Did you always want to be a musician/songwriter or was there a specific moment that something happened that made you think "this is what I want to do with my life." If so, what was it? I know I've always wanted to be an entertainer in some form or fashion. So whether that was on a football or baseball field or stage I loved being in front of a crowd and entertaining. After learning how to play guitar as a kid I started singing and writing songs and that became my absolute passion and I'm so thankful I get to make a living doing this.
Is there anyone in your family that you can credit as being instrumental in your decision to go into the music field? My Uncle Rob gave me my first guitar when I was 12. It was this beat up old flat top acoustic just sitting in his garage and I asked if I could have it and he so graciously gave it to me.
Who have been some of your biggest musical influences growing up and do the same artists currently continue to influence you now? I'm just a huge fan of music. Growing up in Oklahoma we got great country music on the radio with Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Reba, Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, Tim McGraw. I've always loved great vocalists as well. People like Freddie Mercury, Roy Orbison, Otis Redding, Steve Perry, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Steven Tyler and Bob Seger. My influences are always changing and I guess the beauty of music is that you can always go back and listen to your favorites or find something new that you've never heard. There's a time and place for all of it.
Aside from singing do you play any instruments? I do! I play acoustic and electric guitar, piano, bass, and I play drums very poorly. Ha!
Since every project has a story, what’s the story behind Horizon? Horizon is what a sailor sees when he looks out at the sea or what a cowboy sees when he looks out at the land. Horizon is the line where the Earth meets the sky when you look out. And this record is that. It's what I see when I look out in front of me. It's where I see this project. This music. It's where I see myself. At that point of looking forward.
Which song off of Horizon is the most dear to you and why? It is always so hard to pick just one haha! I love the tempo songs off this record with "Back Then," "The Road," "How It Rolls," "Feel That Feeling!" They are so much fun to perform live!
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing and when/where do you do your best writing? It really changes everyday. Inspiration to me isn't something that just starts at 9 in the morning and ends at five. It's everywhere. I find inspiration in so many different things so I always am trying to keep an open ear and heart to my surroundings.
How do you drink your coffee? Black
What is your favorite breakfast? Huevos rancheros, but I'm also a sucker for great pancakes
What is your favorite sandwich? Tacos?? haha
Home cooking or going out for dinner? Definitely home cooking. I love to cook
Where do you buy your groceries? Depends on the season. I have a big garden so a lot of our veggies and herbs come from that. Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joes.
What is the best dish you ever had? Ah so tough! I don't have just one!
What’s on your pizza? All of the veggies. And jalapenos
What kitchen appliance do you use every day? Coffee maker
What's your favorite fast food chain? I honestly don't eat fast food. I try and stay away from processed foods. When I cook it's usually always from scratch. I LOVE cooking authentic Mexican food from Oaxaca or Yucatan Peninsula. My favorite. Homemade corn tortillas are worlds different than the store bought kind.
If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Probably not all together, but definitely a dinner for two with each of these people. My wife, Elvis, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Jesus.
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Something that supports local farming, sustainable resources and that's environmentally friendly.
Website: http://www.justinadamscountry.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinadamsctry
About Justin Adams
Hailing from Bixby, OK, Justin is signed to Universal Music Publishing and has shared the stage with nationally touring acts Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, Dan and Shay, Eli Young Band, Clay Walker, Craig Morgan, David Nail, Chase Rice, Easton Corbin, Tracy Lawrence and Eric Paslay.
Justin is slated to release his eight-song sophomore EP "Horizon" on May 11th with Derek Wells (2016 ACM Guitar Player of The Year) at the helm. The lead-off single and upbeat anthem "How It Rolls" will debut on April 27th.
As an affluent songwriter in Nashville, Justin regularly writes with Casey Beatherd (Kenny Chesney), Mark Nesler (Tim McGraw), Tony Martin (Keith Urban) and Rivers Rutherford (Brad Paisley), and recently wrote Granger Smith's next single "You're In It."