Blaine Zimmerman shares on his latest single, “The Man I Want To Be”
Blaine Zimmerman just released his latest single, “The Man I Want to Be,” on October 17, 2025. He is eager to have a conversation about the creation and inspiration behind this new track.
The song was recorded at Jukasa Media Group in Ohsweken, Ontario, on June 17, 2025, with production handled by Al Rowe and Agenda Music.
Review
“The Man I Want to Be,” cuts through the typical country noise with an honest look at love and personal growth. He starts by declaring he’s “Sick of love songs, we both know talk is cheap,” immediately signaling that this isn’t some fleeting romance cliché. Zimmerman establishes a voice built on honest, adult maturity right from the jump.
The track centers on the realization that true partnership doesn’t just feel good; it makes you better. Zimmerman lays out the familiar walls people build after heartbreak: “Before you I didn’t have a clue what that word even means.” But the verses quickly shift from resignation to revelation
The chorus provides the defining statement of the song, defining what the “Man I Want to Be” truly is: not a savior, but a reliable partner. Lines like, “Ready to do the work, / Nothing worth it is ever easy,” inject a dose of realism often missing in ballads, framing love as a persistent action rather than a passive emotion.
“The Man I Want to Be” showcases Blaine Zimmerman as a songwriter who gets it: the country songs that stick with you are the ones that speak the straight truth about life, love, and the ongoing effort it takes to be better for the person standing next to you.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Blaine Zimmerman. I am a lead guitarist, and country(ish) singer/songwriter currently working out of Bowmanville, Ontario.
Last spring, I recorded a new single called “the Man I Want to Be” with Agenda music (Rich DaSilva -drums, Mark Rynkun – bass, Will Hebbes – electric guitar, Al Rowe – Acoustic guitar, vocals, and piano) producing. We recorded it at Jukasa Media Group (Ohsweken, Ontario), with Jill Zimmermann and Darren Magierowski engineering. We later got Shane Guse (Western Swing Authority) to play violin.
Your latest single, “The Man I Want To Be” suggests a powerful, perhaps aspirational or reflective theme. What is the core message you hope listeners take away from this new single?
Great question, but I didn’t write the song with any ideas like that in mind. It was written for myself with an audience of one in mind.
“The man I want to be” is a song about gratitude and love. It is song about honour and devotion and about choosing to do the right thing. It is song about healthy masculinity.
My original thesis was that “the man I want to be is more like the man who raised me” and to have the song be some form of a tribute to my late father, but the muses brought me something else.
On the surface, “The Man I Want To Be” is a story about a man pouring his heart out to the woman of his dreams, and acknowledging how her inspiration has helped him to heal and grow as a human being.
How does the sound or overall vibe of this track compare to the music on your debut EP, WORTH FIGHTING FOR? Does it represent an evolution of your style?
I wouldn’t say that my style has evolved between the two projects.
I have refined things about my voice and my abilities as a lyricist, composer, and lead guitarist, but No. I wouldn’t say my style has evolved.
Given that the single was just released on October 17th, what has the initial reaction been like from fans and listeners? Has anything surprised you about how people are connecting with the song?
So far the reaction to “The Man I Want to be” has been positive.
Releasing new music often marks a fresh chapter. How does “The Man I Want to Be” set the tone for your next project or whatever comes next in your musical journey?
“The man I Want To Be” was written with the intention of being the title track for another album. It is my best work as a recording artist to date. It definitely has raised the bar for any future recordings.
Since the release of your debut EP, what is the most significant lesson you’ve learned about your craft or the music industry that you applied while creating this single?
Just keep showing up.
Releasing music independently requires a great deal of work on the marketing and promotion side. What is your strategy for getting this song heard by new listeners?
Right or wrong, my strategy is to just go out and grind. Play whatever stage will have you, whenever you can make it out.
It sucks to be so many years and so many thousands of dollars into something and still be playing open mic’s and “emerging artist showcases”, but it keeps you humble.
We only do this because we love to do this.
I don’t love the social media thing, but it’s expected these days, so you just grind away at that too.
If you could give the Blaine Zimmerman who released WORTH FIGHTING FOR in 2018 one piece of advice about making music today, what would it be?
Haha! Patience.
I was in an interesting place psychologically when we put Worth Fighting For out. About Six months prior to my EP being released, I got cut off on the 401 and wrecked my sport bike at speed.
I felt a sense of urgency to get my music released because I had been (rather rudely) reminded that our time on this earth is finite. Looking back on it now, I feel like I rushed the EP. Two of the songs on Worth Fighting For were not ready to be released. I cringe when I hear them now.
I would advise my younger self to be patient, take more time (and yes, spend more money) to get it right the first time.
As a lead guitarist, what is the one guitar riff from any artist that you wish you had written?
That’s a tough one. I don’t think like that. I don’t look at other people’s things and go “I wish mine was like that.” Or “I wish that was mine.”
I appreciate the question, but I have to pass.
If you could have a duet with any musician, living or dead, who would it be and what song (not one of yours) would you cover?
I’ve already ticked duets off of the bucket list. I was blessed to have the opportunity to record a duet with Cadence Grace on my first EP.
To answer your question, I have to go with old Blue Eyes. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to learn from Frank Sinatra, and sing “my way” with the master?