St. Thomas, Ontario’s own Justin Maki is more than a musician—he’s a creative force blending R&B, soul, funk, and jazz into a pop sound as smooth as it is infectious. Imagine Allen Stone’s warmth, John Mayer’s finesse, and the chart-ready hooks of Bruno Mars, and you’ll get a sense of Maki’s musical DNA. A two-time FCLMA winner—named 2021 Pop Artist of the Year and 2022 Contemporary Singer-Songwriter of the Year—Maki has made his mark with over 2,000 performances across North America and beyond. He’s shared stages with The Sheepdogs, Neon Dreams, Olivia Lunny, and Matt Rife, and worked alongside acclaimed producers like Matthew Johnston (Shad, Chad Price) and Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, U2, Neil Young). As a collaborator, he even co-produced the ISSA Award-winning Good Vibes LP by Patrick & Daniels.
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Maki’s latest single, “Nine Lives,” follows the shimmering “Technicolor Dreams” with an upbeat, pop-funk celebration of love’s resilience. Written with Drew Shalka (Mute Choir) during a snowstorm session in Nashville, “Nine Lives” is Maki’s most romantic and cinematic work yet—a syncopated anthem about choosing love, again and again, through every lifetime.
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“If I had the opportunity to live more than one life—or a much longer life—I would choose you over and over again, day in and day out, despite the other options, despite my instinctual desire for variety, because I just love you that much,” Maki shares. The title nods to the legendary resilience of cats, transforming into a metaphor for eternal devotion: “It’s the ultimate 2025 Breakfast Club boombox moment.”
With 100 songs written for his upcoming record and just eight making the final cut, it’s a testament to fate—and creative chemistry—that two of those tracks were co-written with Shalka. “Nine Lives” stands as a bright, heartfelt testament to the kind of love that endures, no matter how many chances life gives us.
Justin Maki continues to expand what it means to be a modern artist: genre-blending, heart-forward, and always ready with the next great song about the power of connection.
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Listen to “Nine Lives” here.
For further information on the artist, please visit the following links:
Instagram •Facebook •Tiktok •YouTube •Website •Spotify
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Image provided, courtesy of Echo Myron
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