  Finally got my copies of the new Btmb Bosses Magazine! Thank you Polo Thefurking! And LOOK WHO’S INSIDE!!!! Yours Truly Photo by the talented Avinash Patel… Front cover is my brother Vincenzo Carubia… check out his feature inside about his upcoming movie Swaggy starring Dominique Swain, Vinicius Machado, David Villada, Gabriel Angelo MasterBlaster G and many more talented folks! Buy your copy here Thank You ALL for the SUPPORT! Justina xoxo
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 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.  Hey all … Here is a little a review/interview I found on Stereofame.com, of my second Artist of the Month win from January 2010. Yea it’s a few months old news, but I did the interview back in January, and they never notified me when they posted it, so I kinda forgot about it. But I was doing some updates with my press kit, and I searched for the review, and found it… so here it is! Enjoy… Thank you to Dennis, and Stereofame.com for the awesome interREview ,lol. Here it goes:
Stereofame.com January 2010 Artist of the Month – Justina: Part Cyndi Lauper, part Michelle Branch, New Jersey-born singer/songwriter Justina is all talent. Listening to Justina’s powerful vocals, one can hardly believe that a voice with such command and self-assuredness comes from a 26 year-old girl who stands all of 4’11”. With irresistible hooks and refreshingly personal lyrics, Justina is asserting herself as a rising star in the female singer/songwriter landscape. Her ability to bounce from gentle love ballads to Beatles-esque pop tunes with heart and honesty has earned her the honor of being chosen as Stereofame.com’s first repeat Artist of the Month winner. “It’s like being on a virtual micro-label,” Justina said of Stereofame. “You can upload your music to a mass audience and there’s nothing to lose, it’s an awesome thing to be a part of.” Since receiving a guitar on her 18th birthday, Justina has immersed herself in the craft of songwriting, a pursuit that she says comes with its highs and lows. “Sometimes good ideas will just hit me and sometimes I have to force them out,” she said. “It’s different every time but that’s what is so great about songwriting, it can be so frustrating…but ultimately it’s very rewarding to be able to put your emotions into something positive.” Despite her soulful sound, Justina is an unabashed “chick rock” devotee. In addition to counting artists like Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks among her influences, Justina credits the aforementioned Branch with giving her the motivation to take herself seriously as an artist. “(Branch) is the whole reason I picked up the guitar when I did,” Justina said. “She had just come out when I was 18 and she was really the only young girl out there that played her own instrument and I was really inspired by that.” Most importantly, Justina clings to the belief that her integrity as an artist defines her sound. “I hate the whole lip-synching thing,” she said. “It’s so fake, I just like real music and real artists who put creativity into every aspect of it.” One thing is for certain, Justina is the determined to share the creativity inside of her with the rest of the world. “I wake up in the morning, get ready, get in the shower and I’ll have a hook in my head that just needs to get out.” As Stereofame’s January 2010 Artist of the Month, Justina will get valuable exposure to an international audience in addition to a $1,000 prize. Stereofame is a one-of-a-kind community where artists are judged objectively by the listening audience. Artists gather more points as they rise in rank and refer their fans from other sites. Plus, artists can sell their music here, too, so they’re getting serious points while making money, something iTunes doesn’t offer! Listeners are also rewarded for their input, as they can earn points for listening to a song and giving it a “thumbs up or down,” and writing thoughtful reviews. They can help talented artists get the attention they deserve by signing artists to their virtual record label and then promoting their signed artists to their friends. Of course, fans get tons of points for buying music and bringing people to the site, too. All these points can be cashed in for various prizes such as iPods, musical equipment, gift cards and more. Think you’ve got what in takes to be Stereofame’s next Artist of the Month? Then go to Stereofame.com and upload three songs to www.Stereofame.com/contest/aom. And if you’re a fan, log on to Stereofame.com today to help some of tomorrow’s biggest and brightest stars get heard and earn some sweet prizes at the same time! posted by Dennis, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7:10 AM VISIT STEREOFAME.COM FOR THE INTERVIEW  MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
