by emily harris
photo by shervin lainez
Justus Bennetts is a growing entity within the music industry. Interlacing the powers of hip-hop and rock into catchy beats and choruses, Justus is creating a massive following for himself — as seen in his TikTok account. Having already released five singles in 2021 alone, Justus is gearing up to release a full body of work soon! We had the pleasure of speaking with him about his most recently released track “Cool Kids” and his discography as a whole!
Congratulations on the release of your newest single, “Cool Kids!” After the immense hype the song received after you posted a snippet on TikTok, how does it feel to finally have the single out there?
Justus: “Thank you! It’s always a great feeling when you finally get to release a song that’s already been so hyped up.”
How has your TikTok presence allowed you to grow your brand?
J: “TikTok has definitely been a huge tool my team and I have used to get people listening, and then all of the numbers just start to trickle down.”
Can you describe what was the inspiration behind the “Cool Kids” video?
J: “It’s basically just a spinoff of the movie ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off.’ When I first watched that movie, it gave me the same feelings the song does so I thought it’d be a perfect way to visualize it.
“Cool Kids” follows your previous single “Bad Day.” What was the writing and recording process like for that song in particular?
J: “‘Bad Day’ followed the same process we follow when making a lot of my records. My crew (Remy, Jesse, and Doc) and I just locked in the studio for a day and grinded it out. It’s honestly a really simple process every time. I don’t like to overthink it, I just have fun.”
You also dropped a music video for “Bad Day!” What was the shooting process like for you?
J: “Besides how damn hot it was in LA that day, the recording process was great. Eliot Lee directed that one, very professional people got the job done for sure.”
How do you think those two tracks fit into your discography next to your other previously released singles of 2021?
J: “These songs are about all of the small things we go through and small thoughts that tend to take up a lot of space in our heads, even if we don’t realize it. Meanwhile, we all just aspire to do whatever we want with our lives. These tracks explain just that, while also displaying what I’ve gone through and what I’m dealing with personally.”
How have you managed to balance your influences and blend hip-hop and rock into your current sound?
J: “They're all just sounds to me. The raw feeling of the rock music and the emotions some of these expressive hip-hop bars help convey such a nostalgic feeling in the music that I tend to really gravitate towards.”
What song would you recommend to someone who has never listened to you before?
J: “Definitely ‘Nightstand,’ that song blends everything I love perfectly and shows a side of myself I don't put on display very often.”
Can we expect a full-length EP or album soon?
J: “I am currently in the process of finishing up my EP and I'm expecting to put it out early in 2022. I'll be living in the studio until then.”