JUSTINA INTERVIEW WITH WHOHUB.COM

​Interview with:
JUSTINA CARUBIA [JUSTINACMUSIC]MUSIC

WH: What do you do? What is your musical specialty?
Justina: I am a singer/songwriter/musician. I write songs for my solo career on the acoustic guitar, and I also write songs and sing with my rock band Stelladeora. I am trying to get into writing songs to pitch to other artists on labels. I also play a bit of Ukulele.

WH: Do you work alone or in a group? If in a group, who are the others you work with?
Justina: I have been a solo artist , penning my own songs since 2001. More recently, since 2009 I have been working with my band Stelladeora, in creating high energy, in your face rock songs. (Stelladeora is Justina Carubia on vocals, Avinash Patel on guitar, Neil Brown on bass, & Mike Lyon on drums).

WH: Is there a web address where one can listen, see, or read some of your work?
Justina: 
MY Band Stelladeora:
OFFICIAL
www.Stelladeora.comYoutube
www.Youtube.com/StelladeoraFacebook
www.Facebook.com/Stelladeora

My Solo Work:
My Portfolio of my work up to date:
http://justinasworld.tumblr.com/
My Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Rockstar122083
Official:
www.JustinasWorld.com
Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justina/25087075702


WH: Please list any awards, competitions, or other acknowledgments you would like to mention.
Justina: 4 Time Asbury Music Award Nominee
First Place Winner – Fully Loaded Vocal Contest in NYC, 2008
2 Time Grand Prize Winner, Stereofame Artist of the Month Contest, 2009 & 2010 (Stereofame.com)

WH: Please list discography in which you have participated.
Justina: 
A Dosage From Delusional
Stelladeora
2012 Album
Download Free OR Donate HERE:
http://stelladeora.bandcamp.com/album/a-dosage-from-delusi (…) Last One Standing
Justina (Solo)
2007 EP
Download Free Here:
http://justina.bandcamp.com/album/last-one-standing-2007-e (…) Believe
Justina (Solo)
2007 Benefit Single for Lainie’s Angels
Download Free Here:
http://justina.bandcamp.com/track/believe-single

Break of Day
Justina (Solo)
2005 EP
Download Free Here:
http://justina.bandcamp.com/album/break-of-day

Justina (Solo)
2003 Demo
Download Free Here:
Download Free Here:
http://justina.bandcamp.com/album/justina-2003-demo (…)

WH: How did you begin making music? Who introduced you?
Justina: I have been singing my whole life, but it wasn’t until I asked my father for a guitar for my 18th birthday , that I started to take it seriously. He got me my first guitar and taught me my first few chords. My guitar was pretty much attached to my hip from that point on. I locked myself in my room for the next few months, and emerged with my first song, “When It’s Time”.

WH: What was your musical education?
Justina: I am a self taught musician.

WH: When did you realise that making music could be a way of life for you?
Justina: I still struggle with being able to make my music a way of life. I teach music enrichment to children as my day job, but I am still trying to find my niche as an artist in the industry.

WH: What is your creative process?
Justina: I write when I am inspired. Sometimes I’ll have a chord progression first, sometimes I will have a melody first. Sometimes the lyrics come first. It is different every time, that is the beauty of songwriting!

WH: When do you have your most lucid moments, in the morning or night?
Justina: Sometimes I will wake up with a melody in my head. Sometimes I have melodies pop in my head while I am in the shower. Sometimes I cannot go to bed at night until I get a song out of me, or at least get enough of an idea down on paper or recording, so I can get some sleep and finish it when I wake up in the morning. Songwriting is what feeds my insomnia. I have spent many a sleepless night working out parts to a new song.

WH: Have you ever awoken with a melody created from your dreams?
Justina: This occurance is very rare, but yes I have formed melodies in my dreams. It is important to sing into a recorder or write it down shortly after waking up, or it will be gone.

WH: How do you know when a song is finished or needs no more changes?
Justina: A song is never really finished. There are always ways to constantly rework parts, and make changes. As artists, I don’t think any of us are 100% happy with what we put out there. But there has to come a point, where you have to walk away from a song, or you will never get any music out there!

WH: How did you discover your creative territory? How would you describe it?
Justina: I guess I discovered my creative territory when I wrote my first song. I write by myself, in my room most of the time. It’s where I can really relax and be truly be true to myself and my own thoughts without feeling judged. When I collaborate with other musicians/producers, there is often a barrier I put up when trying to co-create. I have done it quite a few times, and it always takes some adjusting to when jumping back into a scenario like that.