JUSTINA “LAST ONE STANDING”With one foot in a powder-pink bedroom, the other in a grown-up world, Jersey Grrl wrestles with vulnerability wrapped in twentysomething hormones and leads a spry band through her back pages. While we binge, Justina purges — or maybe we purge and she binges (on Anna Nalick’s splendor). Naked-in-front-of-the-crowd lyrics collide with tunecraft that would make McCartney blush. When the diminutive autodidact slips into something uncomfortable — a concealed track of elegiac independence, where she emotes against lonely swirls of piano — Justina not only demands attention, she commands it. Posted by Damien at 3:18 PM  By Gary Wien (ASBURY PARK, NJ) –
“This will be our last Night In Progress for a while,” explained Rick Barry, the host of the popular monthly series at The Saint in Asbury Park. “Some people don’t know this, but I was recently diagnosed with laziness and can’t come up with new songs each month.” Of course Rick was kidding. There are very few songwriters around that can consistently create a brilliant song out of nothing and in no time flat. In fact, that was one of the inspirations behind the Night In Progress series. Rick took on a dare from Scott Stamper (owner of The Saint) to do a show completely full of new songs. Scott knew Rick could do it and he knew it would be good for Rick as well. What few people knew at the time was just how well received the concept of debuting brand new material in front of an audience would be received by other artists. The truth is it seemed to liberate them – like with tonight’s first artist – Rob Dye. Rob Dye was an inspired choice for Night In Progress. After finally releasing his first record upon playing out for so many years, it was interesting to hear the songs that either didn’t make the record or were written since the disc came out. “That’s actually the first time I’ve ever played that song. This is a good idea, Rick, said Rob Dye after debuting one of his tunes. A bit later he added, “It’s kind of scary up here. Think I’ll go back to my comfort zone and play something from the CD,” and then proceeded to play “Cars, Trucks and Buses” during a set that mixed several unreleased tunes with a couple from his record. Given the opportunity (and the excuse) to showcase brand new work has led to the creation of many songs that artists will be recording and releasing in the near future. From that angle alone the series has been an unquestionable success. The series has also introduced many artists – including some touring artists from outside the tri-state area – to The Saint and a crowd hungry for original music. Unfortunately, all monthly shows eventually need a little time to recoup their original spirit and energy and Night In Progress is no different. According to Rick, the show will probably return sometime in early 2010. The biggest surprise of the night for me had to be seeing Justina who followed Rob Dye. Long a favorite of Sonny’s from Espresso Joes, I have to admit I didn’t even recognize her when she got on stage. The last time I saw her she had somewhat long brown hair while her current look contains short blonde hair. I actually had to ask Scott if that was the same Justina from several years ago because her appearance wasn’t the only thing that had changed over the years; her entire stage presence is different. When Sonny first played me Justina’s record, I liked the songs but was under whelmed whenever I saw her perform live. She seemed too quiet, too solemn in front of an audience. It was almost as though she just wasn’t having any fun as a performer. I’ll never forget this one show at SICA in Long Branch that took place sometime in 2005. The show was billed as “Revenge of the Brunettes” and featured April Smith along with two young, upcoming artists – Jessie Poland and Justina. April was getting airplay on several radio stations and was starting to break; she was clearly on her way. Jessie Poland was already a veteran of teen magazines and had such an amazing outward personality that you could tell she would be a star someday (and currently is with the band Charlotte Sometimes). Meanwhile, Justina was the odd one out. At that moment in time – sandwiched between two rising stars – I felt she was either missing something or had something holding her back. I thought she would remain a good artist capable of writing nice songs, but one that would fail to connect with an audience. So, imagine my surprise when I see her a few years later as this amazingly confident, bubbly artist? Tonight at the Saint, Justina was loose and funny on stage. More importantly, she looked like she was finally comfortable and actually having fun. When you combine all of those things along with good songwriting, you have an artist that just might fulfill the promise she showed to people like Sonny. She’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. Rick Barry took over after Justina and played a bunch of songs that all made their debut at one time or another during the series run. “Works in Progress” still amazes me every time with its simple bare-bones honesty and comparison of the local music scene with the rebuilding of Asbury Park. It’s a shame this song didn’t make his last record. “Annie’s