Blake Strickland
Blake Strickland
I was born into a family of talented musicians. My dad is an incredibly talented bassist, he also ran a studio while I was growing up, my mom was rarely not singing, and my older brother was always shredding on a guitar. Now, even my younger brother is wanting to build a studio! I was raised on a foundation that loved music, so it stands to reason, the first birthday gift I remember receiving was one of those cheap little toy drum sets from Walmart. I loved it.
Since then, I’ve upgraded my drums a few times and even learned how to play them! I got my feet wet playing every week on the local church worship team, and from there I joined band and orchestra in school. I then branched out into gigging and recording with several different bands. Some that stand out are a midwest-emo band called Charlie Work, which you won’t be able to find much of, and my current hardcore/shoegaze band; Stateparks.
My goal in life has always been to surround myself with good music and good people, and my job here at Sweetwater provides me with exactly that!
As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, please let me know anytime I can offer help or advice.
(800) 222-4700 ext 3085
E-mail Blake-
Where are you from originally?
The Big City... Fort Dodge, Iowa! And yes, it's somewhat close to Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport.
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Why did you first apply for a job at Sweetwater?
People kept telling me, "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." What I love is connecting musicians to the gear that makes them remember why they love being musicians.
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Instruments you play:
I've been playing drum set and percussion for 15 years. In Marching Band I played Bass Drum, Snare Drum, and even the cymbals! I've also grown comfortable playing a Djembe, Cajon, Congas, Bongos, and just about whatever else I can get my hands on. Although I love smashing things, I started on piano, and since then I've done some singing, played guitar, bass, and whatever else the moment calls for in the studio.
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Gear you own:
I own three entire drum sets at the moment, which my wife is super happy about... My favorite of the three at the moment would have to be my PDP Concept Maple kit in a beautiful Walnut & Maple finish. Aside from that I own a wide array of random instruments ranging from guitars to synthesizers and everything in between!
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Family info:
My wife Tiffany and I are parents to a Black Lab, a German Shepherd/Husky Mix , two Black Cats, a Bearded Dragon, a Leopard Gecko, and a Ball Python. Their names are, respectively; Dipper, Mable, Minerva (Minnie), Perseus (Percy), Jables, Sybil, and Norbert.
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Other stuff we should know about you (hobbies, talents, interests, etc.):
I've been spotted around town occasionally on an old Harley. When I'm not doing that or playing my drums, my wife and I are usually on the hunt for the best pasta, pizza, or sushi in any given area. I also really like to curate oddly specific playlists on Spotify. My favorite being "Punk Breakfast" which is strictly comprised of songs that are not only 'Punk' in nature, but also titled breakfast items! For example; Black Coffee by Black Flag.
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Real-life hero:
I think Dave Grohl might be the coolest guy to ever live, and I think he does a great job of prioritizing having a good deal of fun while still making extremely important art.
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Guilty pleasure of choice:
I'd be lying if I said anything other than Ben & Jerry's.
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What did you dream about doing for a living when you were growing up?
When I was a kid I secretly always wished I'd become Spider-Man via some radioactive spider bite. Today... I'm still secretly holding out faith for that.
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Links to my music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ivPCxY39r1pvZV6ttoPip?si=T_Wph7a4RhmH2ikL4cmu5A
