We had the good fortune of connecting with Blake Carrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Blake, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Integrity without a doubt. I believe that my songs come from somewhere deep inside of me that I can only reach when I’m singing and playing guitar. A lot of these songs seem to come from nowhere, which is pretty strange. Maybe there’s some kind of force out there that is inspiring me – I don’t know. But no matter what level of success we achieve, I’ve made a commitment to staying true to myself. That comes through in the music, the lyrics, the production, the marketing, and anything else. A lot of my favorite bands have distinguished themselves through their integrity and that’s something I want to continue on with.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others is the size of my sound. I go for big, bombastic sounds because that’s what excites me and what I like to hear. I’m proud of my ability to create epic choruses and driving verses and bridges that leave you questioning where you’re going.

None of this was easy, that I can tell you with 100% confidence. It took a lot of hard work. Sometimes the songs would pour out of me, but even then it takes craft and dedication to your art form to mould something out of the clay of creation. I mostly just stick with a song until something is fully formed. There’s a lot of revision along the way, but I believe in my process. It works for me.

What I want the world to know about my band and my story is that it’s a way for me to talk about things that I have a hard time talking about in normal conversation. It’s not exactly easy bringing up Carl Jung or bipolar or Aleister Crowley at a party! These songs are very personal to me and the act of bringing them to life is probably the closest I’ll ever come to having a child!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For Phoenix? That would largely consist of checking out venues and bookstores. There are so many great venues here. We have a lot of great bands that come through, but we also have a ton of amazing local bands that are killing it out there. The bookstores here are pretty awesome too. I could get lost in a good occult bookstore any day!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give credit to my mother. She passed away in September of 2021 but she was an incredibly important force and influence in my life. Without her, I wouldn’t have some of the gear that I use to record and perform live and I definitely wouldn’t have my musical talent.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiwassband/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aiwassbandaz/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS5Wixa00x6zV5o-2MA7Zjw

Other: aiwassband.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
All images thanks to Bearded Gonzo Photography (Michael Olivas)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.