Sing-A-Long Song” was a tune that Rick first played at the Night In Progress show held in Hoboken. This is another classic Rick Barry song with lyrical lines that rival Elvis Costello during the late 70s. “And it just might be the drugs, but you don’t know which one you love more – the disease or the cure.” Mired with some miscues, excessive tuning, and general comments to the crowd, Rick was actually on stage for quite a long time. Recognizing the delays he said, “If anyone ever listened to any of the recordings of these shows they would never believe I’m a singer-songwriter.” His take on “Portrait of a Coward” would dispel any such doubts though. My clear favorite of the tunes presented during the Night in Progress run, this song always reminds me why I consider Rick such an amazing talent. His voice and calm guitar playing just draws you into his stories. Despite the rave reviews for Rick’s CD and his new band, you can still put me in the corner of those who believe Rick is in his element when he’s performing his songs on stage alone – raw, bare-bones and without heavy instrumentation muddying up the lyrics. Comparing his solo work to his band work to me is like comparing an original masterpiece to the cheap lithograph sold at the mall. This series was the perfect vehicle for Rick to showcase his words above everything else. Maybe someday he will find the perfect mix to improve upon his tunes in a full-blown band effort, maybe not. All I know is that I can easily imagine Rick’s solo music changing the world for someone, who has never heard of him, upon seeing him play for the first time. And I have yet to get the same feeling from any of his bands. He’s getting closer with his current band, but the raw intensity of his solo work still brings out his lyrics more than any of his band work does. Someone once told me they thought Rick doesn’t write any “hooks” to his songs. Well, the hooks are there in his solo performances. I’ve seen many people walk out of his solo show knowing every word to a song they’ve heard for the first time – something I just don’t see happen with the full-band shows that drown out the majority of his words. Justin Trawick from the Washington DC area was up next. “I feel like I have a special kinship with Justina because she has all these anti-male songs and I have all these anti-female songs,” he joked. His set contained several recently written songs including “Love Song”, “White Trash Dream” and one so new he didn’t even have a title for it yet. Trawick has a nice country-rock flavor to his songs. You could easily imagine his tunes going in either direction. In fact, he mentioned turning a few of his usual full band rock songs into a more country and blue-grass sound for tonight. Justin performed at the Wave Gathering Festival at the start of the summer and will most likely return to the Shore in the future. He’s worth checking out the next time he’s in town. Christian Beach closed out the night, a dubious distinction since the crowd had largely thinned out by this point. One of my only complaints with the Night in Progress series is that it always seemed to include one too many artists on each bill. While the quality of music was always excellent, I’ve seen too many closing artists perform in front of sparse crowds. Those who did stay caught a wonderful set by Christian that included some songs that are being recorded for his next CD and a few that were extremely new. I’ve often said that while Christian’s last record was very good, the songs I’ve heard from him since are nearly all twice as good. Ever since catching Christian perform much of the next record at the Winter Hours tribute; I’ve been anxiously awaiting the new disc. Switching between guitar and keyboard, Beach showcased intense vocals that reel you in. He’s got that sort of classic rock vocal style which can make every line seem so important that you strain yourself to listen to every word. He reminds me of someone between Joe Jackson and Bruce Hornsby – a sound we don’t hear much along the Shore. As someone that loves piano-based rock and roll, I think he’s got something very good going right now. Night In Progress has been a solid night of music every month for well over a year. Hopefully, the series will return in 2010 with new artists and a new vigor. It’s the type of show we need in Asbury Park. With cover bands all throughout the Jersey Shore, it’s nice to have a night where original songwriters are saluted. The names on the bill aren’t the main draw for me, the experience is.
  (1888PressRelease) April 15, 2009 – Justina Carubia has been playing guitar and writing her own songs since she was 18. When browsing through Gogirls.com she came upon a positive review for Stereofame and decided to setup a profile for herself. “I was only on there about a month when I submitted myself for the contest – I wasn’t expecting to win anything so fast! I can’t believe how many friend requests I get on my other sites from people that are saying they first saw me on Stereofame.”
