Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Lyons.
Hi Justin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well briefly, my story and journey consists of a lot of prayer, faith, obstacles, practice, drive, imagination, bravery, vision, support, love, and perseverance.
In my earlier years, lots of people believed in me even in moments where I didn’t feel any support. But I’ve been blessed with a supportive family that gave me a platform to blossom as a musician. Extremely grateful for my grandmother (RIP 2020), for whom I got much of my music from with her amazingly gentle, yet aggressive singing. Also, my Auntie Trisha rest her soul (RIP 2019) to whom I’ve rocked 29 years with. I think her style, sound, and movement progressions have been embedded into my musical DNA. Even watching and hearing my dad play throughout my upbringing had an impact. Not only that, I was surrounded by some of the world’s greatest musicians to date right here in the DFW metroplex. I credit lots of my advancement and learning to my faith in GOD, which came from teachings from my grandparents. But mostly all the credit goes to my dear mom, who labored daily to make sure I was at the top of my game in music. Majority of the gems my mom would tell me in my ear, 1) I’ve never forgotten 2) she probably doesn’t remember 3) those words travel with me any and every time I’m called to do a job and it’s propelled me in such an amazing fashion.
At age 5 I began showing interest in guitar to my mother. You’d always find me sitting in the musicians’ corner at my family’s church (soaking in all the music & singing), or off somewhere listening to gospel cassette tapes my mom had. I’ve been very fortunate to be birthed into a loving, Christian, musical family. Having those qualities in my upbringing cultivated me in a way that has really nurtured my musical and life’s maturity & understanding. I like to call it, “The Mission”. Like every kid, our mothers may buy us toy instruments, which I’ve had my share. But the game changed when my mom bought my first electric guitar from “Toys R Us”. It was all white, had one volume knob. At the time we didn’t have the funds for an actual gig bag, so my mom measured the dimensions of the guitar, used leather material she had at home, and made my first ever gig bag, with handles and strap. At that moment I felt ready, you couldn’t tell me anything!
STORYTIME: I was asked to be in a church program when I was in kindergarten. My mom wrote a note to my teacher stating I would like her to be there, and she came. I played a song, “Thank you Lord”, that I would hear my uncle sing often at church. My teacher was so blown away and proud that she bought a guitar and brought it to school for me to play for my classmates. I was excited and nervous, but ready. So, before class started, my teacher pulled me to the side and said “Okay, Justin don’t touch this box, just wait until everyone is here and seated”. No lie, I felt like I could touch it, because there’s no way my teacher knew what this was…she wasn’t even carrying it properly. Hmph. I ended up touching it and he kids told on me. Because of my disobedience, I had to sit there while the entire class sang ‘Old McDonald Had a Farm’, in horrible notes and screams, while my teacher played out of tune strums. I sat and pouted angrily at the results. Moral of the story, if an adult tells you to do something, it’s best to do it if it’s for your own good. It’s funny now because I should have waited – but hey I was a kid and I was blown away by the gesture. I definitely learned a valuable lesson there. Have patience.
Fast forward—by age 10, my ear and drive was quickly developing. I would sit in front of the cassette player ruining numerous cassette tapes because I’m pressing FF, Rewind, Pause, Stop, Play…. over and over just to listen and retain the information I’m hearing musically until I nailed it. This is one of the reasons I now, in my professional career, learn music so fast. Cool moment I’m thankful for. At age 11, I was asked to do my first studio session with a choir, Voices of Praise. We recorded a song titled “Dial Big”, a gospel single, which landed radio play around the DFW metroplex. Soon following were opened opportunities for my appearance at local churches around town. These moments became such a thrill to me to that in grade school, I’d get in trouble for drumming on my desk or making crazy sounds in class (mouth guitar). But looking back, they were really all just my form of musical expressions. I enjoyed this era because I was growing rapidly in maturity. My eldest brother Danny Jr. would take me everywhere with him to play in the local choir competitions and musicals. Those years taught me a great deal about band engagement, group environments, and traveling; not to mention successful and failed attempts at musical opportunities. Having such an active teenage era felt like bootcamp for me, so in my later years, it came easier. Touring and traveling is not for the faint at heart. It’s a totally different lifestyle, that one must be equipped to take on.
My teenage to young adult years gave me lessons in endurance and growing my skill level. I met and played with, and for, some of the greatest musicians and artists of our time. I owe a great deal of that artist development to my city and friends of Dallas. I’ve always been proud of my hometown, and forever grateful for its grooming I’ve undergone. 90s-2000s was a fire era for my development and also an interesting one. I went through puberty while being a hardcore church member, but also a very committed basketball player. In high school bball was such a passion, that it overwhelmingly surpassed thoughts of music. Constant team tournaments and summer leagues, I was determined to allow sports to be my ticket into college. Unfortunately, and fortunately, that wasn’t my destiny. Juggling basketball, school, music, church, and then barbering as a side job, my social and entrepreneurial skills were all being tested and cultivated.