WH: What part of your job is your least favourite?
Justina: My least favorite part of being a musician is rejection. Also building a fan base is the hardest thing I have ever encountered. It is super frustrating, and still have yet to conquer it completely.

WH: How often do you practice?
Justina: I play guitar every single day since I teach music. I have not played my solo material much as of lately, but I practice with my band Stelladeora about 1 to 2x a week.

WH: How do you feel right before going out on stage?
Justina: If I’m gigging regularly, I won’t get as nervous before going onstage. If I’m playing a show for the first time in awhile, I get nervous before I go onstage. If we’re debuting new songs to fans, and it is the first time playing it to the crowd, that can be very nerve racking. Also I get more nervous in front of intimate crowds, than I do in front of large crowds. I think it’s the awkward silence *crickets chirping*.

WH: Which musicians or groups have been inspiring to your career?
Justina: When I first started out as a solo acoustic artist, I listened to a lot of Jewel, Michelle Branch, Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles. I was more into solo artists and classic rock.Vocally I really love singing to Pat Benatar, Patty Smyth, & Christina Aguilera.As I grew into my vocal style, I started loving more huge, epic sounding bands. I love Incubus, Paramore, Envy on the Coast, VersaEmerge, The Used, Coheed & Cambria, Evanescence. They really inspired me to start my band project Stelladeora.

I love powerful vocally driven material. My latest music is the most challenging stuff I have sung up to date.

WH: List three songs that are key to your life.
Justina: “Imagine” – John Lennon
Who DOESN’T love this song? It brings me to tears everytime.
“Heavenly Day” – Patty Griffin
The essence of this song is just so carefree, and it always makes me sit back, and enjoy life and appreciate everything I have.“When It’s Time” – Original song by me.
It was the first song I ever wrote to get me started on my musical journey,
so I always feel a sense of gratitude to that song.

WH: What should be done to stop piracy?
Justina: That depends on how you define piracy. I think sites where the users are encouraged to make their own movies to share with friends, are getting a little out of hand with putting restrictions on the music you use. If you are not using music for commercial use, then I don’t see why a 2 year old should get sued for putting up a video of them lip syncing to a song.It’s the greedy labels and corporations.. cuz personally, I’d love it for people to use my songs in their videos! Feel free!:-)

WH: What type of music do you detest?
Justina: I’m not really into music that doesn’t have a melody, or a vocalist with good tone/pitch. The vocalist to me is what makes or breaks a band/artist. Also the song should have a good hook. I’m also not really into hipster music , aka bands I’ve “probably never heard of”, heh.

WH: What time did you get up this morning?
Justina: I think like 10:30 hahaha , what do you want from me, I’m a musician!

WH: How do you sell yourself? What has been your experience with record companies and representatives?
Justina: I have pitched to some major labels quite a few times. It has always pretty much ended the same way. They love my voice, but I don’t have the songs, or the fanbase. Unfortunately no one takes risks on an artist anymore, it’s all about the numbers. But honestly, if you can form your own fanbase, then who needs a label at that point? It’s a catch 22 really…

WH: What other things have you done to make a living?
Justina: I have worked data entry & receptionists jobs, I’ve painted jewelry for QVC, I’ve been a photographer’s assistant for school portraits, have worked children’s tea parties and birthday events, and more recently I teach a music enrichment program for children in preschools and day care centers.

WH: Have you ever played on the street or in the subway? How much did you collect each day?
Justina: I have busked a few times, but not enough to call it a living.

WH: Who would you play with, without a doubt?
Justina: I would play with any of the bands I listed in my above influences.

WH: What advice would you give to someone starting out in the business?
Justina: I would tell someone just starting out , to be realistic. It’s easy to come into this business with stars in your eyes, but just be prepared for a lot of rejection and hardships. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Work hard, play out, promote yourself, constantly update your social media profiles. Talk to your fans!It’s important to be in contact with the people who support what you do, even if they are complete strangers. Your friends and family will always be your fans by default, but when people you don’t even know are showing interest, you want to keep them interested. They’re the ones who will be buying your albums, and going to the shows. And last but not least, DON’T EVER STOP! If something isn’t working for you , change directions, but don’t ever stop.