From Montreal to Nashville, Canada’s Justine Blanchet is bringing sophistication, fearlessness, and culture to the world of country music. Drawn to the country genre for its lyrics and history, Justine grew up in the Montreal area but visited Nashville at 14. Upon playing an open mic at the Bluebird Café two years later, her dreams of relocating to Music City never stopped.
Since embarking on a musical career, Justine has earned over 1 million combined Spotify streams and YouTube views across 10 singles, and she also hit #4 on CBC Country/Sirius XM for her 2021 single, “Get Out of the Mud”. Now dividing time between Canada and Nashville, Justine teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Danick Dupelle for two well-received singles – 2022’s “Hard to Love” and 2023’s “Heart Less” – and her recently-released debut EP. “Don’t Ask Me to Dance”. We had the pleasure to catch up with this rising star!
Justine, thank you for agreeing to catch up with us. For readers unfamiliar with you and your background, what drew you to a career in the arts?
You bet! I was raised in a family of four kids and learned a variety of instruments throughout my childhood. I was hospitalized when I was 11 years old for a burst appendix. After staying at the hospital for three weeks due to complications, I was able to go home and made the conscious decision of developing my talents. At the age of 14, I traveled to Nashville and was really inspired by country music, so I made the change a year later from opera to country music.
Since then, I’ve released 10 singles and dropped my first EP, “Don’t Ask Me to Dance”, which was also recorded in Nashville. Things have changed a lot as far as my overall sound and surroundings go.
Who were your early influences and how did they impact your career?
Women like Shania Twain, Reba, and Lady A all had an impact on my love for country music. I have to say that country music as whole really impacted my songwriting. I like to draw from personal experiences and things that are near and dear to my heart. Country music is really a genre that thrives on storytelling so seeing these great women leading the way definitely inspired me to love the genre and also to pursue my own goals as an artist.
You’ve performed on stage at several prestigious events such as the Festival Country Lotbinière, Big Valley Jamboree, the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Festival Western de St-Tite, and Three Diamonds in the Rough showcases during Canadian Country Music Week. What’s your most memorable performance to date, and why?
I would have to say that my performance at Festival Country Lotbinière is definitely the most memorable so far. The stage was so fun to use. It had a catwalk and the audience was truly one of a kind. I have also enjoyed playing in Nashville every chance I get. My first performance there at The Bluebird inspired me to move here as an adult. It’s a very inspiring place to perform!
Which three traits define you?
The three traits that define me are kindness, hard worker, and dedicated. Kindness is important. The world can be an unforgiving place and I think that being genuinely kind and respectful towards others will help you build stronger personal and professional relationships in the end. If you’re going to choose a career in the arts, you need to be prepared to work hard and that’s especially true for independent artists. Finally, as an artist, you have to have a strong passion for what you’re doing and be dedicated to it. I feel like each of these traits are part of my day-to-day life and what others observe in me.
Please tell us about your latest project EP, “Don’t Ask Me to Dance”
Yes, “Don’t Ask Me to Dance” is available now and I’m really excited about it. I collaborated with Danick Dupelle as my producer on this EP. As my debut, EP, the choice of songs was really important. Danick and I started choosing songs in 2021 and now it’s ready for the world to hear. It’s a collection of five songs, including three newly-released tracks. Thematically, we chose songs that would reflect different aspects of modern dating and how those experiences make us feel. I think that each song offers a unique experience and set of emotions for listeners to discover and relate to.
What other projects are in the pipeline?
I have plans to move to Nashville full-time in the next few months and so lots of exciting things will start happening, along with some more music, of course! I will also be releasing the music video for “Cheap Sunglasses”, the featured song from the EP, in July, so watch for that!
Where can our readers find out more about you?
I am on all social media platforms under the handle @justineblanchetmusic on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, as well as @justineblmusic on Twitter. You also can find more details on my website www.justineblanchet.com
Thanks so much for chatting with me!
Our pleasure!
Images: Justine Blanchet in Nashville (Photo Credit Emma-Lee Photography)
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