Meet Justin

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Justin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Justin, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I developed my work ethic by witnessing my family’s financial struggles firsthand. My parents went from being upper-middle class to lower class, and that experience taught me a critical lesson: comfort is not guaranteed. One event—like the crash in 2008—can upend everything a family has worked for.

From a young age, I saw how essential it was to work hard, regardless of how stable things might seem. My mom, especially, modeled this for me. No matter what challenges we faced, she made sure there was always food on the table and the bills were paid. She was a “tiger mom” who instilled in me the importance of discipline, education, and perseverance.

I came to understand that nothing beats hard work. That work ethic is not only how you survive—it’s how you build a meaningful, lasting career

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I make music as a way to cope with the stressors of life. I’ve been diagnosed with Acute PTSD, Bipolar Depression with psychotic features, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. For a long time, I needed an outlet to manage the emotional weight of those conditions—and I found that creating music gave me relief in a way nothing else could.

Music has helped me understand myself better. It’s shown me patterns I wasn’t always aware of, like my tendency to overthink or be overly self-critical. It’s become more than a coping tool—it’s a form of self-discovery and healing.

My goal is for my music to be a beacon for others struggling with their mental health. I want people to know it’s okay to not be okay. Whatever you’re working toward in life is achievable—whether you’re laying one brick a day or building the whole wall at once. What matters most is being patient with yourself and resisting the pressure to compare your journey to what you see on social media.

I’m always working on new projects—whether it’s short-form content or new music releases. I continue to create not only for my own mental health, but with the hope that my art can make a difference in someone else’s life, too.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Some of my most important qualities are my work ethic, my consistency, and my unwavering determination to never give up.

My work ethic comes from a deep desire to always improve. It started when I ran Cross Country and Track—I was constantly competing against myself to beat my own times. That mindset has carried over into my music; I push myself to grow and to give my best in everything I do.

Consistency is something I developed out of necessity. I struggle with mental health challenges, and staying active and focused helps quiet the negative thoughts. When I’m idle for too long, it can lead me down a dark path, including suicidal ideation. So I stay consistent—not just for progress, but for survival and peace of mind.

As for never giving up—that’s just who I am. I don’t like leaving things unfinished. Whether the outcome is good or bad, I need to know that I gave it everything I had. It’s how I maintain pride in my work and in myself.

For anyone just starting their journey, my advice is to surround yourself with positivity and motivation. Find people—online or in real life—who inspire you. Even watching motivational videos on YouTube can make a huge difference. The key is to feed your mind with encouragement, especially on the hard days.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Nawlage 2k5 was one of the most influential people in my life—both personally and musically. He was like a father figure to me and played a huge role as a mentor in my music career. His mission was to help me grow, not just as an artist, but as a person. He taught me valuable life skills, stressed the importance of staying humble, and always reminded me to treat everyone with respect.

Nawlage gave me critical insight into how the music industry works and how to collaborate effectively with others. I took his guidance seriously and always made sure I followed through on what I said I was going to do—because I knew he believed in me, and I didn’t want to let him down.

Although Nawlage has passed away, his impact on my life remains. I carry his lessons with me every day, and I’m committed to paying it forward—sharing what I’ve learned with others, just like he did for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jnabeofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjnabe/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealjnabe
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealjnabe
• Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jnabe/1530374926

  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xuj3YhbjQV1SlcECH0aaN

Image Credits

Jackie Flores

Nawlage

Jerome Gonzalez

Emerson Aguilar

Daniel Ulibarri