Asbury Park artist Blaise’s “Still a Fool” from his fourth full-length album, “Sealed with Best Wishes,” and featured on the recent charity compilation, “Winter Rental,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY KRIS KHUNACHAK
Serendipity is a beautiful thing.
Months ago, Asbury Park artist Blaise scheduled a Makin Waves Song of the Week for this week, and it just so happens to coincide with the March 1 release party for an excellent charity compilation to which he contributed “Still a Fool.”
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is among 11 tracks on Blaise’s fourth full-length album, as well as 18 tracks on Shore Points Records’ “Winter Rental.” The compilation benefits Rae Of Light Foundation, which supports music education for children in honor of beloved Asbury Park singer-songwriter Jillian Ludwig. The 18-year-old Belmont University student was murdered in November when struck in the head by a stray bullet while walking near her Nashville campus.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Still a Fool” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on March 1 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
Blaise wrote “Still a Fool” with producer Joe Parella. The track was recorded, mixed and mastered by Dylan McClean at Lakehouse Recording Studios, the parent company of Shore Points, as well as Lakehouse Music Academy, where Jillian was a student for many years.
The music video for the song once again as was directed by Kris Khunachak of KrisKhunachak MultiMedia, which has made nine clips with Blaise.
“This song and video are particularly meaningful because they represent me at my most unconditional,” Blaise said. “That no matter what happens, I still love.
“This song is a sonic sequel to a song on my second album, ‘Velvet Noir, called ‘I’m a Fool,’” he continued. “In this one, I have grown stronger, wiser, and can stand up for myself and say how I feel and yet still be there with love and care for the person doing me dirty. You can have self respect and self preservation while being supportive and loving to someone who has hurt you.
In the video, the viewer is the person the song is addressed to, Blaise said.
The clip shows the ups and downs of any relationship, he said.
“How you can choose to stick it out, to fight for it, or you can leave,” he said. “Every relationship has two sides, and I wanted to have the audience in the perspective of the opposite side from myself in the video because the song is my side.”
Blaise said he aims to give more of himself as on artist.
On March 1, he will be among 11 artists who will give of their talent to celebrate the release of “Winter Rental” at both The Break and LOWDIVE in Asbury. Also performing will be Have a Good Season, Teen Idle, shinything, scxtty, The Slow Circuit, Hot Dress, Via Crowe, Loveseat Pete, Za the Band, and Polaroid Fade. In addition to a new track by Jillian, the compilation also features Dentist, Sonic Blume, NOT YER BABY, Beauty, Doc Emmett, and Jwalttz.
“I am honored to be on this compilation as I am a fan and friend of pretty much every single artist on it,” Blaise said. “To pull us all together and as a community, help our own individual fanbases expand and find new artists to fall in love with is so cool and so important. It’s always better to help another artist up than push them down, and I believe this compilation is a manifestation of that concept. ‘Cause we’re stronger together.”
The release party will include a screening of a video for Jillian’s track, “How Long.”
Originally a humble demo recorded on her cell phone, “How Long” has been transformed into a poignant tribute through the efforts of Jillian’s mother and Lakehouse Recording Studios, said Ashley Hill, manager of Lakehouse and Shore Points.
“We're privileged to share this beautiful piece of music and honor Jill's memory,” Ashley said. “Asbury Park transcends being merely a city. It’s a tight-knit community that rallies together in times of need, triumph, and celebration. The ‘Winter Rental’ album exemplifies this spirit, showcasing not only the talent within our midst but also the boundless compassion and support that define us.”
For more about “Winter Rental,” visit www.shoreptsrecords.com. For more about Blaise, check out https://linktr.ee/Blaise3.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
