1. Thank you very much for your time! Before we introduce your new release to our readers – what kind of drink would you recommend to sip on while they listen to your new music?
- Hey! Thanks for reaching out – I’m glad we could get connected. Hmm, a drink? I’d have to say probably an iced coffee. You’ll want to be fully awake and alive for this listening experience and the ordeal will warm you up so much that you’ll need a cold beverage to stay in equilibrium.
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
- Indeed! The new single, fresh off the press, is called „Wasting Time“. This is track #4 off of the upcoming record, Technicolor Dreams, and it’s a slow-groove R&B number suggesting a reframe on „wasting time“ with your lover.
- The album is on the way and set to drop in late June. Stay tuned on my social media @justinmakimusic for the exact release date. It will be a compilation of all of the singles I have released as of late and all of the singles leading up to the late June drop.
- Tour dates you can find on my website HERE. I’m keeping most of my shows in the Southern Ontario area for the time being, but inquiries and leads are rolling in everyday and I urge you to keep an eye on my website for shows near you!
- New videos? Lots! My videographer, Brad and I have been hard at work creating piles of short form content that pushes the envelope. Content that captures attention and keeps it. Content that explores techniques and worlds that people may never have seen before. Content that serves the purpose of promoting my singles, but also providing a lot of value in the process. Stay up to date on my social media @justinmakimusic
3. We live in times of many conspiracy theories. Which, harmless, theory would you wish were true? (For example Dinos living inside Earth or E.T. living in a home in California)
- Okay, this is going to piss some people off, but I believe that astrology is a bunch of bogus. I don’t subscribe to the idea that when we are born determines our personality type and predicts how our life will unfold. That being said, life would be so much more predictable if my star chart was actually factual. With predictability comes comfort and it sometimes be nice to know what’s coming around the corner. Being in music, there is a great deal of uncertainty in my life and I’ve grown to actually accept and love that uncertainty, but if astrology were true, I could make concrete plans from concrete outcomes and the peace of mind that comes along with that.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
- Great question. I would say that I can’t point to any one brand in particular, as I’m not picky on brand when it comes to clothes, but stylistically I feel like bold coloured leather would fit the bill. A colourful, yet sleek, leather jacket paired with a colourful, yet sleek, pair of leather pants. This gives the outfit personality, while exuding something clean, sleek, and edgy.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
- I find that a lot of my songs are either about love, or trying to answer a deep, difficult, existential question. I honestly just write what I am inspired to write about. What moves me. That tends to be about the relationship I am in, the relationship I want to be in, the relationship I just walked away from, or a tough philosophical or current events issue.
- For example, the first song I ever wrote was called „Why?“ and it expressed my dissatisfaction at how the world has mismanaged global warming. I was 11.
- My latest songs carry titles such as, „Old School Heart“, „Nine Lives“, and „Wasting Time“. All of these deal with asking for (or suggesting) more commitment in a romantic relationship. I guess I want to be married without being married? Emotions aren’t logical, but they sure are great fodder for songs.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
- I suppose! I am generally pretty good at anything athletic. Playing sports my entire childhood, I developed a knack for how to move my body and compete in the process. I have since taken up strength-training at the gym and that’s mostly where I pour my physical energy these days. That being said, when the seasons allow, I will go surfing and skiing. These are some of my favourite pastimes aside from work.
- I also really enjoy playing a game of pool. I don’t know how I got good, but I’d have to say that I’m pretty decent.
- Finally, I can speak Japanese. This probably has to do with the fact that I was born there and lived there for 8 years of my childhood. That’s a discussion for another time.
7. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
- I used to sell cars. The pandemic led to my lay-off, which forced me to take the leap of faith of doing music full time. I’ve been at it full time ever since.
- I practice every day. There’s too much competition out there not to.
- That being said, I believe that there is enough room for everyone in the market. That some musicians/artists will get a bigger chunk than others, but there is definitely enough room for everyone.
- I do kick-a** live music events and I teach kick-a** music lessons. Had to plug. Sorry, not sorry.
- I have a bigger shoe collection than the manosphere would find acceptable…
8. The road so far…. who or what was your biggest support??
- Definitely my mom. My mom always wanted to be a musician, but she chose a different path. As such, she wanted to make sure that I was equipped to do music as a career if I chose. As such, she put me in all kinds of music lessons growing up, and as a result, I had a great foundation upon which to grow my musical prowess. She always believed in me enough to invest in me and she is still very supportive to this day. (The only difference is that I pay for my own lessons now).
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
- What’s your morning routine? 1 Answer: MKCGSRM5
- M: Meditation. A 5 minute meditation by focusing on breath, or by intentionally single tasking on one specific mundane activity for 5 minutes.
- K: Kegels. No explanation needed.
- C: Cold Exposure. This usually comes in the form of a cold shower at the end of my normal shower.
- G: Gratefulness. I say out loud at least 11 things I’m grateful for out loud every morning.
- S: Sunlight. It’s good to get sun in your eyes and on your skin in the morning. This helps with circadian rhythm and general health.
- R: Record. As I am in the process of rolling out this record, I try to do one small action to move it forward every day.
- M: Music. I need to touch my instruments every day at some point.
- 5: 5 pages. This entails reading 5 pages everyday for the sake of learning and for the sake of training my focus in a world where focus has been diluted and devolved.
Oh, and a new single comes out May 7th! Stay tuned!
Instagram: https://www.