Originally from Golden, Colorado, Justin Meyer has built a multifaceted career as an artist and producer. After earning a degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music, with a focus on commercial record production, he relocated to Brooklyn, New York. There, Meyer continues to refine his craft, with his latest album, Everything Has Changed But Nothing Has. This month, Meyer also released a new single "'talking 'bout us" and we caught up with Justin for our latest Five Fast Facts!
Photo Credit: Kaia Miller
1. SJ: What/who inspired you to become an artist and producer? What kickstarted this journey?
JM: I remember being in high school and becoming really fascinated by the way songs were put together and being able to create these sonic landscapes. Two albums that stand out to me are "Melodrama" by Lorde and "Good At Falling" by The Japanese House. Both of these albums really create their own worlds that I feel like I get transported to when I listen to them. They sparked a desire in me to learn to do that myself.
2. SJ: You’re originally from Golden Colorado, but moved to Boston to attend Berklee and now live in Brooklyn. How has your location affected your songwriting process?
JM: This is a great question. Location definitely has an impact on my songwriting. A big theme on my album was the feeling of going back to your hometown and being able to reflect on how you’ve changed since you were there last. Growing up in Colorado, I find that my work from then was very naturalistic, especially in lyricism. I feel that after living in Boston and New York, that natural sound has stayed, but been overlaid by more of a rock influence.
3. SJ: You just released a new single called “talking 'bout us.” What’s the story behind this track?
JM: This song started like many of mine do, as a produced track with a wordless melody over it. It was inspired sonically by the artist Del Water Gap. I find that often the production of a song will inform what it ends up being about. As I started writing the song it came to be about a long-distance relationship I was in that eventually ended. Lots of feelings of distance and uncertainty, not knowing if it’s right to stay in it.
4. SJ: You said this song was written and recorded over a year. What did this songwriting and recording process look like?
JM: This song was one of many I was working on throughout last year. I was working on an album at the time and this song was a contender, but I didn’t think it really fit in the same world sonically as the other songs and decided to release it as a standalone track. I remember listening to the demo in Ubers or on the subway and writing lyric ideas down. Ultimately it took a year to make cause I was prioritizing finishing the album first, so most of the recording for this song took place shortly after releasing the album.
JM: On this son, I didn’t have any collaborators. It’s not something I’ve done a ton on my solo work. I coproduced a few songs on my album with a great producer named Jack Riley. I’ve also done some co-writing in the past and released an EP called "Lonely Rock Star" that featured a lot of fellow Berklee musicians. I do enjoy collaborating because I feel like it opens so many doors to sounds and ideas I wouldn’t have come up with on my own, so I’m definitely looking to collaborate more often in the future.
SJ: What is one song you wish Justin Meyer wrote?
JM: I’ve been loving the song "Boyhood" by The Japanese House. It’s one of those songs that I feel like every line in it resonates with me and my experiences.
SJ: What’s next for Justin Meyer?
JM: Going into 2025 I’m feeling optimistic about my career. This last year I made lots of progress as a producer and also creating more of a foundation for myself in New York. In the coming year, I’m looking to continue growing my artist project. More songs, more shows, things like that.
Album Art: Kaia Miller
Listen to "talking 'bout us" below!
Credits
Songwriting, Production, Mix: Justin Meyer
Master: Alexander Wright
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