Justina recently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She plans on using her $1,000.00 prize to record more songs for a full length cd. Songs from her current EP, “Break of Day”, can be downloaded at stereofame.com/justinamusic. Her track “Am I the Only One?” will also be featured in Stereofame’s 11-song Album of the Month for April, available at a special price for all Stereofame members. The Stereofame Artist of the Month contest is the hottest tool for independent talent to gain international exposure, get serious objective written reviews and win a $1,000.00 cash prize. Monthly winners qualify for the upcoming Artist of the Year contest, where $5,000.00 is up for grabs, along with other promotional exposure. There’s also competition for the listeners where the more votes they post, the more chances they have at a 10,000 point prize! The more points the artists and listeners earn, the more they can cash in for killer rewards like iPhones, surfboards and PlayStations. Artists can enter next month’s Artist of the Month Contest by submitting up to three songs to stereofame.com/contest/artist-of-the-month Stereofame combines the social networking aspects of the popular MySpace and Facebook web sites with the auction functions of eBay and creates a game where both listeners and artists compete for points that can lead to valuable rewards ranging from mountain bikes to iPhones. The future of music is now and it is online at Stereofame.com. http://www.mediaHopublicity.com  STOLI GETS TO KNOW JUSTINA WHILE VISITING JERSEY November 17, 2008 | by SkopeMy next guest is an incredibly talented musician from New Jersey. Her voice draws you in and her songwriting is real & personal. She is only 23 but her music is years beyond her age. Join me as we talk about her latest EP, the election, life, charity work and much more!
Stoli: You have been writing songs since the age of 18. How would you say that your writing has matured from 18 to 24? Justina: I think the natural process of growing up and going through more experiences as a young adult opens your eyes to a lot of things. I think now, more so than ever, I just want to be honest in my music, and not have to censor myself. I think music should always be honest. I have also grown to be more metaphoric with the way I write my lyrics, and I try to think outside of the box… Metaphorically honest, would that be an oxymoron? Hahhahah… Stoli: Why did you decide to title your latest EP release as ‘The Last One Standing?’ Justina: After doing pre-production on all of the final songs I decided to place on this demo, I realized that all of the songs chosen had the same underlying theme: Rejection. It’s like when you’re in grade school gym class and everyone’s picking teams. It’s down to just you, and both team captains just kinda look at each other like they don’t know what to do with you, they don’t know where you fit. That’s kinda how I felt after being rejected by the first few labels I shopped to. The title “Last One Standing” just seemed so fitting. Rejection happens to everyone, but it’s part of life. This collection of songs is dedicated to anyone who is going through that. Stoli: What kind of mental state do you have to be in when you set out to create new music? Justina: I think I write a lot in Retrospect. I don’t know why that is, but it seems like whenever I try to write in the moment, I have a hard time sorting out thoughts. It is too overwhelming, especially when it comes to love and breakups. I like to let some time go by and look at things from a distance and it is usually then that I can figure out exactly what I was thinking and find better words to say it in song. Stoli: As a young and attractive woman, you must have your experiences with love. How much does your personal life come out in your songwriting? Justina: Although I do enjoy writing about fictional scenarios, and situations other than love, a majority is based off of my own personal life, and I think it’s just what comes most natural to me. I am an emotionally driven person, I like to write from the heart and keep things as honest as possible. I don’t want to bore people with my problems though, so I usually try to find a good balance between fact and fiction. Stoli: You have developed an impressive portfolio of music, videos, images, etc. How important is signing to a major label or are you happy pursuing the indie route? Justina: Thanks! Signing with a major label used to be my main goal with my career, but I think the majors are in pretty bad shape these days. I am pretty comfortable with where I am at as far as being able to put out the music I make, and make the videos I make at my own pace, and not really have anyone breathing down my neck, trying to create another pop star. I think there is a lot of control the majors have over their artists, and to me that is really a shame. I don’t mind pursuing the indie route. It does get tough though, budget-wise, to not be able to do certain things like record full albums, or do nation wide touring because I still have a day job. Stoli: Coming up as a musician what other female singer/songwriters did you admire & why? Justina: I really admire lyricists like Stevie Nicks, Jewel, and Vanessa Carlton because they always have an interesting story to tell, whether it’s fictional or real. They know how to draw you in. I also really admire strong vocalists like Christina Aguilera, Pat Benatar, and Janis Joplin because there is an incredible rawness about all of their vocals. If you hear