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New York City, New York, United States

New York City, New York, United States
Band Folk Singer/Songwriter

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"ATSMTM Album Review"

Artist: Justin Hillman
Title: As the Sun Meets the Moon
Website: http://www.myspace.com/jhillmanmusic
Style: Folk/ Acoustic/ Indie
Rating: 3/5
By L. Anne Carrington

CD Baby describes Justin Hillman's debut album, As the Sun Meets the Moon as "Alternative folk laced with articulate guitar work, lush strings, and a driving rhythm section. Soothing vocals and wise lyrics will draw you in; You can't help but dive down deep."

I am inclined to agree with the above description; have a listen to the album's title track as well as standout tracks such as "A Lullaby," "Anymore," and "A Lion Tamer's Son," among others.

Along with Hillman's unique, rich voice, the guitar work is absolutely soothing and outstanding, the lyric work touching to the listener's soul, and the background rhythm section is one that shouldn't be overlooked.

Most grassroots music projects are either passable or just not that good to begin with, but As the Sun Meets the Moon is a rare exception. Take a listen to all ten tracks on this album, and you will find out exactly what I am discussing. It's a good CD for the folk and acoustic music connoisseur.

Link to the article:

http://indiemusicstop.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/justin-hillman-as-the-sun-meets-the-moon/ - Indie Music Stop


"Richmond Music Maker, 19 is Reaching For Great Heights"

by Jenn Smith
Thursday, November 20, 2008

Justin Hillman is discovering the dawn in his life. The 19-year-old Richmond resident released his first album, "As the Sun Meets the Moon," earlier this year and will hold a free CD release party for it next Friday.
In the meantime, he's been experiencing the exultation and exhaustion of booking gigs, creating demos of new work and planning a Gulf and East coast tour with a couple of other fellow singer-songwriters.

Hillman said the new disc has been four years in the making, during which he went from high school jazz band to finishing school early to playing on street corners to building his own studio.

Pretty ambitious for someone who can't legally drink in the bars he plays at.

But from an early age, this lad had his mind made on music and his plans to reach great heights with it. So far, he's had a clear takeoff. And earlier this month, Hillman took the time to sit with The Eagle and reflect in the afterglow:

Q: Of all the things to do in this great big world, why music?

A: It's an obsession.

Q: Did you train to do this? Where did you begin?

A: I studied guitar with Dave Grover (the Big Bear Band man himself). He was the person to ask me if I wanted to do music professionally.In my head, I thought why would I be here if it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Q: Sold, huh? So do you play anything else aside from guitar?

A: The bass was my first instrument thenguitar, only acoustic though. (Note: Hillman's quite the modest one. Inside the new album cover, he's also credited for doing vocals and playing the mandolin,banjo, harmonica, piano bells, percussion and synth.)
Q: You mentioned before that there was a time you were really into punk and grunge rock music, which is way opposite of what you do now.What happened?

A: I'm not sure when I made that polar reversal. I just kind of woke up and was all about playing fingerstyle guitar.

Q: And then you followed in the line of many guitar greats - playing street corners. Any particular place?

A: Well, I grew up in Lee and went to Monument Mountain Regional High School, so I spent a lot of time in Great Barrington.

We used to play right where Tune Street is.

Most of the time, the police were nice about us having a tip jar out.

Q: So is that how you paid for all of your studio equipment?

A: That and landscaping around with my dad. I realized that it would be go to do that now before I had any real responsibilities.

Q: You're young. Is that an issue at all in doing what you do? Do people take you seriously?

A: With booking shows, the whole age thing is a bit strange. But sometimes the age thing makes people more interested in my music.

Q: How would you describe your music to someone?

A: To the average middle-aged person I would say something like James Taylor. With younger listeners I've had people call it neo-folk, new folk, and once someone referred to it as freak folk, though I'm not sure how I feel about that.

But mostly it's music for film and television soundtracks; most likely to be heard on "Grey's Anatomy."

Q: Any place or time or ritual you have in making your music and writing your lyrics?

A: It's usually sitting on my bedroom floor at 2 a.m.

Q: Now when I saw you playing at Mission the other night you were there solo. But the new disc has all sorts of musicians and instruments like drums, trumpet and other strings and vocals. Are these all local folks?

A: Yeah, I got Linda Worster, Tony Carlotto, Eric Martin, Beth Craig, Katie Miller and Meredith LaFrance in on it.

Caleb Davis is a senior now at Monument. He's the first drummer I've ever played with. We started working together in middle school. When I was really young I wanted to be a visual artist. Now, when I think of music it's done texturally.

A lot of it is talked about visually like space, foreground and background. So when I started playing solo I would think, there's a texture missing, and add it in.

Q: That being said, what kind of audience do you have?

A: Each show has a different audience, whether it's rock kids from North Adams or middle-aged women. I kind of play it safe; no one's offended by my music.

Q: Anything you write about in particular?

A: The lyrics are usually stream-of-consciousness. They're the type of thing that comes of pen and paper. I might realize afterward whatI had to get off my chest.

Q: What goes through your head when you're up there performing?

A: The first gig I had was at school and I was horribly nervous. But now it's like whoever's going to appreciate it is going to appreciate it.

Q: Who do you listen to?

A: Um, hmm, I've been listening to some stuff from Ireland like Fionn Regan, Glen Hansard and Damien Rice. I'm Irish-Native American, so it's kind of in my genetic code.

Elliott Smith was one of the first people I remember listening to that made me really want to play music. I've been listening to a lot of Bobby Sweet lately too.

But I still have a Ramones poster in my room.

Q: So you're planning a Gulf Coast/New England tour. Who are you going with?

A: Mike Griffin and Lance Whalen. Mike's a guy from out around Northampton and Lance is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Q: Is there any place you'd want to play someday?

A: I'd love to play the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Then again, I'd love to play in someone's living room.

Q: So what's next after this album?

A: Well I have about three or four albums in my head. I've been working on some demos. But it's a new chapter. I'm still feeling my way through the first one but I want the next one to be better.

Q: Ever think about what you'd do if your vocal chords dried up or your fingers broke?

A: I'd probably find some way to play. But really, I try not to think about that.

Q: Your record label is your own - First Mark Music. What's that about?

A: It's about making your first mark, the idea of beginning. - The Berkshire Eagle


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Still working on that hot first release.

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