Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Tipton.
Justin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My love for music started really early on in life. I’d say one of my earliest memories as a kid was playing my mini acoustic guitar (more like beating it to death in no musical fashion whatsoever) while my dad played his guitar. I remember in between songs, I began to play my mini guitar (again, more like beating it to death) and makeup words. Which promptly made my dad laugh, call my mom into the room, and then they both laughed.
I began to seriously write songs, play guitar and sing around 15 years old. After a few years of annoying my family with bad covers of Steve Earle, my dad took me to the first concert – The Band of Heathens at The House of Blues in Dallas. During the first song of their set (“Jackson Station”) was when I realized that music was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life, whether I made any money doing it or not.
In 2013, I played my first gig. A duo set with my dad at a country bar in the absolute middle of nowhere near Forney, Texas. About a month after that gig, I sold all my equipment and gear to help pay for some medical bills for the birth of my son (who is now five and named “Jackson”, partially after The Band of Heathens’ song, “Jackson Station”).
Ironically enough, needing money was also how I got back into playing live. In 2015, my wife left me with an apartment I couldn’t afford by myself. I was already working two jobs when a coffee shop owner heard me at an open mic and offered me $75 to play at his venue once a month. Playing that little coffee shop gig made me realize how much I’ve always wanted to be a full-time songwriter, so I quit my jobs and pursued music full time.
In 2018, I recorded my first album (scheduled to release August 30, 2019). To bring the story full circle, I recorded this album in Austin, TX with The Band of Heathens as my backing band. Gordy Quist, one of the front-men for the Heathens, produced the record. So, if you ever hear me say “I wouldn’t be here without them”, I mean it literally.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Honestly, yes – it kind of has been a smooth road. Not to say that I haven’t experienced struggles, I have. But I also know what it’s like to work a job you hate just to pay bills. Anytime things aren’t going exactly my way in the music world, I remember those days of working a meaningless job that I cared nothing about.
Dallas is not the best place for a songwriter, but there are definitely worst places to be. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to cover some big, top 40 hits. But on the other hand, Dallas is a very underrated, thriving music town. The talent in this city is beyond belief and I’m happy to be a part of it.
But there are always struggles in life – no matter which industry you’re in or what you’re doing. In music and in performing, it’s easy to get caught up in where you are versus where you feel like you deserve to be versus where you feel like you want to be.
There’s always going to be someone out there who can do something better than you or has more success than you, but I try not to get caught up in all that. To me, music is about connecting with people. I try to create music that brings people some sort of peace for 3-4 minutes.
Please tell us about your band.
We are a rock-and-roll band that specializes in American roots music. Defining our sound has never been a simple task, but if you blended rock and roll, country, blues, and folk music – you’d be left still wondering if you described us accurately.
I don’t think anyone else in town sounds anything like us. Our shows and our album is extremely diverse. From a pop/rock-and-roll/Tom Petty vibe song to an angry rock song to a swingin’ country number – we’re kind of all over the place. I think what sets us apart from most other bands is that our shows take you on a ride. Just when you start to feel high, we bring you down – and vice versa. We try to keep the listener guessing, which makes it interesting for us as well.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I started over, I wouldn’t have quit and doubted myself for so long. I feel like I got started way later than I wanted to because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. And I probably wasn’t, but we all have to start somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.justintiptonmusic.com/
- Email: booking@justintiptonmusic.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justintiptonmusic
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justintiptonmusic
Image Credit:
AET Photos, Waffles Weekly, Drewlio Photo, Joshua Vaughn
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