Danielia Cotton plays Blairstown Theatre

When Danielia Cotton was growing up in her Hopewell in the 1970s and 1980s, she was one of the few people of color in school. She realizes that living in suburban New Jersey is not the same as living in the shadow of Jim Crow laws.

"It's not like I grew up in segregation," says Cotton. "But there was a very different tone, racially. For a young kid, in a school system that is predominantly white, when you try to fit in and you don't, it can be hard."

But Cotton did have one release. "Music was a place to go in my head and get away from reality," she says.

One memory stands out. "I was in my backyard, in that 12-to-14 age (range), holding a stick as a microphone, singing Donna Summer's 'Last Dance,' " she says with a laugh. "I thought, 'Wow, I can do this little run. This might be my thing.' "

That "thing" has become a career in music that includes a half-dozen acclaimed albums and EPs, along with a growing fan base. Her albums of original material showcase her singing, her guitar-playing, and her songwriting.

Cotton will next appear in New Jersey at the Historical Blairstown Theatre on Saturday, May 2.

The concert is a benefit for WNTI, the listener-supported public radio affiliate based in Hackettstown.

Cotton realizes that she sometimes confounds critics and casual listeners. Her Donna Summer imitation to the contrary, Cotton was less interested in R&B or hip-hop and more attracted to rock acts, such as the Rolling Stones and AC/DC.

At the same time, though, she appreciates the value of songwriting, regardless of the genre. She singles out Stevie Wonder's 1976 album "Songs in the Key of Life." "That album hit me in a deep way," she says. "It's an incredible body of work."

Cotton also was exposed to different genres through her mother, Wenonah Brooks, who was a professional jazz singer. "Jazz is the music that spoke to her," cotton says. "But she's open to a lot of things. She has utter respect for other types of music."

After studying music and drama, Cotton began performing in the early 2000s. She made her recording debut in 2005 with "Small White Town," a CD produced by Kevin Salem. (Yes, the title is a reference to Hopewell.)

"That was my breakout," Cotton says. "I got to put out my indie rock album. It was me speaking in a personal way."

Cotton sees evolution in her sound even in the brief decade since "Small White Town." For example, the song "Easy" on her 2012 album "The Gun in Your Hand" reflects her interest in the band Radiohead.

Her most recent CD, "The Real Book," is a collection of covers, but Cotton considers it as personal a statement as any of her original CDs. The artists covered run from the Rolling Stones to Eurhythmics, from Abbey Lincoln to Bill Withers.

"Kevin (Salem) and I picked these songs because of their stories," she says. "These are the stories that appealed to both of us. They're all so different and all so great."

Cotton is already at work on two new projects: a CD of originals and a collaboration with a female artist. "I'll continue to surprise people," she says. "I've found that people are willing to go on that journey with me."

If she could go back in time to the teenager singing "Last Dance" in a Hopewell backyard, Cotton would offer this advice: "Stay true to what you believe in artistically. You may have your ups and downs, but the rock gods will reward you eventually."

DANIELIA COTTON

WHAT: Cotton, a native of Hopewell, infuses rock with elements of R&B and jazz. Her albums include her debut, "Small White Town" (2005) and a collection of covers called "The Real Book" from 2014. Cotton's performance is a benefit for WNTI, 91.9 FM, a listener-supported public radio affiliate in Hackettstown.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 2

WHERE: Historic Blairstown Theatre, 30 Main St., Blairstown

TICKETS: $20

INFORMATION: 908-362-1399 or www.thehbt.com