Justice K is a 4th generation Texan who has been playing music since the age of 5. She enjoyed performing on piano at an early age but found her true passion when she picked up a guitar at the age of 9. Justice K quickly added bass, banjo, ukulele and drums to her repertoire but since she started singing a little over a year ago, her voice has become her favorite instrument. After covering a few songs at her mentor Sky Zito's gig, Justice K challenged herself to start playing live and improving her performance. A year after setting this goal, she realized that she had performed 45 times in those first 365 days. Later that year, Justice joined an experimental rock band, expanding her musical and songwriting skills to a whole different genre. Justice K has performed in all types of venues from family-friendly coffee houses and cafes like Roots Bistro, Dahlia's Cafe and Iguana Grill to iconic Austin venues including The North Door, The Lucky Lounge, The Long Center and both the inside and outside stages at Stubb's. Whether performing with a full band or just her acoustic guitar, playing for an audience has helped Justice K develop as a musician and songwriter and has expanded her love of music of all kinds. Her current projects ranging from country pop to garage surf rock illustrate her wide range of musical interests.
Justice K answers 13 questions...
1. Why Music?
I couldn't imagine my life without music. It has been a huge part of my life since such an early age and has always been there for me. I actually find it hard to comprehend how music is not such a major part of everyone's lives.
2. Who are some of your favorite musicians and bands?
I have so many favorite bands and musicians and I am constantly discovering more. I have loved Simple Plan and Bowling for Soup since I was a toddler and it goes without saying that I have been influenced by Blink 182 and The Strokes. My musical taste is very diverse. I love listening to Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Wavves, Ed Sheeran, Chvrches, Beach House, Shakey Graves, Death Grips and every other band I have seen in concert.
3. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to "get" you?
Therapy by All Time Low and any song by Paradise Fears or The Maine get to me every time. There is nothing like seeing these bands live and experiencing the emotion with all their fans. One of my favorite passages is in Sam Miller's Sanctuary speech, "There's no way that your puzzle piece fits into our puzzle wrong, 'cause everyone is welcome on this stage we call life".
4. Who would you be nervous to meet?
I have never really been starstruck and I have been fortunate enough to meet so many wonderful, inspiring musicians but I would love to meet Patrick Stump. Who wouldn't love to chat with him about music for awhile?
5. What embarrassing songs might one find on your MP3 player?
Oh, there are many songs that my friends are surprised (or shocked?) to find that I listen to every now and then. I grew up in the heyday of Hannah Montana. Need I say more? I can still sing all the words to her songs and remember all the dance moves to Cody Simpson's. So, my iPhone has played everything from Miley Cyrus to Arctic Monkeys and Hunter Hayes to Of Mice and Men and Melanie Martinez.
6. What would your friends say they like the most about you?
I think my friends appreciate my sense of humor (albeit sarcastic most of the time) and my eagerness to laugh and have fun.
7. Share something fun about you that others might not know.
I was born on Friday the 13th so instead of considering every Friday the 13th an unlucky day, my family celebrates it as my "unbirthday". We are always happy when one shows up on the calendar.
8. How would you describe your perfect day?
Of course, my perfect day would revolve around music. How about a 24 hour show at an intimate venue with all my friends culminating with us hanging out and collaborating with all the bands? Yes, that sounds perfect!
9. What is your favorite part of your life?
I loved being homeschooled (or as my family calls it "not-at-homeschooled"). Being in charge of my education gave me so many more opportunities to spend time with my friends and not being tied down to a traditional school day or calendar allowed me to start college early and pursue a lot more musical endeavors.
10. What is your most valued material possession?
My instruments are definitely at the top of that list. I love all of them so much that they have names. My acoustic Taylor and Martin guitars are probably my favorites at the moment.
11. What is the best piece of advice you actually followed?
"Play from your heart." is probably the best advice I have been given so far. Every time I go to a concert, I find that I enjoy the bands that are passionate about their music the most. When I perform I strive to make my passion show. If I am not having a good time, how can I expect the audience to enjoy themselves?
12. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?
If I had more time in the day, I would write more songs, play more gigs, see more concerts with my friends and just enjoy living in such an awesome town for live music!
13. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?
Since I just turned 18, 10 years from now seems a lifetime away but I hope to still be writing and playing music, surrounded by my amazing friends -- just a little older with a college degree (or two) and a whole lot more gigs under my belt.
I couldn't imagine my life without music. It has been a huge part of my life since such an early age and has always been there for me. I actually find it hard to comprehend how music is not such a major part of everyone's lives.
2. Who are some of your favorite musicians and bands?
I have so many favorite bands and musicians and I am constantly discovering more. I have loved Simple Plan and Bowling for Soup since I was a toddler and it goes without saying that I have been influenced by Blink 182 and The Strokes. My musical taste is very diverse. I love listening to Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Wavves, Ed Sheeran, Chvrches, Beach House, Shakey Graves, Death Grips and every other band I have seen in concert.
3. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to "get" you?
Therapy by All Time Low and any song by Paradise Fears or The Maine get to me every time. There is nothing like seeing these bands live and experiencing the emotion with all their fans. One of my favorite passages is in Sam Miller's Sanctuary speech, "There's no way that your puzzle piece fits into our puzzle wrong, 'cause everyone is welcome on this stage we call life".
4. Who would you be nervous to meet?
I have never really been starstruck and I have been fortunate enough to meet so many wonderful, inspiring musicians but I would love to meet Patrick Stump. Who wouldn't love to chat with him about music for awhile?
5. What embarrassing songs might one find on your MP3 player?
Oh, there are many songs that my friends are surprised (or shocked?) to find that I listen to every now and then. I grew up in the heyday of Hannah Montana. Need I say more? I can still sing all the words to her songs and remember all the dance moves to Cody Simpson's. So, my iPhone has played everything from Miley Cyrus to Arctic Monkeys and Hunter Hayes to Of Mice and Men and Melanie Martinez.
6. What would your friends say they like the most about you?
I think my friends appreciate my sense of humor (albeit sarcastic most of the time) and my eagerness to laugh and have fun.
7. Share something fun about you that others might not know.
I was born on Friday the 13th so instead of considering every Friday the 13th an unlucky day, my family celebrates it as my "unbirthday". We are always happy when one shows up on the calendar.
8. How would you describe your perfect day?
Of course, my perfect day would revolve around music. How about a 24 hour show at an intimate venue with all my friends culminating with us hanging out and collaborating with all the bands? Yes, that sounds perfect!
9. What is your favorite part of your life?
I loved being homeschooled (or as my family calls it "not-at-homeschooled"). Being in charge of my education gave me so many more opportunities to spend time with my friends and not being tied down to a traditional school day or calendar allowed me to start college early and pursue a lot more musical endeavors.
10. What is your most valued material possession?
My instruments are definitely at the top of that list. I love all of them so much that they have names. My acoustic Taylor and Martin guitars are probably my favorites at the moment.
11. What is the best piece of advice you actually followed?
"Play from your heart." is probably the best advice I have been given so far. Every time I go to a concert, I find that I enjoy the bands that are passionate about their music the most. When I perform I strive to make my passion show. If I am not having a good time, how can I expect the audience to enjoy themselves?
12. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?
If I had more time in the day, I would write more songs, play more gigs, see more concerts with my friends and just enjoy living in such an awesome town for live music!
13. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?
Since I just turned 18, 10 years from now seems a lifetime away but I hope to still be writing and playing music, surrounded by my amazing friends -- just a little older with a college degree (or two) and a whole lot more gigs under my belt.
