Blake O'Connor

Blake O'Connor
Born (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000 (age 24)
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar (bass, electric, acoustic)
  • harmonica
Years active2017–present
Websitewww.blakeoconnormusic.com

Blake O'Connor is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He released his debut studio album Everything I Feel in July 2019, which landed at #1 ARIA Australian Country Charts and peaked at number 31 on the all genres international ARIA Albums Chart.

Biography

2000–2015: Early life and career beginnings

Blake O'Connor was born in Windsor, New South Wales, before moving with his family to Bathurst and Port Macquarie. His grandparents gifted him an acoustic guitar for his sixth birthday. At 14, Blake had his first gig at a wedding which inspired his first song he wrote especially for the occasion. In 2015, he was a featured artist in the NSW School's Spectacular in Sydney and then made the decision to leave school to focus full-time on music.[1]

2016–2020: Everything I Feel

In January 2017, O'Connor visited Tamworth, New South Wales and won the Mount Franklin talent quest, the Capitol Country Music Association male vocal category, the Coca-Cola country best youngster in Tamworth and performed three times on the Peel Street stage and once on the ABC stage.[2] Later in 2017, O'Connor entered and won the Coca-Cola Country competition and CCMA Junior talent quest, receiving a scholarship to attend the CMAA Academy.[1]

In June 2018, O'Conner self-released his debut, self-titled extended play.[3]

In January 2019, O'Connor became the 40th winner of the Toyota Star Maker at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.[1]

In July 2019, O'Connor released his debut studio album Everything I Feel[4] which he said "it's about everything I've been through in the last year with my emotions and experience."[5] The album debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Country Album Chart and 31 on the ARIA All-Genre Charts. In September 2019, O'Connor released "Worth a Little More" as the album's second single, along with its video.[6]

2021–present: Finding Light

In February 2021, O'Connor released "Willin' and Ready",[7] followed by "Soul Feeling"[8] in July 2021. Both singles are from his forthcoming second studio album, Finding Light. The album was announced in January 2023, with a release date of 10 March 2023.[9]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[10]
Everything I Feel
  • Released: 12 July 2019[11]
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
  • Label: Blake O'Connor
 31
Finding Light
  • Released: 10 March 2023
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
  • Label: Blake O'Connor
 100

Extended plays

Title EP details
Blake O'Connor
  • Released: June 2018[3]
  • Label: Blake O'Connor
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming,

Singles

Year Title Album
2018 "Travelling Man"[12] Blake O'Connor
2019 "Beautiful As You"[13] Everything I Feel
"Worth a Little More"[6]
2021 "Willin' and Ready"[14] Finding Light
"Soul Feeling"[15]
"Kickin' a Rock"[16]
2022 "Little Bit Longer"[17]
2023 "Time to Kill"[18]

Other appearances

List of other non-single song appearances
Title Year Album
"Hole in My Head" (with Sinead Burgess)[19] 2023 Halfway Down Under: A Tribute to Jim Lauderdale

Awards

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[20]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Blake O'Connor Male Artist of the Year Nominated [21]
"Worth a Little More" by Blake Connor New Talent of the Year Won

References

  1. ^ a b c "COUNTRY CONFIDENTIAL BLAKE O'CONNOR ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM". Kix Country. 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Video: Blake O'Conner's music career continues to skyrocket". Port News. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Blake O'Connor". iTunes Australia. June 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Everything I Feel by Blake O'Connor". 12 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Star Maker Blake O'Connor releases debut album Everything I Feel at Hats Off to Country". Northern Daily Leader. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Worth A Little More". YouTube. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Willin' and Ready - Single by Blake O'Connor". 12 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Soul Feeling - Single by Blake O'Connor". 2 July 2021.
  9. ^ "THRILLED to announce my new ALBUM is coming out on MARCH 10!!!🔥". Facebook. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ Peaks in Australia:
  11. ^ "Everything I Feel (DD)". iTunes Australia. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Blake O'Connor- Travelin' Man (Official Video) First Official Single Release from his Self Titled EP Blake O'Connor". YouTube. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ "🌟Beautiful As You🌟". Facebook. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Willin' and Ready - single". Apple Music. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Soul Feeling - single". Apple Music. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Kickin' a Rock - single". Apple Music. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Little Bit Longer - single". Apple Music. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Blake O'Connor - Time To Kill (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Halfway Down Under A Tribute To JIM LAUDERDALE". The Rock Pit. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Past Award Winners". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  21. ^ "And the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists Are..." TCMF. November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.