Rory and Tim started a label, Giantslayer Records, and began recording their first artist at Dog Den studio in Nashville. "Tim and I had written In My High School when I was a junior. It was a song I lived every day at White River High School. We felt it would have more impact if we could get it out while I was still in school."
The impact was almost immediately felt; when country station KMPS in Seattle began playing it, phone lines lit up, with listeners struck by the universal, slice-of-life experience of high school's joys and hurts, written so poetically and delivered in a rich, confident baritone that belied the singer's age. Serviced to secondary stations, and in KMPS's rotation, the independent label single charted in Billboard. In this unlikely chain of events, the song also struck a chord with a woman named Sandy Conklin, who works in distribution for BMG in Seattle. She believed so strongly in the singer's potential, that she emailed RLG chairman Joe Galante, suggesting he check out Blaine's website.
"Rory got a call from Sandy," remembers Blaine, "And she told him what she had done, and that she had heard from Joe, and he wanted to set up a meeting with me." Blaine returned to Nashville and a few days later they went to the RLG office. The audition for Galante and A&R head Renee Bell turned out even better than Blaine could have dreamed. "RLG wanted to sign me, and we got to keep the record we had already made. That was really important to me, because we are really proud of the record. It is who I am, and the fact that BNA wants me for who I am, and isn't trying to make me something else, means so much to me."
Like In My High School, many of the cuts---six of ten he co-wrote---- on his debut album are highly personal, particularly one titled The Best Man. "This song tells the story of my family," he says with unabashed emotion. "Dad is the best man I know, and when he and my mom got married when I was 12 years old, he asked me to be his best man. I was so proud. Just before I turned 18, he legally adopted me. It means everything to me to be able to say thanks to him through this song."
The Man He'll Never Be, another highly personal song for Blaine, was recorded in the shed behind his parent's home, with him playing every instrument. And while he didn't write How Do You Get That Lonely, (co-written by Rory Lee Feek and Jamie Teachener about one of Rory's daughter's friends), the heart-wrenching story of teenage suicide is one that sadly so many young people can relate to. "I never want to take advantage of a tragedy; my best friend's brother committed suicide, so it hits really close to home for me. But I feel that this song is so well-written, that it can hopefully touch people and maybe make a difference in someone's life."
Preparing to embark on the release of his debut album, Off To Join The World, Blaine said thanks and goodbye for now to family, friends and hundreds of his hometown fans at his final show at Godfather's Pizza, where he had a long-standing Friday night gig. "It felt really good, to have the people there who have always been supportive of me, before this ever happened. I just loved singing, and I met people along the way who helped me. It wasn't a goal, my whole life wasn't depending on me making it, and maybe that's why it all worked out the way it did. It is so much fun. If it ever stops being fun, I won't do it anymore. I'm 18 years old, I have lots of interests. I still want to learn to fly, but for now, I'll let someone else take me up."