Justin Karpinos
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Music
Press
Justin Karpinos presents Flyover, an EP detailing pop and its influence over relationships In a rising world of coffee shop breakthrough artists ruling the charts and bands taking the form of hired hands a flood of multi-tracked singer songwriter albums. Karpinos’ roots are light and available in many outlets, but do they over-influence his delivery?
Karpinos arranges efficiently, song structures never jam up or bog down. Pop sensibility is the secret ingredient of Flyover. All the parts fit and nothing gets goofy. Karpinos stays away from the tongue-in-cheek delivery that launches so many singer songwriters today. Karpinos prefers the straight delivery, not over-decorating or debasing.
The meat of the material in Karpinos' work is relationships. The detailing of those relationships get a bit repetitive, but retain their adult contemporary manifesto of sober and steady. A few near-rock moments help separate occasional instrumental hooks. But the majority of this collection frames Karpinos' voice, the centerpiece. Karpinos' tone shifts between almost broken-hearted and Midwestern infection. Karpinos is a great addition to local working community. Flyover is a step beyond coffee shop.
-Thomas Martin, Enigma Magazine - Enigma Magazine
Justin Karpinos presents Flyover, an EP detailing pop and its influence over relationships In a rising world of coffee shop breakthrough artists ruling the charts and bands taking the form of hired hands a flood of multi-tracked singer songwriter albums. Karpinos’ roots are light and available in many outlets, but do they over-influence his delivery?
Karpinos arranges efficiently, song structures never jam up or bog down. Pop sensibility is the secret ingredient of Flyover. All the parts fit and nothing gets goofy. Karpinos stays away from the tongue-in-cheek delivery that launches so many singer songwriters today. Karpinos prefers the straight delivery, not over-decorating or debasing.
The meat of the material in Karpinos' work is relationships. The detailing of those relationships get a bit repetitive, but retain their adult contemporary manifesto of sober and steady. A few near-rock moments help separate occasional instrumental hooks. But the majority of this collection frames Karpinos' voice, the centerpiece. Karpinos' tone shifts between almost broken-hearted and Midwestern infection. Karpinos is a great addition to local working community. Flyover is a step beyond coffee shop.
-Thomas Martin, Enigma Magazine - Enigma Magazine
Sidemen have a funny way of branching off from their side jobs. Justin Karpinos, who lends his fingers to local bands 60 Cycle Hum and Zammarin, makes his solo debut with this semi-acoustic, semi rock/pop EP. Though no Jack Johnson or Jack White, Karpinos shows promise via his southern folk guitar style and velvety voice. The lyrics drift from inspirational to insightfully painful. On one track about a “suitcase” father, Karpinos relates how a son “whispers prayers to his Manhattan god.” “Fifteen Percent” is the grabber here, though. The up-tempo tune is reminiscent of Jars of Clay (which is not surprising since producer Marc Lacuesta has mixed both) and just gritty enough to allow Karpinos to explore more mature lyrics and rougher vocals with a wider range. Though the freshman effort comes across as mostly, well, a freshman effort, it’s always good to hear a local musician with actual potential.
-Maggie Behringer
- Chattanooga Pulse
Sidemen have a funny way of branching off from their side jobs. Justin Karpinos, who lends his fingers to local bands 60 Cycle Hum and Zammarin, makes his solo debut with this semi-acoustic, semi rock/pop EP. Though no Jack Johnson or Jack White, Karpinos shows promise via his southern folk guitar style and velvety voice. The lyrics drift from inspirational to insightfully painful. On one track about a “suitcase” father, Karpinos relates how a son “whispers prayers to his Manhattan god.” “Fifteen Percent” is the grabber here, though. The up-tempo tune is reminiscent of Jars of Clay (which is not surprising since producer Marc Lacuesta has mixed both) and just gritty enough to allow Karpinos to explore more mature lyrics and rougher vocals with a wider range. Though the freshman effort comes across as mostly, well, a freshman effort, it’s always good to hear a local musician with actual potential.
-Maggie Behringer
- Chattanooga Pulse
Chattanooga singer/songwriter sing and performs nothing like he talks. The east coast native has a smooth vocal delivery and is more than your typical singer/songwriter he considers himself. Some call his music similar to James Taylor. I beg to differ. Justin Karpinos sounds original.. Thank goodness he didn’t try to use a cookie-cutter mould to write and perform. Mature, with strong vocals and smart songwriting, others around him should pay attention.
- Enigma Magazine
Chattanooga singer/songwriter sing and performs nothing like he talks. The east coast native has a smooth vocal delivery and is more than your typical singer/songwriter he considers himself. Some call his music similar to James Taylor. I beg to differ. Justin Karpinos sounds original.. Thank goodness he didn’t try to use a cookie-cutter mould to write and perform. Mature, with strong vocals and smart songwriting, others around him should pay attention.
- Enigma Magazine
Discography
Solo albums:
-Flyover (2006)
-13th Street Demos (2006)
-The Green Room Sessions (2007)
Contributions to:
Zammarin, Shine On (2008)
Zammarin, (self-titled) (2007)
Zammarin, Over the Hills and Everywhere (2006)
60 Cycle Hum, AA Heartache (2005)
Warehouse Fires, A History of My Time (2002)
Brad Passons, Set up for Failure (2004)
Photos
Bio
Justin Karpinos is a 27 year-old singer/songwriter currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. Justin is an established sideman and contributes guitar, mandolin, and vocals for several area artists and bands.
Flyover, Justin’s debut album, was recorded and mixed in both Nashville, TN with producer Marc Lacuesta (recording credits include Allison Krauss, Neil Young, Sara Evans, and Jars of Clay), and in Greensboro, NC with producer Mike Garrigan (founder of the critically-acclaimed band Collapsis).
Flyover features tightly-crafted songs that emphasize his melodic sensibilities, compelling lyrics, and tasteful guitar work. Justin’s clear, strong voice is reminiscent of James Taylor and Paul Simon. The arrangements and instrumentation explore more modern pop/rock styles, similar to Gavin Degraw and Jump, Little Children.
The record has garnered attention and praise from, most notably, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon.
Links