anyone of them on the radio, you would recognize them right because they all have a unique style. It’s important to have something that sets you apart from the rest. That’s how people remember you. Stoli: With the election coming up next week what issue is the most important to you when you vote? Justina: Although I do think this is probably the most controversial election of my life so far, I really try to keep politics out of my songwriting. I am planning to vote this election, but I really don’t believe in preaching my beliefs to people whether it’s about politics or religion, because I don’t think it changes anything. Everyone has their own beliefs. To each their own, who am I to judge about what others believe? Stoli: When you are preparing to perform live, what do you do to get prepared? Justina: I don’t really have any special pre-show rituals. I do warm up on my guitar, and my vocals though. I used to get really nervous before shows, so I used to put on “My Sherona” and dance off the pre-stage butterflies. It kinda helped, hehehe. Stoli: In 2005, you donated a song “Believe” to help raise money for Cancer & blood disorders. What made you choose this worthy cause? Justina: I was in NYC doing a photo shoot back in 2005, and the building I was in was holding this benefit for this organization called Lainie’s Angels. We had asked if I could sing a few songs for them, but they didn’t have a microphone or equipment, but they were interested in having me involved with the organization in some way. They were holding a soccer event that October, which they asked me to sing at and I agreed to gladly. While I was there, I decided to check out the merch booth, and I saw a greeting card with the angel logo and the word “Believe” on it. I had already written a song called “Believe” a couple years prior to this experience, so I thought it was so fitting to donate the song to such a cause. So I talked with the founder, Stathi Afendoulis, whose daughter Lainie had lost her battle with the awful disease in 2000. He told my family and I Lainie’s story and I just felt like I had to do something to help raise awareness. I ended up recording the song for them on a CD Single, and now they sell the CDs at their events. All of the proceeds go back into the organization. I have been singing “Believe” at their soccer event every October for about 5 years now. If I can touch people’s lives with a song, then I have done my job as a songwriter :-D. You can learn more about how you can help out Lainie’s Angels at www.LainiesAngels.com! Stoli: When you are not working on your music career what do you like to do in your own time off? Justina: I like to support my fellow musicians, I like to go to other bands’ shows and listen to the new music out there. I also like to collage furniture, and paint. I like to read a lot, I have become quite the book nerd lately! I love the works of Francesca Lia Block and Stephenie Meyer. Stoli: If there was one thing you want my readers to know about Justina what would that be? Justina: It’s been a long hard road so far and it’s such a struggle to get your music heard as an up and coming musician. I just want people to listen to my music and feel like they know me. Because that is what my music is: it’s my love, my anger, my humor, and my sadness. It’s just me, and I hope I can inspire others to share their stories as well whether it’s through music, poetry, paintings, or any other art form! 😀 Stoli: Thank you, all the best! Justina: Thank you so much!! www.Justinasworld.com Richie Frieman at PensEyeView.com was kind enough to do a feature on me this month on his online music blog….take a look!  When introducing any PensEyeView artist, we always looks for some sort of topic to kick things off – something that’ll really stand out in the minds of our readers. There’s so much we can talk about with today’s feature: Justina Carubia. We could tell you about her four Asbury Music Award nominations, the fact she writes all of her songs, or about her “soft, yet soulful rock vocal approach.” But that’s not how we’re kicking things off. I want to talk about song covers. Song covers are underappreciated. A cover song can tell you so much about an artist – what they like, how they see music. I mean, seriously, it can tell you the true identity of an artist. With that said, have you checked out Carubia’s take on Flo Rida’s smash, “Low?” Of course, an acoustic version of a hip-hop hit is different, but listen to her take! She adds a whole new flare to the hit. When you hear her EP, “Last One Standing,” you’ll hear what I’m talking about – though in a different tone from a “Low” cover. The EP deals in rejection. Justina says, “I was at a really low point after my first EP (Break of Day): I got turned down by a few labels, dealt with the breakup of my live band, and with ‘friends’ I couldn’t really rely on. Rejection is something everyone has experienced, and it can really make you feel horrible and worthless. So I really wanted to make a collection of songs to inspire others who are going through the same thing, and give them hope to come out a stronger person. ”“Last One Standing” is pure Justina Carubia – she was able to control the project from start to finish (so no doubt you’ll notice the flare I’ve mentioned). Come out to a performance – she’s had tons of experience to produce the quality show she has now. She’ll be hitting up FYE stores in the near future to play for and meet her fans, and then focusing on a full album. We can’t wait. Get into