Remedy – Interview with Justin Fabus

How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?

I always and only write what I am feeling or have recently gone through at the time. I’ll never write something I’ve never experienced or felt.

In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?

Being true to who you are. People see right through you and your bullshit if you aren’t writing and singing from the heart.

Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?

No, not at all. Writing has always been very therapeutic for me.

What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?

I would have to say one of my favorites is “Peel back that armor girl, lay it out all over me”.

Why have you chosen to do a cover of the song “2 in the morning “ of New Kids on the Block? Is there a particular verse of the song that you like particularly?

Since that song came out, I always heard this amazing country version in my head.

I love the line, “Even if you’re mad at me, you know we shouldn’t go to bed angry”. We have all been in that situation before.

What inspired “Understand”, part of your latest album “Remedy”?

I had the honour to write that with Joe Henry. My mother had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and it just crushed me. “Understand” is about even though my problems might not be exactly the same problems you are dealing with at that certain time. In the end, as a whole in this world we are all dealing with problems together.

And “Come Around”?

I wrote that with my friend Tony Lucca. We got together one morning in Nashville and Tony had this lyric “Come around, now you never come around” and the song just flowed out after that. It’s about waiting around for that certain someone hoping they will finally change.

Do you remember the day you wrote “Make You Mine”?

I do, I actually wrote it the same day I wrote “Understand”. I wrote “Make You Mine” with my friend Dave Pahanish. I told Dave before we started that I wanted to write an outlaw song so Dave asked me to play some songs I recently had been working on and at that time it was love songs. The whole outlaw idea went out the window and we ended up writing a summer love song.

Is there a link/a common theme among the songs of the album?

I wanted to write an album where you listened to it start to finish without skipping a song. Where you could relate to each and every song on the album.

What is the best suggestion your producer gave you?

Feel the songs and don’t settle for anything less than what you’re exactly hearing on that certain song.

What are your plans for 2019?

We are gearing up for a brand new tour, our biggest to date.

To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:

Define in one word your album “Remedy”: Real.
The best show you ever played: CMA Fest.
The one thing that you must have in your backstage: A bottle of Crown.
The soundtrack of your childhood: Any Billy Joel album.
Your favorite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: “Summer, Highland Falls” by Billy Joel.
Last question is “unusual”, we want to know your best relationship advice: Always be honest with that person no matter what and don’t try to be anyone else except who you really are. Last but not least, never forget to tell that person how beautiful and important they are to you each and every single day. Life is too short not to tell that person those things on a daily basis.