Q: ‘Bipolar Love, Pt. 2’ is such a powerful song! What inspired you to write a sequel of your 2016 single?
Justin: It was winter of 2019 and I had just moved to New York City. I was really missing my family back home in Alabama and was just feeling lonely. I believe it’s crazy how lonely you can feel in a city of almost 9 million people. My love life was non-existent and the people I am closest to in the city, were never able to hang out with me due to our busy schedules. In relationships, I’m usually the guy that gets “friend-zoned,” because the other person feels like they’ve found greener grass somewhere else. Yet, they never fail to come running back when that other relationship doesn’t work out. That’s what “Bipolar Love” is all about; people not being able to make up their minds about relationships. I think that is something so many people can relate to.
Q: Can you share a bit about your songwriting process?
Justin: Usually it starts with an idea that I record on my phone with the voice memo app. Once I’m near a piano, I start to figure out what chords I want under my melody and the backup vocals I’d like as well. I update my voice memos with a rough draft of the song on piano and take it to my next studio session with my producer Mario Butler and we get to work. I throw him Ideas, he throws me sounds and vice versa. We usually get a vibe for a song, listen to reference tracks with those same vibes and just create. I love discovering new sounds and song structures because if it is interesting to me, I believe it will be interesting to other listeners too.
Q: How did you get your start in music?
Justin: Well, I started singing at the age of 3 and playing piano around 4, so once I got to the age that I could write my own music, it kind of came to me naturally. When I was younger, my parents drove me to auditions for local plays and talent shows where the judges would always tell them I “really had something.” So, they took me to a cattle call for this nationally acclaimed talent convention, and the industry kind of snatched me up. Next thing you know, I’m living in New York with my mother going to audition after audition as a child. My first two gigs I booked were national commercials, which was a huge deal. My parents really sacrificed a lot for my career at a young age and sometimes I reflect on that, which adds more fuel to my fire and drives my passion to be successful in the entertainment industry.
Q: How has moving to NYC influenced your music and career so far?
Justin: Well, it inspired this beautiful song that is coming out January 28th, but I believe there is so much inspiration in NYC. Everyone is hustling to achieve their dreams and you meet so many amazing people! I have so many new friends in NYC I’m sure I’ll collaborate with sometime soon. So, the impact has been unbelievable.
Q: What was it like performing with Lizzo in Atlanta? That must have been an amazing experience!
Justin: It was a dream! Many people don’t ask about that experience, but the way it happened was nothing short of magic. I was in a crowd of over ten-thousand people. Lizzo asked the crowd, “What should I sing next?” and I immediately started singing her song “Good As Hell.” The people around me were so surprised by my voice that they started getting silent. It was just me singing my heart out to Lizzo from the crowd. She immediately said, “Get him up here!” We then performed the full song together on stage and it was one of the most magical moments of my life. She would later post about me on her Instagram and talk about some struggles she was going through that day I had no idea about. I go back and read it on days when I need motivation myself. We really blessed each other that day and I thank God for using us as vessels in each other’s lives. It’s something I will never forget!
Q: What do we have to look forward to from you?
Justin: There is an Album coming, but I don’t want to talk too much about it as of now. I will tell you the project is called “Broke, Not Broken.” It tells the story of my life in New York and through lockdown. I decided to use my music as therapy and that’s what people can expect to hear this summer. Until then, people can go to justinolivermusic.net and see where my upcoming live shows will be around the country.
Written By Sarah Curry
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