Justin Weaver has been writing songs for over ten years now. Just a small town boy from Forsyth, Georgia who let his dream of songwriting take him to music city. Justin has had major success so far, he has wrote for Gary Allan, Jason Aldean and Dustin Lynch. I thought I would give him a chance to tell his story, check out my interview with Justin Weaver below.
1. How long have you been writing songs?
I've been a signed writer here in Nashville for ten years, but I wrote my first song when I was 14 years old and have been hooked ever since.
2. At what age did you know this was something you wanted to do as a career?
I guess it all happened when I was sixteen. My dad brought me to Nashville when I started writing songs and by the time I was sixteen I'd spent enough time here to start dreaming the dreams of being able to do this one day.
3. What artists influenced you growing up?
I listened to a lot of rock n roll and pop music as a young kid but I never thought of songwriting until I heard Mark Chesnutt's "Almost Goodbye" record. That led me to Randy Travis's "Storms of Life" record. I owe my career to those two records. They changed my whole perspective on music. Also I'll have to
include Jason Aldean as a major influence. He's my age so it's funny to say that, but we have been best friends since we were 16 years old. We grew up playing clubs all over the southeast together and at such a tender age we were leading each other through the musical darkness so to speak. It's been an
awesome thing to share this journey with such a long time friend.
4. As a song writer, what is your proudest moment?
Wow there have been so many. I'm just proud and feel so blessed that such talented people let me create art with them every day. I guess my first cut is a moment that I'll treasure forever. Jason and I wrote a song called "Even If I Wanted To" on a Friday afternoon and he recorded it on his first record that next Tuesday. To have my first cut written with him and recorded by him will always be special. And Michael Knox, his producer, has always been a big brother to me and a dear friend. To have him, a guy I have respected since I was a teenager, produce that song made it even more special.
5. What are your future plans? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Wow I just want to continue what I'm doing, writing songs and making records. I'm just starting to get my production career going, producing new Warner Brothers artist Dean Alexander and a Big Machine Music writer Courtney Cole. I see the production side of my career growing in the next few years. Also I want to keep my writing going. I've developed a lot of new badass co-writes lately and I'm loving the process as much or than I did when I was a kid. Westin Davis, Kelly Archer, Jon Mabe, Brett James, Erik Dylan and many others continue to bless me with their talents everyday. I'm so thankful for that!
6. What advice would you give someone who has a dream of being a songwriter?
I get this type of question a lot. I say write until you're tired of writing songs and then write some more!!! David Frost said it best when he said, "Do not aim for success, if you want it just do what you love and believe in it and it will come naturally."
A few songs written by Justin Weaver:
Gary Allan – Get Off On The Pain
Jason Aldean – Even If I Wanted To
Dustin Lynch – Last Lap
Randy Houser – Growing Younger
Chris Cagle – Got My Country On
You can follow Justin on twitter @justinmweaver77
