An Inspired Chat with Justin Johnson of Newark

We recently had the chance to connect with Justin Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
My music catalog is shaping to be something amazing honestly. Only a select few have heard the music behind the scenes, but every studio session I feel like I improve and the feedback has backed up those feelings. It’s becoming easier to make songs and figure out how to add skits and layers to the tracks. I’m far from being a master song maker, but the way I’ve improved in the last 3 years without any real mentor or songwriting classes is crazy to me. I can only imagine how much better I’ll become once I finally ask for help. Oh, it also helps that one of my closest friends is my engineer and producer! Shout out CEVSER!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Justin Johnson aka Johnson Soldout. I’m a poet, author, writer and music artist currently based out of north New Jersey. I’ve been a writer since before grade school making spoofs/fan-fictions of my favorite TV shows and books. I got into poetry when I did a brief stint in college in 2012 and haven’t looked back. I self-published my first book of poems on Amazon called SCATTERED in 2021 and released the 2nd edition in 2023. Outside of writing and performing my poetry at open mics and showcases, I’ve also been putting my words over instrumentals and releasing a series of loosies and EPs. I’m currently working on getting Versace Vol.2 (produced by CEVSER) released hopefully end of this year or early 2026. Besides that, I’m already working on finishing Versace Vol 3, 4 & 5, turning SCATTERED into an album and slew of other musical releases in between those. A book could also be in the making as well, but making music has been so much more fun that I’m not sure if I’ll ever give SCATTERED a proper follow up in the near future. I’m also slowly but surely figuring out how to enter the public speaking world. Having New York City in my backyard has made my artistic journey stunning. My experiences could easily teach and inspire folks not only in the same artistic fields as me, but with people who need the push to pursue their desires!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
In kindergarten I use to have to go to the after school program. For those that don’t know what that is, it’s when you and a bunch of other kids stay later at school even though classes have been dismissed, because you have no one to pick you up when school ends normally. Usually we spend a majority of that time outside, but it was raining that day so we were inside in the cafeteria area. There was a closet that had all types of toys and board games in it. There were 3 or 4 kids in the closet deciding on what they wanted to play. That’s when my 5 year old jokester self decided to close the closet door on them. A harmless prank, I thought, except what I didn’t realize was the door had a slam lock and the only way to open the closet was to use a key. For some reason the teachers watching us didn’t have a key so one of them had to run and find a janitor hopefully still in the building, while the other teacher was trying to console a bunch of 5-8 year olds stuck in a dimly lit closet. At the time I felt mortified, because some of those kids started to cry. I wasn’t trying to lock them in I just wanted to do a little “haha gotcha moment”. Crazy how fast control can leave your grasp. Looking back over 25 years now I just laugh because if the caregivers didn’t have access to the door then who did!?

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I wouldn’t say I gave up, but I did ease up on being a performing artist to focus on learning a new trade and pivot my life around. To make a sustainable career in the arts without losing your integrity or purpose takes time, and unfortunately bills could care less about me trying to be an honorable artist. I love New Jersey, no matter how much I may rag on it, but every year it becomes more and more expensive to dwell here. I had to pick up a trade or everything I’ve built artistically here would have crumbled and I wasn’t okay with that. I have a hard time letting go, but this didn’t feel like me being stubborn. It felt more like “How much do you love this thing? What are you willing to do to protect it? To maintain it?”. I applaud anyone that has to leave and start over somewhere new or just has to stop because life has demanded it. For me I can’t picture not writing or making music for too long without hating myself. Luckily performing wasn’t something I cherished to the same degree, although I do miss seeing a lot of my poetic peers on a constant basis like I use to. I pop out to an open mic every couple months and only feature if the incentives to are worth it… Like say performing at the Ferryhawks Stadium in Staten Island.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That anyone could be an artist. These type of folks need to stop telling people who have no real knack or care for the craft that they are artists too. Look sometimes I’m in my kitchen hungry and don’t feel like going out or ordering in food. I’ve made some magical meals with the bare minimum. Do I go around saying I’m a chef now cause I cooked a meal or two? Never, because I didn’t put in the sweat equity to merit the title. Anyone could make art yes, just like anyone can change a tire, or aide a sick one when they come down with a common cold. To be an artist is to be up when the rest of the world is asleep to get an idea or concept dancing around your brain into the physical. To be an artist is to take a bus and two trains to a 2 hour workshop to improve upon your craft. To be an artist is to rewrite the same line 10 times to keep the same cadence you have from the lines prior. It’s writing when you could be out with friends and family, or watching TV, or eating a meal using the leftovers in your fridge but you don’t because if you don’t get this idea down now you’ll hate yourself when you see someone else act on it months later.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I love women… A LOOOOT!

No seriously I haven’t reached the part of enlightenment where I’d say “I don’t care what people say about me after I’m gone”. I hope they have pleasant things to say like “he was so funny” or “he really cared about his craft”. Im hoping the popular story about me is the truth and not a lie. Even if the truth is “bad”.

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