Justend is a musician from New York City whose music truly embodies what the city is. From the sound to the visuals to the way he creates, Justend’s artistry is a fusion of innovation, culture, and collaboration. Gaining influences from the music his parents were playing, to hearing songs at skateparks, and trying to find his own style has led to one of the most versatile artists working right now. Bouncing around from genre to genre; effortlessly dipping his toes into rock, r&b, indie, rap, funk and more; there is no doubt that Justend is going to be huge. Starting out by using one of his neighbors microphones, even the beginnings of his music were intertwined with collaboration. Recently releasing the ep ‘Before Audio Basquiat’ with producer loe4t and then getting on the final track of the new tomcbumpz record, Justend is able to flawlessly mesh his styles with other artists. Really bringing into focus how much community and collaboration influences his work. Making music that’s fun to create and fun to listen to Justend will always be a good musician to throw on at any time. This is all building up to the release of 2 separate projects and a tour, both coming very soon. Make sure you keep an eye on his social media to figure out the next big steps he’s taking. Get in on the ground floor by steaming his music after looking into the mind of a real creative talent.
What's your favorite reality tv show?
I don’t know, probably like ‘Flavor of Love.’ But that was when I was mad young. Maybe like ‘Pimp My Ride,’ but when I found out that it was fake I didn’t like it as much. I look back at all the shit I watched and I was like mad young watching them. I was watching ‘Big Brother’ at eight, that's crazy. I don’t know if I should’ve been watching that.
What's the craziest thing you’ve learned about architecture after going to school for it?
Just how fucked up urban planning is, and how much they fucked up cities across America through bad urban design. Especially when it comes to affordable housing. They hardly ever had people who were from affordable housing, or scenarios like that, to help out in designing it. So a lot of America is designed against minorities. And then also architecture, just the way that you design can really play into how people think. Just where sidewalks are placed, the angles of the buildings, things like that can really change the whole dynamic of what's going on
If someone was to dress up as you for halloween what would they need to wear?
I feel so biased. You would really have to ask my homie for a better answer. But I don’t know, probably some chunky shoes or something. Some kind of flared or baggy jeans. Then some item that has some mind of movement to it.
If you had to create a food truck what would you want to sell and what would you want the branding to be?
I think I’d want a little bit of everything. I’d just want to serve people. Make some soul food, some burgers and fries. Do a little food tour. Some jerk chicken, rasta pasta. Shit like that, just all over the map. I’d want the brand to be some cool retro shit but controlled. Like work in the classics and then upgrade them on some new shit.
What did you think you were gonna be grew up
I thought I was gonna be a rapper. My parents told me that I wasn’t gonna be one. And I think I’m an artist now but I’m a rapper too. I’m all that. I’m just an artist now. I put just as much into architecture and visual art as I do auditory art. So I’m what I wanted to be as a kid but more.
What are your dream clothing items?
There’s mad shit I want to get but I’m just like, is that financially smart right now? But probably like some archive Raf Simons. I’ve always wanted that shit. I forgot what season but there's mad seasons that I’ve wanted since I was a kid.
If you were in ‘Finding Nemo’ what fish would you be?
I don’t even know. Probably not Dory. I think Nemo. They’re trying to find me, I need space sometimes. Nemo is just in his own world. He’s the main character and he's just trying to traverse through the sea. And you know I’ve been trying to traverse through the world.
If you had some extra time to focus on a creative venture outside of music, what would you want to focus on?
Fashion. I’ve been doing it kinda with merch. Like I’ve been working on merch for a minute, but I want it to be cutting edge. And we’ve got some cutting edge shit, but I don’t even know how to do it. I just want it to be perfect.
If you could spend an hour anywhere for free, where would you want to go?
If it could be impossible, then probably space. But on Earth? I really want to go to Barcelona. Just the architecture there. Like Antoni Gaudí and a couple other architects there were really going crazy.
What food would you want to design a house off of?
Like a pasta or something. Like penne or rigatoni or some shit. Or chicken fingers. I don’t know how sustainable that would be but I like chicken fingers so we're going with those. Make the windows out of transparent food. Make a chicken finger high rise. Or a rigatoni castle. That would go crazy.
What artists do you think people reading this should check out?
There’s so many artists I gotta give props to. Just some of them though: tomcbumpz, loe4t, souly had, TyBass, SEB, Leanys, kid moon, Shy High, Ser Amari. Theres just so many to shoutout.