Conversations with Justin Turner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Turner.

Hi Justin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started out in 2016 playing local shows around Nashville, doing mostly covers, creating a foundation for the band to grow from. Brothers Justin and Jacob Turner, co-wrote and performed their self-titled EP released in October 2018, at various local venues.

After some time to reflect on our first release and gaining some momentum, we had finally put together our first album titled “Surely We Will Fall” released in November of 2021. With songs like ‘Fixated’ and ‘Only to Comply’ we took on a more emotional approach to our writing style emphasized by melodic and dynamic influences from The Mars Volta and Circa Survive. This new, refined sound helped improve our sound even further. With more opportunities presenting themselves for the band’s direction, we took some time to evaluate the future of the group and what it would take to reach further successes.

After a partial hiatus and lineup change, including the addition of Mikey Stevenhagen as our lead vocalist, we were once again filled with motivation. After building our chemistry together further, we went on to play several shows and events performing our previously released music. During this process, we also collaborated to write and release an EP titled, “Only in Absolutes” on December 29th 2023. As well as release our new single, “Bury Your Motives” on September 13th 2024.

We’re currently in the process of recording what we believe is our best album yet, set for release in 2025. We’re aiming to have it available on streaming platforms by Fall 2025, and we can’t wait to share it with our listeners.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road—but every bump has shaped who we are. At times, we’ve struggled with consistency and commitment within the group, which has led to disagreements, arguments, and even some lineup changes. Things like this can take a lot out of you emotionally, especially when you are working alongside such close friends.

Our temporary hiatus in 2021–2022, partly due to the aftermath of COVID, gave us time to reflect and find our sound, but also created uncertainty about our future. It took us some time to get back into it, but eventually, in 2023, we put together a solid lineup and started playing shows and recording again.

One of the biggest challenges has been breaking out beyond the local scene—finding bigger opportunities and getting in front of the right audiences. There’s a real frustration in knowing your music could resonate with more people if only it could reach them. But every step has pushed us to work harder, refine our sound, and stay true to what we believe in as a band.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At our core, we’re focused on creating music that speaks to both ourselves and the listener. Our sound lives mostly within the post-hardcore and screamo space, but we’re always trying to push boundaries within that to keep it honest and fresh.

One of the things we’re most proud of is being fully independent. Since our album Surely We Will Fall, we’ve handled every part of the process ourselves—writing, producing, recording, mixing, mastering, even marketing. It’s a lot, but it means the final product is 100% us. That DIY ethic is a big part of what sets us apart. While we may not have the backing of a big label, what we do have is complete creative control, and we take a lot of pride in that.

Beyond the technical side, we strive to stand out through emotionally driven songwriting and the energy we bring to our live shows. We want every performance to feel as intense and honest as the songs themselves.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the most important qualities for us are our work ethic and our dedication to making music that feels real. Since we handle everything ourselves, it can be challenging, but it’s something we genuinely enjoy. We put a lot of effort into making sure we’re always putting out music that feels true to who we are.

We also try to be honest with our lyrics, letting our emotions guide the songwriting process. We’re proud of the music we create, and we hope that vulnerability and energy come through for listeners.

That being said, I wouldn’t say we’ve fully found success yet. We’re incredibly grateful for how far we’ve come and for everyone who supports us, but we know there’s still a long way to go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://indigozebras.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/indigozebras
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigozebrasofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@indigozebras
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@indigozebrasofficial