Mr. Winokur revises the tired cliché
“jack of all trades and master of none.” “Master
of all trades period!” is the
best way to describe him. Winokur is who you want to be.
He’s up to try anything at least once, because for
him, there are too many things in the world to waste time
doing the same stuff more than once.
Since these antics would most likely
fill pages and pages, we’ll just stick with his
musical past. Beginning at a young age; as early as 10,
Justin took it upon himself to get a guitar into his hands
ASAP, and the basis of his skill was born.
During his younger years, Justin’s
talent for all things hard rock and industrial was what
claimed fans’ ears. Justin played guitar with punk
band The Blamed on their first Tooth and Nails Records
release. He released one record with industrial band Mortal
on Intense Records.
Then came two CDs with Spitkiss, the
first of which was 1995’s Not for Human Consumption.
He wrote songs, programmed synth tracks, and played guitar,
joined by vocalist Adam Bannister and keyboard player/programmer
Boris Popkoff.
Even during these beginning years
of his adventures in music, Justin began to garner recognition.
Spitkiss’s Violent Consumption is a remix
born of two of their songs, and was featured in a TV commercial
for the Mercedes Benz C230 Sport Sedan. Spitkiss’
music is also included in the feature film Down Time.
After seemingly getting his hands
into everything imaginable, Justin has matured. Ok, at
least we can say his music has. Thirteen Songs About
Love is his most recent work, a solo project that
gives the listener access to an incredibly wide range
of his emotions.
One reviewer said it sounded like
“the miracle lovechild of Elliott Smith and Beth
Orton, had Elliott Smith not stabbed himself in the heart.”
Think sad, modern indie–pop singer songwriter. Think
lush vocal–driven songs. Think Beach Boys harmonies
and giant, Fleetwood Mac production. Thirteen Songs
About Love is a bit of a conversational disc that
reveals, much like Justin himself, that it’s possible
to be optimistic about the most dismal of situations.
Recorded in Sweden with accomplished
producer and personal hero Christoffer Lundquist (credits:
Per Gessle, Ulf Lundell, Brainpool), the completion of
the disc led Justin to become even more multi–talented.
It was at this point that he embarked on a year–long
journey across the US with a tiny Fiat convertible containing
all his belongings and an acoustic guitar. The trip was
not only devoted to promoting his new disc of sad love
songs on a grass–roots level, but was mainly fueled
by numerous fans of his online writing sweetly offering
up their spare couch, bed space, and food in between his
destinations.
Justin began to take photographs along
the way, having them printed and matted, which eventually
led to the showcasing of his artwork in numerous locations
across North America. He also infiltrated the States with
his music on the way.
Justin continues to promote Thirteen
Songs About Love, and add new skills and experiences
to his repertoire. Keep an eye out for what turns out
to be next on his list!
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