Meet Justin Kelley | Just a gentle, fun loving soul making healing guitar music

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Success = Freedom to live how you wish

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The music I create live is basically an Ambient One Man Jam Band. People have described it as meditative, transcendental, dreamy, psychedelic, sometimes funky and jazzy. Always positive vibes. Studio recordings are more layered guitar epics, a guitarist’s wet dream.

I got to where I am today professionally over a number of years and situations. I grew up in a town called Ozark, Missouri. In high school I was in a band called Afraid of Monsters. Come Senior year, the other guitarist in the band was moving to Los Angeles for film school. We all wanted to stick together and keep doing our thing so we just went with him! We did our thing for a few years but unfortunately the band didn’t pan out. We split up and went our separate ways. I stayed in Los Angeles with my best friend and fellow guitarist, Zach Valdivia. We went on to form a new band called the Mythics with a rhythm section I met while attending music business school at Cal State, Northridge.

After college, I got a music industry office job for a while. Data entry. Very soul sucking unfortunately. Everyday indoors, under fluorescent lighting, staring at a computer screen, in a cubicle, cut off from the world! Cut off from adventure! Life in LA was such a grind, always hustling to make that almighty dollar. I went to LA at 18 years old. I would’ve gone anywhere with that band and those friends I love. But the older I got, the more I started to wake up to the world and my surroundings. Everyday my feet hitting concrete, breathing smog, stuck in traffic, paying more for everything, but having less freedom. I realized the big city was not going to offer me the fulfilling experience out of life I was seeking. So I decided to exodus to the Redwood Coast of northern California in May 2019. Thus, MeadowMaker was born.

After being in my new coastal redwood hideaway a short while, I remember thinking this move was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. Everything was clicking. Making new connections, actually getting paid to perform my original music, filling fulfilled with the peaceful environment, spending lots of time outdoors. Life was an adventure again. It was all near perfect. Fast forward to March 2020, we all know what happens…

Suddenly live music comes to a screeching halt. As time goes on, no end in sight. So I started doing a lot of street performing, which ends up bringing me more new found freedom and adventure! I realize I can pop up on any street corner in the world with a guitar and the generous hearts of music loving people will sustain me.

Currently, I’m back in the Ozarks, close to family, performing regularly at the local breweries, farmer’s markets, etc. But spending as much time as I can living adventure with some DIY road trip busking tours!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Not to be a downer, but going out to eat/drink is overrated! Your body is a temple and one should be mindful as to what they put in. Not much I can “go out” for that’s gonna do me any good aside from the organic section at the grocery store 😉 I know, I’m lame 🤷‍♂️

If we want to have fun we’re going hiking in Southern Missouri / Northern Arkansas far removed from the city! Maybe do some canoe trips on the Buffalo River. See some waterfalls and do some swimming along the way 🤙

The MeadowMaker experience is all about finding those fulfilling things Earth offers outside the hustle and bustle of the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank my family for always supporting the pursuit of my dreams. My fellow bandmates present and past for the musical journey and discoveries. My music teachers at Cal State University, Northridge for educating me in areas I never would have educated myself. And last, but not least, my true fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin.

Website: meadowmakermusic.bandcamp.com

Instagram: instagram.com/meadowmakermusic