My young adult years, I worked a few jobs: the post office, UPS, a security guard, waiter, barber, and data entry clerk for the government. The most thrilling job of ’em all was having a band. Me and 3 of my close friends formed a band, Knnect4, and we worked the DFW scene for a few years before all branching off into our own individual endeavors. While pursuing the band, the obligation of showing up at work 100% began to weigh heavily on my daily performances. So, I stepped away from music for a year. Turning down every call, every gig, everything. I was done. My job performance was lacking, my relationship at the time was rocky and I was drained. I wasn’t able to be my full-on self and I needed to reconnect. So, during my step away from music I was able to tighten up at work where I regained my status. Eventually being overtaken by the recession, and job cuts, my job became in jeopardy. This charged my full-on faith in music to spark. Everyone I encountered in my workdays always encouraged me to do music full time, but I didn’t see it as a stable enough position in life. Needless to say, life had a way of changing that perspective for me. After my job lay off, I came back to music or should I say music waited for me. After only 2 weeks I received my first welcome back call by my good friend, Marcus Roberts, to play bass for recording artist, Jesse Boykins III at the House Of Blues. Shortly after that, I did a cool tour with Eric Roberson and Vivian Green and began to build shows and cultivate new friends and musicians in the industry. I even formed bands and became the music director for a few shows and artists.
Speeding up to the moment that changed my life, is receiving a tweet from world-renowned music director Gil Smith II, for an overseas opportunity with a K-Pop artist. I never met him before, nor had I ever been to Los Angeles, so I was stoked to see where this went. 10 years later and we’re still taking the world by storm. The rest is history. In just a 10-year span, I’ve been able to play for millions of people worldwide, to where music and culture became a great deal of my get-up. Traveling abroad worked many transformations towards my knowledge of music, but traveling with that designated band, made the learning experience that more challenging and exciting because of them catching me up to speed on the music world. That lesson was a full-on crash course. The guys, Gil and AP, were educating me with their advancement & knowledge in building shows. Needless to say, this journey started to sculpt my brand, defining who I was and what I wanted to say.
From my years (2012-2020) of doing K-Pop, I’ve advanced in my playing, grown in my understanding, acquired many business relationships, new families, different perspective, and new opportunities. Extremely grateful for my career thus far. I have so much further to go, but I think my future has a lot of “The Mission” still tied to it. My experience has brought me the ability to transform bands, rebuild church systems, inspire the youth, be in major music videos, and be invited as a guest speaker at high schools and other events. Lately, I’ve been enjoying being in the studio creating new music, not only for myself but for other artists as well. I’ve been privileged to grace over 15 concert DVDs worldwide, play and produce multiple records worldwide, and I’ve lately been discovering the art of film directing. It’s quite the journey and I’m glad to really tap into the art of life in a more detailed way all because of music. Thank you, music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not a smooth road. From not having the funds at a young age to having to figure out so much in my career on My own, those things brought the most struggle. I feel had I had the right mentor or advisor at a young age, maybe my mom wouldn’t have had to have or carry the struggle of being stressed for my wellbeing in this career. When it came to having my own band, it was struggling proving to the restaurants that we the musicians offer so much more than just a slot filler. And no1 in the restaurant or club business understand that yet. At least in the south, they haven’t. I look forward to changing that in some faced to prevent us, the musician, from having to stress so much, when we give so much so often.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a musician/producer/business that specializes in helping any picture come to life. As my profession (guitarist) I serve as the frontman to the artist and enhance any of the songs we perform. It’s my job and ability to bring the song to life to any consumer in the audience. I’m most known for my involvement with K-pop artist Bigbang, GDragon, BlackPink, HipHop Artist Lil Wayne, Punk-Pop Artist Machine Gun Kelly, and music video debut with artist and friend Chrisette Michelle. I’m proud of Knocking out the MGK shows. That tour was a new world and it took a different set of mental tools to tap in the way I needed. But in all seriousness, I’m most proud of every completed tour and every genre I can proudly tackle and say I have under my belt. I started with Gospel then Blues, Jazz, RnB, Funk, K-pop, HipHop, and now Punk Pop.
I think what sets me apart from others is wanting to be aware of the bigger picture. My goals to always find out what’s the ultimate goal of the show and or tour. And then I’m allowed and requested to give my best version of accompaniment as possible. To enhance and never take away, give the consumer an experience and remember I’m their medicine. As my career continues to unravel, I’m excited to dive into the creative directing chair. I have many ideas and creativity stored that I’m more than certain it could be useful in any setting.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Many individuals deserve credit. My entire family deserves credit for their involvement in music and their push and vision to see my future before I could. My dad for being a rock star of a guitarist. My mother for being my teacher, my cheerleader, my protector, I owe a lot to my mother. Her wisdom shielded me and equipped me with amazing approach for my instrument. My eighth-grade teacher Mr. Brown, who was blown away at my skill level and would play at church with me from time to time and would glad tell the teachers about my ability. He showed how much he cared and believed. My basketball coaches who helped groom my leadership skills and teamwork efforts. My college professor Arlington Jones, who taught me how to speak with my instrument and how my faith in God can still remain a major part in my everyday life experiences while in music. Thanks to my good friend Matt Sims who’s an amazing advisor and has me along my career. All my teachers throughout my years have always believed in me, my older brother was a major influence in my life, and my sister whom I’d always play and sing with growing up. My family church, I must thank for the platform to mess up nightly but eventually, I got it right. And now I’m before the world playing at high levels. I’m thankful for all of my coworkers who once came to my shows after long work hours when my band would play locally. Extremely grateful for everyone and everything.
Pricing:
- Exclusive Slayer Guitar: $3500
- Studio (day rate) $600 / features: $1500 + publishing
- Slayer Shoes $350 high top $250 low top
- GS Shirts: $35
- Studio production: (negotiable)
Contact Info:
- Email: Livesessions24@gmail.com
- Instagram: @guitarslayer24
- Facebook: Justin Lyons
- Twitter: @guitarslayer24
Image Credits
Jeremy Larue
Jermaine Smith
Matt Sims
Yohance Parker
Levi Millerboug
