Search - Justin Jude :: It's Love It's Love It's Love

Justin Jude will keep you alive. His unpretentious Pop Americana is impossible to categorize, gliding from rock to roots to R&B, always with the same soul-stirring vocals. Listeners agree. Justin was recently named "Oregon's Best Singer/Songwriter 2007" at the Bite of Oregon festival. Until recently performing under his given name, Justin has changed his stage name to coincide with the November release of his sophomore record, "Truce." The album, produced by Rob Stroup (Scott Fisher, Imprints) and featuring Stephanie Schneiderman and Derek Brown (Eels, Baseboard Heaters) will be released in November 2007. His 2005 album, "It's Love It's Love It's Love," has been a huge self-released success, taking off in online sales and featured on both web and college radio. "Jude is a family name," says Justin. "As time has gone by I've grown fond of it. St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes -- and I like to turn that sentiment on its head. Many of my songs are about lost causes redeemed." "Mostly, though," he says, "it just feels right." The change of stage name represents both a re-invention of this singer-songwriter's sound and an introduction of his music to a wider circle of listeners. "Truce", his first true studio album, features Justin Jude's signature folk-pop style, but ventures into rock, R&B and even gospel, establishing Justin as a true jack-of-all-trades. Described by one reviewer as "Pete Yorn meets Pete Seeger," Justin is known for his acrobatic voice, huge range and inventive guitar work. The fusion of so many styles and a one-of-a-kind voice, makes "Truce" destined for popular and radio appeal. Justin has been compared with everyone from a young Bruce Springsteen to John Mayer to Uncle Tupelo. Classically trained on piano and voice as a child, Justin cut his ears on the classic rock of the '60s and '70s. In college in New England he found a love for the acoustic guitar and for songwriting. Turning out a huge repertoire of songs in a short time, he earned a reputation as a prolific writer and a dazzling live performer. Having shared the stage with established touring acts like Lisa Loeb and Lucy Kaplansky, in 2007 Justin has focused on staying close to home in the Northwest, sharing shows with such acts as Scott Fisher, Liv Warfield, The Dimes, Garth Michael McDermott, Chris Robley and Breanna Paletta of Rye Hollow.