Blake Shelton
Twenty-four months.
That’s all the time it took country/rock recording artist Blake Shelton become transformed from yet another unknown recording artist, quietly living in Nashville to, in some instances within the USA, a household name.
How did Shelton succeed in achieving his goal? With one mega-hit single, “Austin”, and virtual nonstop work performing and promoting his music.
As “Austin” soared on the record charts and was played on national radio stations throughout the USA, Shelton watched the recording career he’d worked his entire his adult life for, come to fruition. Yet, while he lived out his own personal dream of gaining fame as a recording artist, there was an unexpected situation that arose, which Shelton now admits he was not prepared for. The heady times Shelton enjoyed within those twenty-four months, lead to situation which, gone unchecked, could have changed everything.
“As I started getting closer to getting my personal goals as a recording artist,” Shelton says during a recent interview, “I began realizing that I was pushing some pretty important people, my family and friends, away from me in the process. I realized that I needed to stay, ‘in touch’.” Staying, “in touch’ and remaining grounded, while his career continues to skyrocket, Shelton says is now one of his top priorities.
In the following interview, Shelton speaks about his new album titled, “The Dreamer” and the first hit single off the album, “The Baby”. Shelton also speaks about the time he has had to contemplate the whirlwind he has been within the center of, over the past twenty-four months
(Q)- State your name. age and place of birth please.
Blake Shelton – Blake Shelton born June 18, 1976. I’m from Ada, Oklahoma.
(Q)- Do the past twenty-four months at times whenever you’re looking back, seem like a blur to you?
Blake Shelton – Yes.
(Q)- You once stated you only would record the music that you want to. Is that the case with your new album “The Dreamer”?
Blake Shelton- Yes and I sure have.
(Q)- Even with the unprecedented success of your debut album? There’s pressure to follow-up with a strong second album.
Blake Shelton- Absolutely. I still record only the music I want to
(Q)- Any goals for this new album?
Blake Shelton- Yes.
(Q)- What?
Blake Shelton- I want to let people see a side of me they haven’t seen yet. There’s a rocking side of my music that nobody has really seen yet. I want to take my music to a broader audience.
(Q)- In what way will this new album achieve that goal?
Blake Shelton- This album has a lot more up-tempo songs than the first album. So there’s a side to me that the music on this new album shows that didn’t shine quite as brightly in the past.
(Q)- There is a lot of pressure on you to do well and continue to succeed since you had a Number One debut single and a huge-selling debut album. How do you feel about your new album, “The Dreamer”? What are your feelings about being where you are currently with your career?
Blake Shelton- I know from the outside looking in, you would think that I’ve got it made. I’ve got it (continued success) locked in. But the fact is, I’ve been handed a ‘Golden Opportunity’. But, if I don’t continue to hit my stride and keep it going, then it could become hard to stay on the radar. I mean the fans have so much coming at them from all different sides of the entertainment business. I hate to think of myself as a product, but that is exactly what I am. If I don’t have another big hit single after “The Baby”, then it is going to be hard.
(Q)- Why?
Blake Shelton- The name Blake Shelton needs to consistently be in front of people for me to continue to succeed. I’d like to have another hit song after, “The Baby” and have that song be successful because with two hit songs in a row off of the new album. That’s an important goal. That will help me continue the momentum and consistency for me to go on to the next level that I am hoping to achieve.
(Q)- Does the term ‘country/rock’ mean a whole lot more to you now Blake?
Blake Shelton- Yes it sure does. Musically, country has always changed and progressed and that’s why it has always stayed a popular form of music. My music has elements of rock in it and that’s an important part of what I do.
(Q)- What about the term ‘country’ as a lifestyle? The ‘country’ lifestyle has certainly grown to include many different, diverse styles over the past few years hasn’t it?
Blake Shelton- I don’t’ think country is a regional music anymore. It’s a real-life, storytelling music. It’s songs about what people really have to do for a living and the heartaches and the good times and the bad times. Country music tells the truth. It’s about reality. The songs that are honest and tell a story are real country songs. I’m after the fans who are passionate abut music. Because, those are the fans who’ll come out and they buy your record.
(Q)- In 2002, you experienced success was almost unprecedented for a country-rock recording artist. Was your life going so fast that you lost touch with what really matters?
Blake Shelton- Yes.
(Q)-What happened to straighten you out?
Blake Shelton- Thank God I figured out in time enough, before I lost everything.
(Q)- Was there a specific pivotal point when that moment of realization occurred?
Blake Shelton- There was a moment when I was on the road back in last October I’d been out on the road performing for weeks on end and it suddenly hit me that I’d become almost too wrapped up in my recording career and performing.
(Q)- Was there something else that was bothering you?
Blake Shelton- Yes. I was thinking that everything is coming to me and that I don’t have to worry about a lot of things anymore. Which is stupid.
(Q)-So, how did you change?
Blake Shelton- Basically, I just started rebuilding bridges. I started calling people and talking with them. I’m still working hard though to continue my career.
(Q)- It’s a tough situation to have your priorities straight while working and being in the center of a recording career that is moving forward at a fast rate of speed, isn’t it?
Blake Shelton- Yes. I don’t think that you can set aside (personal) time and then do this job. However, you can go ahead and without risking what you have (recording) career-wise, discover a sense of balance. Now, I wouldn’t trade my recording and performing career for anything. However, everybody is human and you do make mistakes along the way. So I believe that you can learn from them.
(Q)- What is it like being a sex symbol to many of your female fans?
Blake Shelton- I’ve never thought of myself in that way. I have always been a guy who just sang songs that stood out. I just want to be known at the end of the day, as a guy who has a collection of songs that people hopefully will be talking about years from now.
(Q)- Does the term ‘country/rock music’ mean sometime special to you?
Blake Shelton- Musically, country has always changed and progressed and that’s why it has always stayed a popular form of music. I don’t think country is a regional music anymore. It has global appeal. Country music tells the truth. It’s about reality. It’s a real-life, storytelling music. It’s songs about what people really have to do for a living and the heartaches and the good times and the bad times. Like I said earlier, country music tells the truth. It’s about reality. The songs that are honest and tell a story are real country songs. I’m after the fans who are passionate abut music. Because, those are the fans who’ll come out and they buy your record.