By his sophomore year of high school he had fallen to the bottom of his class in grade rankings and decided to find different ways to succeed and make money. He began selling drugs, using drugs, stealing, fighting and doing things that were leading him down a dark path. For two years he lived this life without getting caught, but eventually during his senior year he was caught selling marijuana in the parking lot before school.
“At this moment I knew my life was over,” he said. “I was going to be a felon. But then I caught a huge break! They just ordered me to get my act together in an alternative correctional learning facility. So I finished out the year strong, stayed away from trouble and ended up graduating.”
After graduation Justin worked a handful of odd jobs to make money. He was making money in a healthy way, and he also had started spending more time with his father with whom he’d missed a lot during his childhood.
But then on Jan. 4, 2016, his father passed away. It hit him hard, and he began to question what he was doing with his life. He had turned to music many times in the past to salve his soul, and it was during this especially difficult time that he realized nothing else would make him as happy as music did. So he decided to pursue music as a career. With bold, strong lyrics and interactive music videos, Justin is today delivering a mainstream melodic sound that is making heads turn and cultivating a professional image.
His most recent work is a single called “Wasted,” which features a strong trap sound with clever use of auto-tune and witty lyrics. It’s a song that he wrote shortly after losing his father in the midst of beginning to head back down a dark path with alcohol and drugs. Writing the song helped him realize what he was doing and re-commit to making good decisions that would benefit his life.
“I reference a lot of that stuff in this song, coming from where I was at during that life-space,” he said. “I don’t write it to put people in a depressing mood. In fact, the song is more about having fun and living life and not wasting it. I think it’s a song that shows people that I’m a melodic type of artist who is coming up with catchy, melodic verses with a newer, mainstream type of sound.”
To listen to Justin Kleindinst’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links:
