Getting to know ‘Blake’

Award-winning British singing quartet, Blake, was in the country the past weekend for a series of shows at the Ayala Malls. Blake’s mall tour kicked off at the Greenbelt 5 Gallery in Manila last October 21 and culminated at the Ayala Terraces Cebu last Sunday, October 23.

Composed of four members, Ollie Blaines, Stephen Bowman, Jules Knight, and Humphrey Berney, Blake is a pop-classical group known for their harmonious renditions of modern pop hits such as Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’ and U2’s ‘With or Without You.’

Blake is said to have been ‘formed’ via the social networking site Facebook. One of the members, Ollie, sent a private message to his friends asking if they wanted to form a singing group. It didn’t take long before Jules and Stephen responded, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The members, who had been choristers when they were younger, said that they had “no specific ambition” of turning it into a career. They just wanted an avenue where they could sing. But two days after their first meeting, Universal Classics signed them to a contract.

Blake’s first album was released in 2007. It was No.1 in the UK Classical Album Charts and won Album of the Year at the Brit Awards.

“It’s very nice to be here,” said Jules. “Some of our fans in the UK might be slightly worried that we might not come back because we’re enjoying it here,” he said lightheartedly. Blake has performed all over the world: in Australia, Japan, and Scandinavia to name a few. Last weekend was their first time to visit the Philippines; the boys shared that they had enjoyed their stay here thanks to the tropical weather and to the Filipinos’ hospitality.

The members got the name ‘Blake’ from English poet William Blake who wrote the words to one of their favorite classics songs, ‘Jerusalem.’ “We wanted a very British sounding name, and something easily recognizable,” the members added.

Blake is also known for singing the original composition “All of Me,” which was dedicated to Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, on their wedding. Jules had attended St. Andrew’s University with the royal couple.

The group is currently working on their fourth album, which they describe to be “very contemporary.” The album is scheduled to be released in May of 2012.

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