Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Zerbe.
Blake, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began playing instruments when I was in the 2nd grade, starting with piano. I then picked up other instruments such as the guitar, violin, and even saxophone for my middle school band. I never really saw it as anything more than something my parents had influenced me into doing. To be honest, there were many times when I didn’t like it and wanted to quit. I was the only one in my family to have created musical talents. Pretty much all of my childhood included this hobby until I was 16. I was at my friend’s house and he had a super cheap microphone and the beta version of Logic, a music creating software, downloaded on his computer. All my friends were messing around on it, freestyling and making joke songs. When they had all gone into another room, I got kinda curious, so I downloaded a beat off of youtube and sang over it within the software. It was honestly a really bad song but I was so interested in the fact that I was able to apply what I had just seen as a simple childhood hobby towards writing lyrics and melodies. A couple of months went by, and I got the courage to go over to another friend’s house and record a couple of songs in his home studio. I was so self-conscious about the music I made but I finally released a couple of them on Soundcloud. I wasn’t sure about what my artist name should be, so I just went with the nickname that all my friends called me, Zerbs. After that I kept releasing songs, just doing so for fun until I got better and better at making them. I developed such a passion for making these songs and writing about things that were going on in my life, and it became extremely therapeutic. Today, my music is posted on almost every music streaming platform on the internet and I have over 1,000 monthly listeners. I have a very long way to go, but it still blows my mind to think that there’s an audience out there that appreciates something I’m so passionate about.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For the most part, it has been. The main difficulties I’ve experienced have been rejection and self consciousness. Early on, I was really worried about what people would think about me and if they wouldn’t like what I was making. Now I honestly laugh at myself because that’s one of the dumbest traps someone can fall into. It’s inevitable for any teenager or adult, but knowing what your main goal is and staying focused on it makes the rest of the noise quieter. Rejection is also something I’ve faced a lot. A lot of emails I’ve sent out to small radio stations and producers never received responses, and many No’s have piled up in my inbox. To this day, I continue to send them though, knowing that a longer path of work means a longer life of success.
We’d love to hear more about your music.
I think my music is very personal to me and can be very relatable for other people. Since almost all of my music is made in my bedroom, it really showcases my true style and versatility. I don’t like to see myself as a specific genre type of artist. All my music varies from Hip-Hop to Alternative, and sometimes both. I think this helps a listener stay interested since all of my songs are unique from one another and can fit a wide variety of tastes.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always the hyper kid who thought he was funny. I loved to make jokes, no matter how bad they were, and I loved video games. I was also very interested in playing music. After learning piano, I wanted to pick up more instruments like guitar and violin. This was a big part of my childhood and it helped a ton to form the musical background I have today. In addition to instruments, I found myself singing a lot. It was always in private and I was super shy about it, but in my 8th-grade year, I tried out for my school’s musical and made it. It was the first time I had ever sung for someone, and it really helped with my confidence. Pretty much all of these small events in my childhood helped build the foundation to start making my own music today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zerbs404/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zerbs404/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/zerbs404
- Other: https://ampl.ink/WBjkx
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
