JUSTIN YOUNG:

New CD "Demo Sessions" Bring Mainstream Hopes.

by huimusic

So I get a call from my brother Ron from a golf course and he asks me “Have you ever heard of a Hawaiian artist named Justin Young?”  “Of course” I said, “he’s one of Hawaii ’s best progressive acoustic artists”.  Funny thing is that this all happened at a remote golf course way out in the woods called Angeles National……..small world.  It just so happened that the assistant golf pro is a friend of Justin’s and my brother Ron had just got through showing him HuiMusic.com.

So the next day, Ron rolled up on me with a new CD from Justin called Demo Sessions.  Myself only knowing Justin from his work in Hawaii thought that that it would be a close sounding recording to what I was use to………but it’s not……nowhere near it!

The CD Demo Sessions is not a retail CD and is only being sold at his gigs and at Mp3.com - which is the best way to really spread the sound.  However it did release in Japan . The production of this CD is totally different than his work released in Hawaii .  It embodies a Justin that has grown into his own through the priceless time and CD’s released in Hawaii .

Demo Session is one of the best mainstream projects that I have heard form a Hawaii artist yet.  It’s mainstream in the sense that it is produced and written with forward thinking creativity.  Justin’s musicianship and singing is the best yet and his cleaver lyric show his personal growth and brings an intellectual vibe into his music.  I really dig his total overall artistry.  The CD is REAL good and I wish that it was for sale to the public via retail, but if it’s the only way to get one of his CD’s to see him live……..it’s well worth it!

He wrote all of the material on this CD with NO covers.  He had said to me that though he is so stoked at all that has happened in Hawaii with his career but he still was beating down the stigma of being more of a “cover song” artist than an original artist.  But with the writing that he did on Demo Sessions, I don’t think he’ll ever have to worry about that anymore.

Born in Honolulu , Justin had the fortune of having a supportive family, especially his mother who encouraged his desires in music.  His first experience with an instrument was a ukulele during grade school and then moved onto the piano.  Then around the 8^th grade Justin got his first guitar and soon it became his principal writing companion.  Humbly however he doesn’t consider himself a guitar player……….Ummmmmmm, yea.  But through it all, his singing was the real first experience with music.

His influences are real divers and go from local artist like Hui Ohana, Ka’au Crater Boys, Pekelo, John Cruz, Fiji & Jack Johnson to artist, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Spymob, Amos Lee and Boyz 2 Men.

His first CD that he released was No Better Time Than Now in 1996 while a senior in high school produced by Richard Natto, exec. produced by Bob St. John.  Then the working relationship with Bob St. John and Neos Productions resulted in a rush of local releases that kept Justin in the limelight as a top local artist.  In a personal note from Justin he said, “It was a great experience and I owe them (Bob and Pati/Neos Productions) quite a bit.  They are great people who work very hard and have added a lot to the island music scene”.  I couldn’t agree more!

But now Justin is in Los Angeles taking major steps in becoming an all-around musician by attending a music program at the UCLA extension and performing throughout Hollywood .  With a weekend gig at a well know restaurant (not an easy thing to get in LA) and attending UCLA along with the having the CD Demo Sessions in hand, Justin is on his mark to continue surging forward in his carrier.

I’m going to feature one of his songs off of Demo Session on the LavaLounge this month.  You can also check him out at either www.justinyoungmusic.com or www.myspace.com/justinyoung for more information on where he’s playing and get other samples of his music.

Let’s get personal with Justin Young:

• So when/why did you move to California ?

I enrolled in a two-year music program at the UCLA Extension.  I’ve also always wanted to do music other than island music and to do that I just felt a needed to leave.  A change of scenery is always helpful for growth and LA is a good place to be for music.  Being here I’ve had the opportunity to play with different people and at different venues and when your lively hood is based on your creativity, new experiences are

• When did you and where did you produce/write Demo Sessions?

I recorded five of the tracks in New York with producer Ed Tuton.  That was an amazing experience for me.  I was a fan of his work with Alana Davis and Maxwell so I sent his management company a demo package.  I send out packages all the time and one in a hundred you get a response.  Well, this was the one, and we struck up a relationship and got in the studio.  Traveling to New York City and spending time there was really energizing and to be working with these great musicians was a thrill.  I took those tracks along with a bunch of my home recordings from over the past few years and packaged them to sell at gigs.  I wrote some of them while in NYC but mostly in LA or Hawai’i .

• How did you come to releasing your “demos” as a CD?

Gigging out in LA I play my new material, but I only had my island music CD’s to sell and I wanted to have something similar to what I was playing for people to purchase. 

• So you just sell Demo Sessions at live gigs?

I sell them at gigs and online at cdbaby.com/justiny2 and it’s downloadable on itunes.

• What kind of places are you playing at in LA?

Coming out to LA was basically like starting over again.  I had no name or following here so I started back at one (as Brian McKnight would say).  I now have a steady gig once a week playing in Burbank and I play at some of the chill music venues like Genghis Cohen, Temple Bar etc.  I also gig in NYC every few months at the Living Room.  Really I play whenever I can.  I will soon be hitting the road and setting up a grassroots tour.  I’ll be offering on my web-site to anyone who wants to host an “in-home” concert that I will come and play for free.  I just ask that you can guarantee at least 20 people and let me sell CD’s.  So I’m hoping to get enough of a response that I can map out a route across the country.  So I’ll keep you posted on that.  

• Who have you shared billings with?

Well, out here no-one too famous.  A lot of very talented people though.  Last time I played at the Living Room in NYC Norah Jones showed up and did a surprise set after me.  She wasn’t actually on the bill though, so it makes it harder for me to brag about.

• Are you recording a new CD for retail?  Release date?

I’m still in the process of trying to get a deal out here but I’m getting a little tired of bumping into a wall.  I think it’s a little ridiculous just how many hoops and channels it appears you have to maneuver to get a record made, distributed and on the radio.  It’s about writing a good song and getting a good performance to the people to hear.  It should be so simple.  With that in mind, I’m working on a project I’m recording at home and will probably be released on my own label in Hawai’i and online.  It should be out around the beginning of next year.

• How often do you get back home?

I used to get back home more frequently – every 3 months or so.  Now it’s not as often.  It’s always nice to go home though.  It doesn’t seem too far anymore.

• What are your hopes for the future?

I just want to make records that I’m proud of and perform songs that I believe in.  The rest is out of my hands.  I’d also like to make a documentary film someday, contribute a story to my favorite public radio show “This American Life” and see the Bears win a Super Bowl.  I admit that last one is probably the most farfetched.

• What’s the best thing about being an artist in Hawaii ?

Hawai’i gives an unusual amount of support for it’s local music scene.  The amount of radio stations that play local music, you really can’t find anywhere else.  And the food at gigs.

• What’s the toughest thing about being an artist in Hawaii ?

Well, for me now I think there’s a perception of me as the bubble-gum cover song boy.  So I have to overcome that.  I also think there is a certain amount of resistance to change.  People are comfortable with the music they’re used to hearing, so why change it.  There are people back home doing some badass things, but I think it’s much harder for them to get it out.  That’s why avenues like Hui Music are so important.

• Who would you like to give props to?

Everyone who had the attention span to read this whole thing and all the cool peeps in the world.  RESPECT!