Justin Payne & Company brings the energy full force in this latest release from their upcoming project underrated/overstimulated. ‘Anything At All’ is an emotional track without being a sonic downer as Payne sings about potential and living life in reality. When we’re young, we’re told that we have literally every avenue available to us. We can be “anything at all,” as Payne puts it. The inconvenient truth is, that just isn’t true.
We can’t be whatever we want to be. Living in the real world is hard, and pursuing a passion usually costs a great deal unless you’re born into money. Success is few and far between, especially in the music industry. Payne pours all those frustrating feelings and that desperation into this track, and it really comes through to create something that’s both emotionally resonant and fun to listen to.
Payne is best described as a musician, composer, and performer, although he would describe himself as a “natural born underdog.” With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Payne has a wealth of musical and life experience that contributes to his depth and complexity as an artist. He studied music composition and classical violin at Bowling Green State University and graduated with degrees in History and Philosophy with both disciplines heavily influencing his lyrical and thematic style. Much of his discography has been centered around themes of devotion, love, community, angst towards corrupt institutions and people, as well as various flavors of social commentary all wrapped up in instrumentals typically pulling from the rock tradition.
His first self-released and self-produced EP, “Interstellar Vagabond,” was released in 2014. It was a solo acoustic EP that led to his first major signing with a booking agent, two regional tours, and two national routes. With the first incarnation of his band, Justin Payne & Co, a six-song self-released and self-produced EP was released in 2016, titled “High Water”. This led to a regional solo tour and a co-tour with songwriter Zach Wilson. Payne started the next incarnation of his band in 2018; during this run, the band performed as headliners at the Black Swamp Arts Festival and recorded a full-length vinyl LP, “Season of Loss”, as well as securing a writeup in American Songwriter Magazine and a regional major-city band tour.
The latest incarnation of the band is stationed in Nashville and includes Payne on vocals and guitar, Marshall Fassino on second guitar, Dave Cerelli on bass guitar, and Eli Simon on drums. Their newest full-length LP, “underrated/overstimulated,” is currently in the works. Payne has performed all over the United States over the years; some of his favorite venues include 5 Spot in Nashville and Space in Evanston, IL. Live shows are fun and high energy, with a constant momentum and little time between tracks to keep that vibe going.
For further information on the artists, visit the following links:
- https://www.facebook.com/justinpayneandco/
- https://www.instagram.com/justinpayneandco/
- https://www.justinpayneandco.com/
Photo by Hannah Gray Hall (@thegrayhall) Source: Publicity Nation
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