Listening to Justin Fabus feels a lot like flipping through a photo album.
His songs preserve and depict memories and major experiences with the acute detail and unvarnished truth of your favorite pictures set to a soundtrack of soulful country accented by moments of urgent rock and passionate pop. It’s why the Pittsburgh-born and Atlanta-based singer and songwriter has quietly asserted himself as an independent phenomenon with a devout fan base.
Now, Justin’s eloquent songcraft and cinematic storytelling drive his 2024 4x6 EP and more to come.
“4x6 paints a picture,” he says. “These songs are like snapshots in time. You can close your eyes and see each one play out in your head. I hope listeners can really put themselves in my shoes. The goal is to trigger a memory—whether it’s good or bad. Even if it’s not the best memory , maybe the particular song will be able to help someone through a situation.”
His music has consistently impacted audiences. Rising up out of his native Pittsburgh, he initially made waves with the self-titled debut LP Justin Fabus [2016] followed by Remedy [2018]. Meanwhile, 2019’s “Our Love Is Like A Holiday” gained traction with over 126K Spotify streams. He continued to evolve on Shelter From The Storm [2020] and The Aftermath EP [2021]. On the former, he notably co-wrote “Somebody Like You” with none other than multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-winning legend Richard Marx. Simultaneously, he emerged as the rare talent equally comfortable sharing the stage with New Kids On the Block or Trace Adkins. Debbie Gibson even invited him to duet with her at a 2024 Pittsburgh gig, while the Pirates chose one of his songs as part of their stadium soundtrack. He decamped to Nashville in order to assemble 4x6 alongside collaborator Erik Halbig.
Locking into a rhythm in the studio enabled Justin to get more personal than ever.
“Working with Erik was effortless,” he notes. “He also brought out aspects of my writing that I’d never tried before. Every time we got together, we would write a whole song. We never got stuck. We got to a point where all of the tunes existed in the same realm, and they had a real cohesion. I believe these are some of the best songs of my career so far.”
Tipping the hat to Bon Jovi, opener “Learn How To Love You” illuminates Justin’s evolution. Layering arena-size vocals over a rock-solid beat and a bold electric guitar riff, it culminates on a chantable chorus, “I had to lose you to learn how to love you.”
“It’s a fun way to kick off the project and punch you in the mouth at the same time,” he grins. “It was really made with the live show in mind. You can totally pump your fist to it.”
The title track “4x6” reflects on a flood of post-breakup emotions. Strings uplift the production, while he grapples with moving on. Met with ripping guitar, he exhales, “There’s a 4x6 by the four post bed, six years gone by, one big regret.”
“How can you be a country artist and not write about love lost?” he laughs. “It’s about a guy where he and his significant other broke up, and he just can’t get rid of that ‘4x6’ picture. Even if he gets around to getting rid of it, it’ll find its way onto the internet. It’s my take on the country breakup song.”
Then, there’s “Rearview.” Another hummable riff sets the tone as Justin’s delivery resounds. He shrugs off past regrets and optimistically gazes towards the future. On the refrain, he muses, “You won’t want to, but you’ll find the real you right there in your rear view.”
“That one might be my favorite,” he exclaims. “Someone made a reference about how the best view is in your rearview, and I thought that would be a great line. It’s easy to get hung up on your past and feel ashamed of it. Sometimes, you have to go through things to get to where you are today. It’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish.”
The EP concludes with “7&7.” He confronts his previous bout with alcoholism over softly strummed chords and tense drums. “I used to drink Seagrams 7 whiskey and 7-Up like it was going out of style,” he reveals. “It became a problem, but at first it seemed like a hell of a good time. ‘7’ is supposed to be a lucky number, but there’s nothing lucky about me drinking whiskey and 7-Up. It’s basically the aftermath of losing everything.”
Just like a picture, Justin’s music is worth revisiting forever.
“At the end of the day, I want to move people,” he leaves off. “If these songs make you dance, cry, smile, or just move, then I did my job.”
You may also like the following events from City Winery Pittsburgh:
Also check out other
Music events in Pittsburgh,
Entertainment events in Pittsburgh,
Arts events in Pittsburgh.
