learn about the music industry. Every opportunity has a cost from marketing and radio play to the creation of the product itself. Building an organic team has been the best solution for these situations because when someone invests their time and services into you because they believe in you, there is more incentive to create a product everyone can stand behind. This eliminates the fear of the music not being acceptable while speeding up the creative process based on access to volunteered resources. For instance, ReubMac has recently picked up a camera and offered his services to record promotional photos and videos. JazDaReal offered her vocals and studio time to fine tune “Don’t Change Up.” Dalonte has taken on the role of YouTube Marketing Manager. I would have paid someone to do these services, but as my team comes together organically, everyone assumes a role because they believe in the ultimate vision.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My name is Blake Campbell. My artistic alias is Elicit Vibes.
Elicit Vibes Music looks to provoke thought, emotion and action through poetic narrative over powerful mood setting instrumentation. I specialize in making music sensitive and relevant to the times we are living in today. Most recently, I’ve been known to make music as a backdrop for organized rebellion. I am most proud my services have been requested by local organizations and organic movements looking to make real tangible change. What sets me apart from other musicians is my genuine passion to educate and empower the listener. It is more important for me to make quality music for my community than it is to make trendy music for the moment. I was moved to make music because of the Trayvon Martin situation here in Florida and ten years later, I’m in Florida organizing in the community in the memory of George Floyd.
The “Say Something” EP is available now for purchase on iTunes and Amazon, also streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and anywhere else you consume music. This album features songs like Juneteenth, Mind Right, Don’t Change Up and On My Way. Guided by principles and a passion for peace and positivity, this album looks to bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom to the captives and spread love and light to those also experiencing this dark period in our world’s history.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Most artists would describe themselves as perfectionists and I am no different. I’m blessed with the ability to obsess over anything I am passionate about. Not only do I study songwriting, I also study phonetics and etymology, sales and propaganda, famous orators and political organizers, euphonic words and sounds, classic performances, etc. I study anything involved in communication as to become the best as getting a responsible message to a broad audience effectively. This applies to the writing process, recording, performing and promotions. Attention to intentional detail and the determination to get everything just right is my most important characteristic in ensuring my work is acceptable to share with the public with my name attached to it.
Pricing:
- $7.74
Contact Info:
- Email: elicitvibes@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Elicitvibes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elicitvibes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElicitVibes/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/elicitvibes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/elicitvibes
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/elicitvibes
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/say-something-ep/1539286948
Image Credits
Reuben Macintosh @ReubMacSr Jerry Price @Jerry.Price_