the XXQ’s for a lot more.XXQs: Justina Carubia PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell how you first decided to become a musician? Was it something you always wanted to do or did some event spark the idea? JC: It was the beginning of my freshman year of college (2001), around the time that the female singer songwriters like Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, and Jewel, were really dominating the market. It really caught my interest, and I had always had a love for singing and poetry so I really wanted to try something of my own. I asked my dad for a guitar for my 18th birthday, so he got me one and showed me some chords. I pretty much took it and ran with it. It just came very natural to me. PEV: A New Jersey native, what kind of music were you listening to growing up? JC: I grew up with my parents blasting records by The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Eric Clapton, so it was a nice mix of Folk and Rock. My mom also played a lot of chick rock like The Bangles, The Go Gos, Blondie, and Pat Benatar…there’s just something so tough and cool about being a rock chick! PEV: Along with being an Asbury Music Award Nominee, you also recently made your television debut with the unreleased song “Oxygen” on Philadelphia’s The 10! Show. How did that come about and what were your thoughts of the show? JC: I started working with a booking agent and he gave me the offer. I jumped at it right away! I had never done TV before, and it is an amazing opportunity to be able to reach so many people at once…it went really well, and I networked with a lot of people. It’s important to network any way you can! PEV: What was it like for you when you were first breaking into the music business? Before you started playing regular gigs? JC: When I first started out I was playing a lot of open mics and coffeehouses. I haven’t stopped playing any of those things, open mics are actually still a good practice to get out and do, if I don’t have any gigs scheduled. It’s still a struggle to get my music heard, and build that following. PEV: What can fans expect from a live Justina Carubia show? JC: Lately I have been playing all of my shows acoustic, so they are pretty intimate settings where I get to kinda talk to the crowd and tell stories behind the songs. I also like to mix up the set list all the time. I’ll bring back some of my older songs my fans have grown to know and love, or I’ll break out a brand new song, maybe even a cover song. I think I have become a lot more daring with the carelessness of a set…. I forget words or chords to my own songs, and I shrug it off. Not that I don’t care, of course I do, but careless is so much more rock n’ roll! It seems to give the audience a little laugh, and humor in a set is always fun! I also love some audience participation! PEV: How have your shows evolved from when you first started out? JC: My live shows have gone through so many changes, starting out as an acoustic act, and then performing with a band, then back to the acoustic thing. I think change is important; it keeps the audience coming back. I think I’m taking more chances now, vocally. I’m playing more vocally demanding songs live, and I’m getting more comfortable doing so. I’m finding myself as a performer, not just a studio vocalist anymore… PEV: Any embarrassing or crazy live show stories? JC: About a week ago I had a show in NYC, and a drunken construction worker started dancing to “Oxygen” right in front of me…he had his hard hat on and everything. It’s hard to get through those kinds of things without cracking up, so I just encourage it. I told him to “drop it like it’s hot”…it gave the audience a good laugh! One of my friends even started dancing with him, so that was funny…Yea I also have habits of swallowing bugs, or having them fly into my face during those outdoor shows… PEV: If you could collaborate with one artist out today, who would it be and why? JC: I would love to collaborate with a lot of people, it’s so hard to choose just one! I would really love to collab with Stevie Nicks though. She has been an idol of mine for a very long time, and I know she has worked with many other favorite artists of mine like Sheryl Crow and Vanessa Carlton so her style would probably compliment mine as well. Also she just seems like a very graceful yet strong presence. It would be an honor to do a song with her! PEV: As well, is there an up and coming artist right now that you think we should all be looking out for? JC: I am a big fan of Terra Naomi who has grown a huge fan base from her You Tube page. Also, fellow musician and Jerseyan’s band Charlotte Sometimes has been doing really well making a name for themselves. I used to play shows with her at local cafes and now she’s playing Warped Tour, so that is pretty amazing to see things happen for someone so close to home. PEV: Tell us, what can fans expect from your long awaited follow-up EP “Last One Standing”(Nov. 2007)? JC: It was a musical journey for me. It touches a lot on the theme of rejection. I was at a really low point after my first EP: I got turned down by a few labels, dealt with the breakup of my live band, and with “friends” I couldn’t really rely on. Rejection is something everyone has experienced, and it can really make you feel horrible and worthless. So I really wanted to make a collection of songs to inspire others who are going through the same thing, and give them hope to come out a stronger person. PEV: How is “Last One Standing” different from