Blake Lewis Releases Sophomore Album Today

Blake Lewis
Heartbreak on Vinyl
Release Date: Oct. 6
Label: Tommy Boy
Key Tracks: "Sad Song", "Heartbreak on Vinyl"
Photo: Myriam Santos

Blake Lewis is doing it his way the second time around.

The runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol faced adversity when he was dropped from the label that produced his debut album, Audio Day Dream. As a result, Lewis used his sophomore effort as a chance to take music into his own hands.

“It started at my house and ended at my house…it was very homegrown and organic,” Lewis recently told REVUE in a phone interview.

He adds, “After the American Idol success and everything, it was totally an interesting dichotomy to go from this huge television success to just coming back home and reassessing my life and how I’m going to approach my life…It’s all about staying positive in this industry.”

Lewis’ approach is Heartbreak on Vinyl, a 13-track album – Lewis wrote all but one of the tracks, and self-produced the album – filled with elctro-pop, musical euphemisms and Lewis’ favorite subject – love.

“Music goes hand in hand with life, for me. It may be cliché, but music is my life and I choose to live my life revolving around it, and love – we know I’m a lover.”

He calls Heartbreak on Vinyl a very personal dance record influenced by his favorite ‘80s synth/New Wave bands such as Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and New Order.

I write about love, but this one is more specific…it’s like Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane record, in that it’s all about one girl,” he said.

The result is a throwback with a current sound, a guilty pleasure you’re not afraid to turn up in the car – with the windows down. The title track is pop in its purest form, while the message – the closing of local indie record stores – pulls on the heartstrings when Lewis sings Heartbreak on Vinyl was the name of the store/Now the store is gone and we can’t be there anymore.

“I think [“Heartbreak on Vinyl”] is one of the best pop songs I’ve ever written,” Lewis said.

Similar to Audio Day Dream, Heartbreak on Vinyl is catchy, fast-paced and an all-around dance record. Although he doubles the electronic beats and pop sound, there’s one thing that Lewis won’t change: beat boxing.

“I always incorporate [beat boxing] in my records and my live show – my live show more than my records because it’s very much a live art form…I love it. It’s where I started and I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I’m not gonna stop.”