By: Jamie Steinberg
Photo By BradBeard Studio
Q) You have this very cool R&B, funk almost jazz tone to your music, but how would you describe your sound?
A) I almost always describe my sound like so: Pop-Forward Music with undertones of R&B, Soul, Funk, and Jazz. I also tend to say that my music finds the intersection between Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, John Mayer and Allen Stone.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Aside from the above, Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder are big influences of mine. I’ve also begun to notice that the music of my youth finds its way into my music sometimes as well. Think Marianas Trench, Green Day, Three Days Grace, etc. These influences are less pronounced, but you can hear hints of them from time to time in my music.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Old School Heart.”
A) I was on my first writing trip in Nashville when I accidentally encountered a new posse of friends hanging out at a popular networking bar called “Red Barn.” I struck up a conversation with these locals and discovered that they were a crew of musicians, audio engineers, publishing personnel and songwriters. After a few drinks, I suggested that we try to write a song together. Laura Ann Short and Steven Martin in the group jumped at the idea and we booked a writing session only a few days out. At the designated day and time, we met at Laura’s workplace, Round Hill Music, in one of the “demo” rooms they have there. After throwing a few ideas around, I started jamming out to a sample drum loop that made my head bop. After some time, I came up with this John Mayer-esque riff and after some more time of refining the musical idea, I recorded the guitar. That became the foundation of our creation. We very quickly cycled through a few possible lyrical themes and eventually, after some prying, decided on a classic: unrequited love, except this time with a twist – unrequited love and the bold demand for commitment in an otherwise non-committal dating culture. That was the sequence of events that kickstarted the story of “Old School Heart.”
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) Honestly, I think it’s the melody. Obviously, I’m biased, but I think the melody in “Old School Heart” is very catchy. And people have told me so, unprompted, so I know that this isn’t just a “me” feeling. When a melody is memorable and singable, it gets stuck in people’s heads and from there the listener can explore deeper into the other elements of the song. The melody is really just the entry point or the first “connector.”
Q) As a celebrated songwriting, what is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) My songwriting process has evolved over time, but typically it goes like so: guitar arrangement idea (chords / riff), then melody, then lyrics and then greater arrangement. I have, in the last few years, been exploring starting with a drum loop and building out an arrangement first before thinking up melody or lyrics. I have also, especially for my last album, been embracing co-writing. These sessions can vary as well, but I like to suggest that we start with a thesis, title or topic and once we’ve decided on a lyrical direction, we brainstorm chords, melody and arrangement. I’ve also written in the studio with a producer and that can be very fun. Ultimately, I don’t have a concrete process that I follow religiously every time. It really depends on the song, the context and the co-writers.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) It is seldom that I will be turning knobs and micing instruments. I typically get other people to do engineering, mixing and mastering. That being said, I definitely play a heavy role in guiding the creative direction of my music. A producer, colloquially, is meant as this multi-faceted character that “does it all,” per say. In the pure sense of the word; however, a producer’s role is to creative-direct and I definitely do a great deal of that.
Q) Will there be a full video coming out soon for “Old School Heart?”
A) No, not for now
Q) You’ve played over 2,000 live shows. What can fans expect from a live Justin Maki performance?
A) Well, it depends on the live performance, but in the case of an original music showcase, it’s a lot of crowd interaction. There is a lot of playing of my original music, but also of reimagined covers. You’ll also be subjected to my humor. In most cases, most audience members feel better after the show than before they came and leave raving reviews. Expect to experience “memorable moments” that I sprinkle throughout the show instead of a live replica of the recorded album.
Q) With “Old School Heart” out now is this a prelude to a full album or EP?
A) Yes, “Old School Heart” is a prelude to the greater album Technicolor Dreams.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) Generally, my stance is “the bigger the better.” I’ve performed on some big stages: opening for Matt Rife in Ottawa at the Lebreton Flats; Mississauga Celebration Square for Bollywood Monster Mashup; Victoria Park in London, ON for NYE, all in front of tens of thousands. I’m not always performing my own music in these contexts, but these performances are often the most fun! Since I often don’t know the people in the audience and it’s hard to see individual facial expressions, it, in a weird way, feels like no pressure.
Q) You’ve worked with Dallas Waldo and Big Lou on music previously. Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) In the future, I would LOVE to collaborate with both Allen Stone and Jesse Gold. I love their music and I respect both of them so much as musicians.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) This is a tough question to answer. With the way that I, and most of the world, consume music these days, I listen to songs from many different artists at once rather than focusing on any given artist at any one time. That being said, I have been listening to Stevie Wonder a little more than usual these days. I LOVE his chord progressions – they are so imaginative! I also am so blown away by his vocal agility. Beyond that, his songs are just so good. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad Stevie Wonder song, and I’ve listened to his catalogue a bunch.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, come to a show. Let’s hang! If you like what you hear, share with a friend!