Bowmanville's Blaine Zimmerman releases first EP

DURHAM — With an EP recently released and a music video on the way, Bowmanville’s Blaine Zimmerman is enjoying a musical life.

Zimmerman, 37, was born in Indian Head, Sask., and moved to Oshawa in 1999, moving to Bowmanville in 2009.

He started singing around the age of three, when he was in his church’s choir. When he was nine or so, his mother bought him guitar lessons, but he didn’t start to take music seriously until he got the opportunity to play in his first band, when he was 13.

“Being a part of something, it was really fun,” Zimmerman said.

His favourite performance was in 2004 when he was in a metal band with his friends and had the chance to play the Opera House in Toronto.

In 2013, Zimmerman graduated from Trent University with an honours B.A. in English and anthropology. He thought his studies would help with his songwriting.

“I just thought it would help me make better art,” he said.

One of the most memorable moments in Zimmerman’s music career was when he started recording at Chalet Studios in Claremont. He looked up to see Aubrey Dayle on the drums, recording his EP. Dayle has played with the Sam Roberts Band, on The David Letterman Show and performed at Carnegie Hall.

Zimmerman's record, Worth Fighting For, was released May 11 and features five songs: All In, If It Ain’t You, Ride On, The Greatest and Worth Fighting For. He had the opportunity to collaborate with Whitby’s Cadence Grace, a member of Runaway Angel.

His favourite song on the record is Ride On. He said the song is about a friend who died from a brain tumour. Originally, Zimmerman wasn’t going to include it on the EP, but he played it at some open mike nights and, with support and the positive feedback he received, decided that he wanted it on the record.

Recording his first EP "was different.” He had done some demo recording on his own, but seeing the different stages done professionally was “really eye-opening and a fun experience,” he said.

The feedback he’s received has been “pretty positive,” he said. He’s working to put together a music video for the title track, Worth Fighting For.

Last year, Zimmerman entered the Boots and Hearts Emerging Star Showcase. He wasn’t a finalist, but he was able to go to the festival.

He said, “Watching the competition, I knew that that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”

For the Boots and Hearts showcase, artists are asked to submit a video of a performance, and Zimmerman is looking to submit his music video for the competition.

He hopes that his EP and upcoming music video will give him the opportunity to make more music.

“Really, what I’m trying to do is build a little bit of a following and have the opportunity to make some more music,” he said.

“It’s not an easy business,” he said, but Zimmerman hopes to continue pursuing his dream.

Originally published in Durham’s Metroland newspapers/durhamregion.com on July 22, 2018.