Story & Lesson Highlights with Justin Loretangeli of Burlington, NJ

Justin Loretangeli shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Justin, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
About a month ago, I covered my first CMA Fest. Holding that media credential was pretty surreal, and seeing Pro Country on a sheet full of some of the biggest outlets in music was pretty crazy. I was incredibly fortunate to interview a handful of artists on site; artists that I’ve looked up to and spent countless hours listening to. Though I’ve conducted 700+ interviews, prior to CMA Fest, I’d only conducted one of them in person, and that was three years ago. Naturally, I’m a pretty shy person, so to actually sit down with those artists and have great, in-depth conversations about their lives and their music was really special for me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I run a website called Pro Country that highlights traditional country music artists; from up-and-comers to legends. I’ve been able to interview heroes, like Mark Chesnutt, Doug Stone and Joe Nichols, artists that have become superstars, including Zach Top and Ella Langley, and hundreds of the best rising artists in the genre.
I think what sets Pro Country and my interviews apart is the amount of research and depth that go into my questions. I like to think that while I may not be the best writer in the world, nobody does more research than me to make sure an artist’s story is told as completely as possible. There have been artists I’ve interviewed a dozen times, which is a true honor for me, and artists who have said that my interviews were some of their favorites in their career. Just a year ago, as he was becoming a superstar, Zach Top told me he always enjoys seeing my name on his interview schedule. To have someone like that, who I respect so much as an artist, give that kind of compliment is pretty amazing!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
There were two professors in college that really encouraged me with my writing. First, Professor Garyantes was the first person to ever tell me I should consider publishing my work. It wasn’t something I’d ever considered before, and honestly, I had no idea how to even go about it, but about eight years later (time flies!), here we are!
Second, Professor Rodolico read a piece I’d written on the band Heartland and the song “I Loved Her First,” and in front of our entire class, said he felt like he’d read a Rolling Stone article. That gave me a confidence that I had a talent for writing and storytelling, and all these years later, I’m still doing it and loving it!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was never a time where I truly almost gave up, but there have been several instances of burnout where Pro Country has gone dark for a few months at a time. I work a full-time job, and most of the time, I’ll do Pro Country when I get home after work or on my lunch break. There’s ALWAYS something going on musically, and it’s easy to drown in emails, articles you want to write and artists you want to interview. I’ve learned that I have to be selective with the interviews that I decide to take on. The interviews on the site are with artists I truly believe in, and that makes it a lot easier to sit down and write a set of questions or transcribe an interview. I’ve interviews over 450 different artists, and I’m still just as excited for the next one as I was for the first one!

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Storytelling. I was the kid that read through the booklet of every CD I ever owned. I had to know who was playing on the music I loved; who wrote the songs, who produced it, etc. I thought that was normal. And I’ve brought that yearning for a deeper understanding of the music I love to the interviews that I write. I ask questions that I, as a music fan first, genuinely want to know the answers to, and in doing so, I figure there has to be at least one other person out there who wants those answers too. If I can give that to them, then I’ve done my job as a journalist. I take the responsibility of sharing artists’ stories and songs so seriously. It’s such a great honor for me, even eight years into this crazy ride.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Pro Country gives me great purpose. Like I said, it isn’t my 9-5, but that’s okay. I truly enjoy every second of doing it. My Bachelor’s Degree is not in journalism. I only took a handful of journalism classes in college. I’ve learned behind the wheel. When I first started, I didn’t know how I was going to make Pro Country stick, I just knew I was going to try. There have been so many people that have helped me along to way and believed in me, probably before they really should have. My first interviews and articles are still live on the site. Every once in a while, I’ll go back and read one, and it really does shock me how much I’ve grown across the board as a journalist, just by doing it over the years. But all the while, I still get the same butterflies before an interview starts now that I did before the first one eight years ago. It doesn’t matter if I’m talking to a hero or an artist releasing their first single, I still get that feeling. The love of doing this has never waned; it’s only gotten much deeper, and it fulfills me every time I write a question, post an article or receive an email from an artist or their team. It’s a great honor.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than