FeedsCanton singer hopes debut CD will ‘Blaze’ up the charts
Staff Writer
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Justine Blazer is hosting a release party for her recent CD, Red, White and Blue.When Canton Township singer Justine Blazer entered her first singing contest, she was 7, and she was more excited than nervous.
“I felt a scared, but I knew that I was destined to sing,” she said. “I get an adrenaline rush whenever I am onstage.”
Blazer won second place in that contest at State Theatre and has kept right on singing. Next month, she is hosting a release party for her recent CD, “Red, White and Blue” at the Memphis Smoke restaurant in Royal Oak.
She describes her music in “Red, White and Blue” as a fusion of rock, country and blues. Blazer devoted several of the songs to the U.S. military troops in Iraq.
“I wanted to convey a message about being proud to be an American,” she said. “Since the war, so many people have lost hope.”
Blazer also said that one of her songs, “Real Kinda Girl” gives a positive message to young women about having high self-esteem.
Blazer, who is also a full-time college student at Eastern Michigan University, said that she hopes Canton residents will support her at the release party. She attended Canton High School and sang in the school choir. She has also been a featured singer at Liberty Festivals in the past.
Blazer credits her mother, a dancer and former dance studio owner, for inspiring her to seriously pursue her singing career. Justine said that her mother enrolled her in singing lessons when she was 6.
“I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my parents appreciated and nurtured my talent,” she said.
Blazer continued to sing after high school as she pursued a degree in public relations. In fact, she used her academic experience to form her own recording label, LaBlaze Entertainment.
“I’ve had offers from other record labels but I’m not interested,” she said. “This is a good time for people who want to do music independently because of the exposure that you can get on the Internet.”
Blazer said that she became interested in public relations after working as a spokes model for Chevrolet five years ago. She hopes to use her experience in the PR field to help younger upcoming recording artists, too.
“My advice to younger singers is to develop themselves and their talent,” she said. “Too many young people want to be famous but for the wrong reasons.”
Blazer said that she plans to continue promoting her CD and performing at singing engagements.
She adds that her boyfriend of five years, Tony Dile, has been instrumental in helping her manage her singing career. He handles most of Blazer’s booking and scheduling.
“He’s really been my moral support throughout my career. He advises me and keeps me focused,” she said.
Blazer is optimistic about “Red, White and Blue” as she describes it as her “best work.”
“I’ve experienced a lot as a singer and business owner,” she said. “I just hope to continue getting better as I sing and perform my music,” she said.
For more information about Blazer’s Nov. 18 release party, contact her at (313) 496-3994 or call Memphis Smoke restaurant at (248) 453-4300.
