Meet Blake Jurasin

We were lucky to catch up with Blake Jurasin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Blake, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I think with most people, imposter syndrome permeates the music industry. I often feel imposter syndrome when I’m teaching a guitar lesson or right before/after playing a show on a big stage. To me, imposter syndrome is not just a one-time experience; it continually effects your day-to-day.

So over-coming imposter syndrome isn’t a one-time triumph. It’s consistently reminding yourself that you were put on Earth for a particular purpose; reminding yourself that though many people *could* be on the stage you’re playing, you are the showcased artist; reminding yourself that small victories lead to large accomplishments; reminding yourself that each small step can lead to your long-term goals; and reminding yourself to not take for granted the opportunities that are in front of you.

The better we become at something, the more opportunity we allow the negative side of our brains to say “Is this worth it? Am I worth it?” Eventually, you learn to cope with the intrusive thoughts by surrounding yourself with people who influence you positively, who also experience those same thoughts (and hopefully they’re vulnerable enough with you to express that they also feel imposter syndrome.)

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve been a musician since I was 8-years-old, and I haven’t stopped since. In 2015, I graduated Berklee College of Music with a BM in Music Business and thought I was ready to take on the world. Then in 2016, I moved to Austin to pursue a career in music, where the realities of being a professional slapped me in the face. Through luck and faith, I was able to meet my bandmate (now wife), Bethany Becker, who was signed to a record label. She hired me as her gigging electric guitarist and background vocalist, and together, we hit the Texas music festival circuit.

From 2016-2019, I was hired to be on multiple recording sessions, as well as a church musician for Abundant Life Church in Pflugerville, TX. I even recorded my own EP, “Who I Was,” which is available on all streaming platforms. Then when the 2020 pandemic hit, Bethany and I had to regroup and strategize different ways to make a living with our music. It took several years to recover, but in 2022, I started teaching music at the Musician’s Woodshed in Lakeway, TX; In 2023, I was hired to be the touring guitarist for Trashy Annie. I now get to be on the road approximately once a month, playing all across the US from small bars large festival stages – we recently played on the main stage at Musikfest 2024 in Bethlehem, PA. When I’m in town, I play for Refuge church and their group, The Levites, at Stubbs BBQ’s Gospel Brunch in Downtown Austin.

What’s been most exciting through this whole process has been the evolving love I’ve developed for music, and how I have an opportunity to continually expand my vocabulary on my guitar. I’m fortunate enough to get hired for a variety of gigs: ranging from country to gospel to rock to metal to jazz to pop to blues. Each genre has it’s own subset of players that teach a range of different musical phrases or styles of playing, and it’s fascinating to watch how a gospel musician such as Jabari Johnson would approach his guitar differently than a Rock/Blues player like Andy Timmons.

More recently, I co-produced and recorded guitar and background vocals on Bethany Becker’s newest EP “If The Boot Fits,” which is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming services. I also recorded a live album with Trashy Annie at Austin’s “The Pershing” and am one of the featured guitarists on Trashy Annie’s newest upcoming album on the songs “Games We Play,” “Run Run,” and “Here We Go.” I’m also in the works of my own album, entitled “PopArt,” so stay tuned for more information on that!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Being involved in music for as long as I have, it’s clear that being a great musician is the minimal requirement to make it in this industry. This means being proficient on your instrument, being able to play well with others, developing your ear to be able to learn music faster as well as listen to your band members during a performance, crafting your live performance skills to put on a stellar performance, and much more.

All of that said, I think these are three bits of knowledge I wish I could bestow on my former self from back when I first started:

1. Be a good hang. There are so many music school graduates that think they are God’s gift to whatever band they deem “worthy” of their talents. In all actuality, most of gigging and touring is spending time stuffed in a van for hours at a time and getting to spend time with your bandmates. These days, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who is wiling to keep a narcissist in their band because of talent alone.

2. If you allow it, any one person can teach you something new. This was wisdom that was passed onto me from my vocal coach, Gene Raymond (www.octavehigher.com). No person is a master of all knowledge, so be receptive to what others have to teach you.

3. The music industry is not for the feint-of-heart. You will undoubtedly be met with financial hardship in the beginning of your journey if you do not have savings from your family, former job, etc. Touring can be difficult when you want to spend time with your family/friends/loved ones. To truly make it in the music industry, the most important skills you can develop is persistence and perseverance.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking to collaborate, particularly with original artists and bands! I have session work that you can listen to at https://blakejurasin.com/studio-work. I’ve done multiple genres, from gospel to blues to funk to rock to country and more.

If anyone is looking for a session guitarist or looking to collaborate on original material, you can find me on Instagram at @blakejura or email me at music@blakejurasin.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Eric Booth
Robert Lombardo
Jake Martin

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