your May of 2005 five-song debut EP titled “Break of Day”? JC: Most of the songs on Break of Day were written when I had just started out, and I even co-wrote a couple. The production was in the control of the producers, they did all the music on their time, and I came in and did vocals when they needed me. I wasn’t as involved as I would have liked to be, and there was a deadline, so I felt like those songs weren’t really developed the way they should have been. With Last One Standing, I saw the project from beginning to the very end; Writing every song and melody, The pre-production, the studio sessions with every musician that played on every track, to the album artwork, vocals of course, down to the mixing/mastering/packaging, and even designed my own website. I had full control of the 2nd EP, so I feel like that was my baby, and I am so proud of it. I also feel like with LOS, you can hear the difference in the content, and in my voice. I have definitely matured as a writer, and with this collection of songs I think I really found my voice. I was a lot more daring with hitting higher notes, and doing more vocal riffs.Working with Wayne Dorell (Hey Tiger), who produced LOS, was a comfortable and creative experience. We really took our time with things, and made sure everything was 100% before moving on to the next track…. Are there things I’d still change about LOS? Of course, but that’s just the perfectionist in me! PEV: When you sit down to write an album like “Last One Standing” what kind of environment do you surround yourselves in? JC: When I write, I like to lock myself in my room and just tune the world out. I feel bad for abandoning the people around me, but sometimes it helps to get into that introverted kinda mode. I always/usually write alone. Writing songs is very private to me, just as it is writing in a diary, which is why I find it so hard to co-write. I’m only able to write with those who I feel a certain comfortable connection with…it’s hard to explain, but maybe I’m just musically strange, hahaha! PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Justina Carubia? JC: I used to be extremely shy back in high school, and never dreamed in a million years that I would be doing something that involved performing in front of people. I never even did chorus in high school because I was scared to sing in front of people. It takes getting a little older and growing some confidence to realize that if you’re given a gift, you should use it, or at least try to. PEV: How have your friends and family reacted to all your success? JC: They’re all so amazingly supportive of what I have achieved so far, I’m really fortunate to have that support system. Some kids have parents who want them to be lawyers and doctors, something that has a promising income. But my parents are John Lennon fans, they’re definitely dreamers, I’m not the only one. PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio right now, what’s one thing we’d most likely find? JC: I know it sounds really glamorous and all, but my practice studio is actually my room, haha! I have a pretty big walk in closet with a desk, so I have my laptop set up in there, and of course a pen, notepad and guitar. It’s its own little nook in my house, and I know nobody will bother me there. Also lots of candles, incense, and glasses of green tea help to relax and clear the mind. PEV: How is life on the road for you? Good parts? Bad parts? JC: I traveled a couple times to support my music, but never have I done a full on tour. That is definitely a dream of mine! In any event, gas station bathrooms are definitely not the best things about traveling! The good part is seeing what each city has to offer, networking my @$$ off and trying a different restaurant each night… I love food! PEV: In your opinion, is there a certain city (US or International) that you find to be the best city for music? JC: A couple weeks ago I played in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in NY. It was a very quaint area; there were music clubs all over the place. NYC is great, I love going into the city! I also have a love for New Hope, PA, Sedona, AZ, and Savannah, GA. I just got back from Philly though, and South Street is just happening with the music…I hope to play there again soon! PEV: As well, where’s one place you haven’t played, you would like to? Why? JC: I would LOVE to visit New Orleans because I have heard so much about the streets being filled with music all hours of the night! It’s just one big party! Also I would really love to go to Nashville, TN and take a trip to Music Row. PEV: Where do you think you’ll be ten years from now? JC: It’s kinda scary to think of 10 years from now, when I don’t even know what’s gonna happen tomorrow…or even 5 minutes from now for that matter! I hope to still be rocking out and creating more. Most importantly, I hope I can eventually do music comfortably enough to make a nice living out of it. I hope I’m not stuck at this day job forever!! PEV: So, what’s next for Justina Carubia? JC: I have a consignment deal with FYE stores in the works… I have been writing all through last winter, so I have a catalogue of new songs waiting to be recorded. I would really love to do a full album, and I would really love to tour. I guess we’ll just wait and see!   Here is the latest story on me from a dear fan and friend, and new editor on Mixxstudios.com (Your Home for Independant Artists!) Why Isn’t This Girl Famous? |
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