Conversations with Aaron Justice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Justice.

Hi Aaron, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am a Christian singer/songwriter out of a small town in East Tennessee named Bean Station. I have lived in Tennessee my whole life, except for living in Germany and Texas while being in the Army. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved music. I guess you can say that it runs in the family. I could name several family members who either sing, play an instrument, write songs, or even all three. So, I guess that it was just a matter of time until I found my place in music.

I grew up in church as a preacher’s kid, where my dad played drums and my mom sang. I always loved watching Dad play the drums and wanted to learn, so when I was around six years old he began teaching me how to play. As soon as I was able to keep a good rhythm, I was able to play during church. I stuck with percussion for several years and even played in the school band up until seventh grade. I was always a little shy growing up, so sitting behind a set of drums was my safe place. I could be in front of a crowd but not feel like all eyes were on me. I never imagined myself being upfront singing in front of an audience, but God had other plans.

It wasn’t until I was thirteen that I took an interest in learning to play guitar, and I can thank my good buddy Andrew for that. I remember Andrew giving me an old semi-hollow-body electric guitar and showing me a few of the basic chords. Not long after that, my parents bought me a poster that showed different chords and finger placements, and the rest is history. I’ve never had any professional lessons, so I’m fully self-taught. Long story short, Andrew, another friend named Mickey formed a three-piece Christian Rock band called Titus while in high school. It was then that I learned to open up more and play guitar and sing in front of people, which plays a huge part in where I am today. But we all grew up and started leading separate lives. It was a fun experience, though.

God and music have always been there for me when no one else was. When I was sixteen, my parents divorced and just a few short months later my papaw passed away. I remember my dad having to work a lot of overtime just to make sure that the bills were paid, so I was home by myself quite a bit. During those nights that I was alone, I struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide. Those were the nights that I leaned on God and music the most. I remember sitting in my room all alone one night and playing a random melody. After playing the same melody over and over, I began putting lyrics to the music. Now, I had written other songs before this, but none that had such an impact on my life. This song was different. This was the song that God would use to let me know His plan for me. His plan is for me to write songs of how God has brought me through the darkest moments of my life and share them with others who feel the same. That song is called, “All I Need.”

That leads me to where I am today. I travel and do acoustic shows, sharing my songs and the stories behind them. I want people to know that they are loved, they have a purpose, and God has a plan for every one of them. God has called me to share the hope we have in Jesus with everyone through my music, and it’s my job to be obedient to that calling.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything but a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change a thing. God never promised that what he called me to do would be easy, but he did promise that he would always be there. I’ve had my share of disappointments and letdowns along the way, but they have made me stronger and more humble. Not only do these disappointments make me want to work harder at my music, but more importantly, they have helped build my faith in Jesus. He has always provided and made a way when things seemed like they were falling apart.

Just to name one of the many struggles that come with what I do, it isn’t cheap. I’m an independent artist so not only do I write songs and travel around and sing, but I also work a full-time job and have a wife and son at home. Therefore, studio time and a lot of the traveling expenses come out of my pocket. Not to mention the other costs such as all the gear and small things like buying new guitar strings. It all adds up pretty quickly. As I mentioned earlier, God always comes through and provides.

Another challenge is getting your name out there. You have to not only know how to network but who to network with. I can’t tell you the number of local churches I have reached out to and never once heard anything back from them. I had been trying for what seemed like forever just to find a church or some other type of Christian venue to play at and never was given the chance. Social media landed me some shows in Wisconsin and Louisiana, though, so that was fun.

Challenges and obstacles are to be expected with what I do. It’s all about how you bounce back and learn from them. It all plays an important part in our growth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I mentioned earlier, I am a Christian singer/songwriter/independent artist. I love to write songs about how God has brought me through some of my darkest moments to share them with others who may be facing similar circumstances. God has a plan for every person out there, no matter what their past may look like or what they’ve done. There’s grace enough for everyone. People need to know now more than ever that they have hope in Jesus, and I am here to help tell the world about that hope.

What I want to set myself apart from others is the fact that I do my best to let the light of Jesus shine so that everyone can see it. I’m not here to make myself known, but to make Jesus known. I am just a vessel. If it wasn’t for Jesus I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, all the glory goes to Him.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aaron-justice-music.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronjusticemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronJusticeMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaronjusticemusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6umNxjlFms7UDoZOlZBpOv?si=ibLaMEplQfOODWJsgKyHIA