 Courtesy of the Artist Known for its towering steel factories, ironclad work ethic, and hometown pride, Pittsburgh serves as the perfect backdrop for country music. It was only a matter of time before City of Bridges gave the genre a new voice: Justin Fabus. Capturing country spirit with soul and style, the singer-songwriter shares thirteen honest and heartfelt anthems on his 2018 full-length debut, Remedy, due June 22nd. Here, the newcomer talks in depth about the album, how his mother's illness affected him and the project, what's ahead, and more. What drew you to pursue music and why specifically country? Music has always drawn me in from as long as I can remember. There isn’t a day that passes where I’m not listening to or playing music. It’s air to me, without it I couldn’t survive. Country to me is all about the songwriting. It’s hard working and blue collar. It doesn’t get more blue collar than where I was raised in Pittsburgh and I only write what I live. Do you have any particular influences on your sound or musical mentors? There are so many influences on my sound. Everyone from Billy Joel to Waylon Jennings to Sam Cooke and Richard Marx. The 13 tracks blend rock, country, maybe some R and B…were all of them written recently, were some in your pocket or a combo? I started working on this album about 2 years ago so there were about 4 song that were written during that time. The rest of the tracks came together within the later half of last year. I try to write everyday. Sometimes it’s just a few lyrics or it can be a whole song. I had about 50 songs coming into the project before we narrowed it down. You collaborated with other songwriters, was that something that you enjoyed and would do again? I loved it. It really took me out of my comfort zone. Especially writing with guys like Tony Lucca, Joe Henry and Dave Pahanish, I had to be on my toes. I would absolutely do it again, working with those caliber of songwriters, it was an honor.  Much of the album was penned and recorded while you mother was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. How is she and how did that affect you as I know those times are trying for families as well as the patient?
She’s doing well. Thank you for asking, it’s very kind of you. I was just about to go into the studio with my band and start recording the album when she was first diagnosed so of course I stopped everything and was completely focused on her treatment and recovery. Things maybe stopped for a week or two. She refused to allow me to stop on account of her. That’s what makes my mother the beautiful strong woman she is. Here she is with this life ending disease and she’s worried about me recording this album. Recording the album was somewhat of an escape from reality from it all but I would be lying to you if I didn’t tell you it will always been on my mind till the cancer is completely gone. The first single is “Remedy” which is also the album’s title. What in particular inspired you to use that for the title of the album? Everyone out there is looking for their “Remedy”. Whether it’s a health issue, relationship issue or substance issue. We are all looking for that fix. After all that was going on in my personal life, it was a no brainer. The album closes out with “Alibi.” Is there a story behind the song and why did you choose to place that song last? My keyboard player Austin Ostiguy had most of it already written and he started playing it for me while we were in the studio. It really hit me hard and I knew we had to add it to the album. I changed a few lines and we really stripped it down and made it a very vocal oriented song. We have all been in that situation with someone where we are at a crossroads with that person and don’t know if they are really who they say they are. You have headlined countless shows and shared bills alongside the likes of Gary Allan, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, Frankie Ballard, and Craig Campbell, what sort of touring will you be doing for the remainder of the year? We have about 30 dates so far on this year’s tour which is named after the album as well. The band and I are really looking forward to hitting those markets we have never played before. Finally, is there one recent release any genre you recommend people check out? I’m a big fan of Mat Kearney and his new album “CRAZYTALK” is amazing. Website/Facebook/Twitter/Pre-Order
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