BARRY BLAZE/CODE OF ETHICS

The arts lured Barry Blaze early in life. Raised around musically gifted parents and family, the need to compose was part of Blaze’s genetic make up.

But as for pursuing a musical career, it was an encounter with God as a young adult that propelled him toward being a professional musician. His conviction to worship God through music began to shape his experiences and led to a series of songs and recordings that launched his musical career in the early ‘90s.

Blaze began writing and recording on his own which evolved into the euro-pop inspired music that became Code of Ethics. It was a fresh new alternative for Christian music of the time. And after a decade of success in the Christian music industry with multiple top hits, such as “Something Real,” “Freedom,” “True Love,” “Arms Around the World,” and “Hallelujah 2000,” he transitioned from performing for the masses to a focus on playing for an audience of One. In 2001, Blaze put his touring and writing on hold to join the staff of a growing church in North Florida.  Learning to lead worship revealed something Blaze knew all along—God had created him to be an artist.  More importantly, God had made him to help others understand that art and worship were designed to collaboratively reveal God’s glory.  And it was back to the writing table for Blaze.

Four years ago, after a life-threatening motorcycle accident on his favorite Florida drive, Blaze found himself with head trauma that included permanent hearing and vision loss. The physical tragedy led to a series of surgeries to partially restore his sight and hearing.  Inner healing came as he let fear and vulnerability develop his faith into a first hand experience of trusting God with the good and most trying of times.

On Barry Blaze’s debut solo project, Patiently Waiting, he lyrically invites listeners to join him in an exploration of reverence and gratitude to a sovereign God who is faithful beyond all circumstance.  The album’s contemporary melodies deliver an enjoyable blend of pop and praise sharing hope during a time of great difficulty.

The inspiration behind the album’s title track was written during his recovery when Blaze found himself with a medicine-induced sleepless night.  The lyrics of the song convey his soul’s deepest wounds during suffering, while the music moves through the sound of peace despite the turmoil.

In addition to launching an independent solo venture, Barry recently completed an all new full-length code of Ethics album, entitled Lost in Egypt.  About the title song, the singer states, “Only a handful of hardcore Code fans know that this song was written and used as the title of my first demo tape (1989).  This song means so much more to me now than when I first wrote it!  I have felt a salve to my own sin (as the first verse reads). I think that the older I get, the more I really want to understand and become like Jesus. To do that I must dig out of MY Egypt and stand delivered!”

But the title isn’t the only thing classic fans will recognize. One of the album’s standout tracks is a remake of possibly the band’s most popular song, “Something Real.” “This remake is a shout out to the ol’ school fans,” says Blaze. “It was written with two of my very close friends that I greatly respect and love, Gerald Joseph and James Booth.  This was a great time in my life when I survived on peanut butter, ramen noodles and Rock & Roll!  I was also on a year long tour with the Newsboys and loving every minute of it!”

But don’t let the retro title or key song remake deceive. Lost in Egypt boasts an array of new songs, from the industrial flavorings of the title track, to the electronic pop worship of “Perfect” and “Beautiful Lamb,” to a unique update of Depeche Mode’s “People Are People,” to the infectious opening track and album single, “Smile.”  “’Smile’ was the last song to be written for God saying to me ‘just smile for a while and have peace in Me.’”

In addition to completing a new Code Of Ethics album, Blaze is currently leading worship at Edgewater Church in St. Augustine FL. and is providing consultation and creative direction to church musicians and worship teams.

For more information on Barry Blaze, please visit www.barryblaze.com.