Influenced by the greats of the 60’s, Justin Levinson creates self-described “power pop” that draws elements from his favorite artists of that era – the Beatles, The Zombies, and The Beach Boys. He has even drawn comparisons to Ben Folds. Playing five instruments, Justin sets out to make music that is authentic to him. His new album, Yes Man, (released January 7th) achieves just that.
Drawing from his life experiences, “Yes Man” tells the story of a lost soul taken advantage by only being able to say yes. Justin believes that this album shows an uncompromised voice and vision that he hopes his audience hears. The album was produced and arranged by Adam Popick who plays with Madi Diaz, William Fitzsimmons, and the Sugar and Hi-lows. It also features Rich Hinman (Sara Bareilles and Ben Kweller) and Stein Malvey (Four Freshman).
Glide is premiering the video (below) for “Together Forever” which exhibits Levinson’s knack for vintage keyboard playing with a crisp fusion of pop hooks and feel good harmonies. “Together Forever” spoke to the euphoria of falling in love…It’s by far the best feeling on earth. I hope I captured that for listeners,” says Levinson.
Justin’s first break came when the great Lester Bowie and Fontella Bass came to his high school to conduct a workshop. They saw his talent from the start and snatched him from school to take him on tour. While on tour with Bowie and Bass, Justin developed an insatiable taste for touring and performing. He knew that he could do nothing else and that he needed to become a musician inspiring audiences, even if it meant packing up his tiny car and hitting the road.
After touring with Bowie and Bass, Justin returned to the Northeast where he attended Berklee College. This is where Justin made his transition into songwriting and released his first album, 1175 Boylston. Off the album, his single, “City With Two Streetlights,” was the breakthrough he needed. The song spent eight weeks in the top 25 of CMJ Charts. It also garnered airplay from 350 stations across the nation. After his time at Berklee and his newfound success, Justin took his talents on tour. The tour took him across country to college campuses and coffee houses. As Justin’s career develop, it has allowed him to go on tours with Tyler Hilton, Anna Nalick, and Howie Day to just name a few.
‘Yes Man’ Links:
