Justin Vallis
It's Friday again!
I feel like we need a theme song or something to start us off other than just reminding you that another week has gone by… anyways
This week we got to talk to the ever amazing Justin Vallis to discuss when he first started playing shows! Now this week is a little different, instead of having a little story to read, we were able to be a bit more specific and do things interview style!!
What was the first show you ever played?
“I think it was a show at UCCB (CBU) in 2001 or 2002? I may be off a bit on that. I can't even remember who else played. I do remember being extremely anxious. Panic attack anxious. My set was made up of half songs and an instrumental involving a kazoo. Haha.
What's your best memory from the show?
“Haha i don't remember much. I ran away the minute my set was over. Literally. I left a side entrance after leaving the stage. Never to return!”
How did this make you want to play more shows?
“It didn't! Hahaha. I may have exploded if I played a second longer. I wouldn't even consider it an ice breaker for me at a performance standpoint. I barely remember any of it. I know I was there and I know there were people listening, but I wasn't there and no one was listening.”
Overall, how was the experience?
“I was making assumptions at that time of my life. A lot of them. That's such an easy way to steer away from accountability. In my own head, no one liked me, the scene was a big shit show of cliques who didn't want me around, and I was just going to have to deal with the fact that I would never have friends with the same interests as me. In reality I hadn't put in any work to meet or be welcomed by anyone. And honestly, the people I was making assumptions on were the nicest people. I wouldn't have had to put much work into anything. I was scared. That show put me in a room of peers and looking back on it, I could've started my musical journey a lot sooner if I had taken the time to open my heart rather than locking myself in so that I was unapproachable. It's not easy living with anxiety and depression. My message to anyone out there dealing with mental health struggles would be to use the support you have to access more supports. Once you have those, never let them go. Our mental health doesn't give us a right away to be free and clear of accountability. I was wrong and I regret not reaching out to the folks that I now call my friends.”
Justin now mainly plays in Fire Valley Fire and is a very important person in the music scene. It was great being able to talk to Justin about the past and we can't wait to see all the things the future holds for him!!
