Interview with Justin Meyer
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
A couple different things got me into music. Growing up, I listened to a lot of music and was really intrigued by lyrics and the way songs were crafted. My whole family is very passionate about music, regardless of if they are musicians themselves or not. I did choir and theater in school, which help me better acquaint myself with music theory and made me love performance.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts and going on walks. Being in nature is very inspiring to me, especially since I grew up in Colorado. Sometimes while listening to a podcast, someone will say something that sparks an idea for a song, in fact, I came up with “Friends With Fear” that way. I’ve also been trying to read more books again, which definitely helps with writing lyrics.
How long have you been making music?
I have some vague memories of attempting songwriting at a younger age, around when I was in middle school. I properly started writing songs and learning production in the latter part of my junior year of high school, so around six years now.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
I live in Brooklyn, NY, but most of my music until now was written in Boston, Massachusetts, or Golden, Colorado. Each place definitely has a very unique energy to it, which plays into my music by affecting my lifestyle, thoughts, and feelings.
Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?
I have yet to play a show, but when my vision for my shows is to have lots of interesting lighting and somehow incorporate plants or nature into the stage. I’d also want to engage and converse with the audience to create a connection and more of an intimate feeling.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
The venue that I would most like to play at is Red Rocks in Colorado. I grew up about 15 minutes from it and have seen several shows there. It’s such a unique and beautiful place.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
There are so many great artists I’d love to play shows with, but my top picks are probably Lorde, Maggie Rogers, Bleachers, The 1975, and The Japanese House. All of them have been really influential to my style and taste in music
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
I think it would be the same piece of advice for both, and that is just to start and not worry about things like quality. I think when I started out, I held myself back because I thought I would need a team of people in order to produce something good. In my opinion, with music, the story being told is much more important than the quality of how it’s told. Just use what you have, and the quality will get better with time.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
The song that means the most to me is “’til the Love Runs Cold” from my EP Lonely Rock Star. I wrote it about things that happened to me in 2020 which was certainly a difficult year on a personal and global scale. Writing it felt like a release of a bunch of bottled-up emotions. Additionally, it’s the first song I released that I actually worked with multiple people to produce. It features a band, and my friend Aiden Devlin helped me engineer it.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
The song that a lot of my family and friends like a lot is “Life Is Beautiful” that I released back in 2019. It also randomly has been used in close to 500 TikTok videos, I guess people just stumbled upon it. One of my favorites to play on guitar is “Someday We’ll All Be Dead” from my album Metanoia. It takes on a very different feel when played on an acoustic guitar than it does on the recorded version.
What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?
My creative process always starts with a small idea and then expands outwardly. It is usually a line for a lyric, a melody, or some sort of production element that kicks off my songwriting. I find that I usually write songs with a larger project, be it an EP or an album in mind. I’m inspired to write music by things that happen in my life that I take and extrapolate upon until I have a more developed idea.
Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music? if so please tell me about them.
I try to make music that somehow makes people feel empowered. I think that even sad songs can be empowering as they allow people to feel like someone else understands what they might be going through.
Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?
My next single is called “Melancholia.” I’m planning on releasing it in May.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
I have a few different projects I’m working on right now. I find that I’m great at starting new things but slow at finishing them. I’m hoping I can release 2 EPs this year and may release an album next year, but only time will tell.
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
I recommend following my Tik Tok and Instagram accounts. Both are @justin.meyer.music. You can also check out my website at justinmeyer.studio