Crown Jules

WHETHER it’s singing to crowds of 90,000 at Wembley, or performing for the Queen at the Royal Albert Hall, Blake are more than comfortable under a global spotlight.

The pop-classical band were off to perform in Sicily when we spoke, before jetting home for a gig in Didcot’s Cornerstone tonight, and then heading to the Henley Festival, where they will play alongside the likes of Tom Jones.

Blake also played at Shirley Temple’s million-pound birthday party by personal invitation. “It was a great party, full of the great and good of the showbiz world,” says Jules. “But we have sung to royalty and celebrities before, so it wasn’t too bad,” he adds, casually.

But two years ago it looked like curtains for the band when Dominic Tighe, one of the quartet, left.

“Yes it was a worrying time and we were all concerned about splitting up,” Jules tells me.

“It was very uprooting, but in this case it worked for the best.

“When one person really doesn’t want to be doing the job, it puts a strain on the interpersonal relationships within the group. And we needed 100 per cent because it’s hard work in this industry.

“Dominic had ambitions to do other stuff and he was never really committed to Blake and our music long term. But we also had to find someone almost instantly to come on our first UK tour and luckily we found Humphrey [Berney].

“He was so easy to get along with and helped hugely with group morale at that point, so we all felt reinvented.

“Blake has already lasted a lot longer than everyone expected because most groups implode for personal rather than professional reasons and I can see why. You spend a lot of time together and there are tensions and arguments and stresses, and that is a challenge.

“But we are lucky and get on very well together. We have a similar sense of humour and try not to take each other too seriously. And when we have an argument we move on and go out for a drink.

“Although we are professionals, first and foremost we’re friends. And there is also an equality in Blake which keeps things on an even keel.”

What also sets Blake apart is their strong business heads, and having ditched their record company, they now run their own label and diary. This might explain their longevity in boy band terms.

Jules says: “We are much more hands on than most groups and quite groundbreaking in the business, because we are all reasonably switched on and want to be in charge of our own future.

“Sometimes that is a challenge – when to wear your singing head and when to wear your business one. It’s not an easy balance, but it works for us.

“I should think we are reasonably difficult to manage because we are all opinionated and know what we want.”

Either way, it’s working. Blake are mid-way through a 100-date UK tour coming to Didcot Cornerstone tonight, their fame showing no sign of waning.

They have sold more than half a million albums and performed on over 85 live TV shows.

Having formed in 2007 through Facebook, Blake fitted perfectly into the gap in the classical crossover market left by G4.

Jules, 29, says: “We always joke that we aim to upset and we frequently have people crying at our concerts. But that’s what we are here for. We want to push people’s buttons and take them away from the strains and stresses of everyday life.”

How much longer Blake will continue remains to be seen, but with Jules harbouring secret acting ambitions, who knows?

“Blake is certainly my priority,” Jules says, “and there’s the fourth album coming out over here soon, but I would still love to do some TV and film work. I went to drama school for a reason and I do want to fulfil that.”

Reading between the lines, I’d see Blake while you can.

* Blake are performing at the Didcot Cornerstone tonight. Call the box office on 01235 515144.

The band also perform at the Henley Festival on July 7. Go to henley-festival.co.uk