Get “Familiar” With Justy!

Music has a mission. It is a way to share ideas and emotions; it serves as a bridge between people forging communities. Most of all, it is an expressive way to lift us up—the artist and their audience. Today, so many artists utilize social media to build their communities and share their creativity with the world. Justy, a 28-year-old artist based in Brooklyn, has been using her online platform to create a positive space for love and acceptance. 

What first began with Hannah Montana and the immediate thought of,  “I need to be in a band” later launched into a musical journey that has continued to grow into something even bigger. Justy doesn’t just write music. She compliments human expression with her innovative flow and soul-catching beats. 

How do you use music to express your own personal perspective?

“A lot of my music is very transparent. I have a very hard time writing music that does not relate to what I’m actually experiencing in said time. When I’m sad, you’ll know I’m sad. When I’m happy, you’ll know I’m happy. I like to use music as an open journal. I like it to feel conversational.”

By opening up that conversation with her audience, Justy allows that vulnerability to show through and translate into a distinct relatability to bridge that connection. However, it’s not just her experiences that shape her music. Sometimes she draws inspiration from those close to her, believing that writing from her viewpoint alone can be perceived as one-dimensional. Allowing so many narratives to be told and still making them feel like our own makes Justy an expert storyteller and an artist with a message.

If you could share one message with the world, what would it be?

“I would love for the world to begin to uplift and honor the Black creative, specifically the Black, queer creative. It can be unfortunate when there are so many talented people, but they don’t ever get acknowledgement. Because of that, they feel it’s better to give up rather than go forever unnoticed. I really want people to acknowledge these creatives who have so much to them but are constantly put on the back burner.”

It’s this love for the community and desire to see others succeed that makes Justy an inspiration. Crediting her success in music so far to her ability to stay persistent and be consistent, she has reached impressive milestones in the music industry. She has created a name for herself and continues to move forward. 

Another tool she uses, which several young artists keep in their toolboxes today, is social media. Having a powerful social media presence is crucial in today’s world. While promotion and marketing yourself as a brand are at the forefront, what makes Justy stand apart is her dedication to using social media to build a bond with her listeners.

How do you use social media to promote yourself and your music?

“At the end of our crazy journey, it really isn’t about talent, and it isn’t even really about exposure. It’s about community. That’s always been at the top of my list when navigating my socials because community means so much to me. My TikTok alone has created so much support toward my music that I see how important it is to not only be seen but to make them feel seen.”

Justy uses her time on her social media to have as many one-to-one conversations as she can with her supporters. To her, it’s essential to make time for fans, whether it’s a comment back or asking about their day. In her eyes, they invest in her and it’s critical to invest in them. 

With such wise words and a full-picture outlook on how to build a solid support system, Justy looks up to the rapper Noname for putting person and community first. While she acknowledges that may sound odd to some, she feels it’s crucial to focus on the collective you’re growing. She also feels it’s worthwhile to use music as a vessel to accomplish what you need to accomplish for your community, including more representation. 

It’s because representation matters. Being heard matters. Even when you feel like you’re looking adversity in the face, it’s imperative to dig deep, keep trying, and find strength within yourself. One significant aspect of honing that confidence is self-love. 

If you could describe self-love in three words, what would they be?

“I actually wrote a song about this. I would say rinse, repeat, and regress. Rinse in the sense that sometimes you have to completely clear yourself to get a better look at what you want and what you’re lacking. Repeat: Sometimes you’re going to have to go through the process more than once. And regress is accepting the duality of it and sometimes you don’t love yourself that much. I think if you can acknowledge that you create more of a healthy relationship with what self-love looks like for you.”

You’re allowed to acknowledge that not every day will be perfect. Some days will be extremely challenging. For Justy, she meets those days head on and channels her emotions into music. Transferring it from her head and heart to music and lyrics allows her to put those emotions into something that hopefully helps someone else. It’s her passion and positivity that make her an inspiration and an artist to watch. 

Her second album is slated to be released in 2024, but her single ‘Familiar’ from the project is now streaming!  

Photos by Justy @justymusic