We were lucky to catch up with Justin Wilder recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Justin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

2 years ago I decided I wanted to win a Grammy.

And then I came up with this 7-year goal to do it because my wife and I had moved to Denver 7 years earlier and 7 just felt like a complete number.

So I started with the end in mind and thought, “If I’m gonna win a Grammy, I’d better be a damn good songwriter by then. And the only way to do that is to write a lot of songs.”

I know one person in the music industry and I texted him and asked if Michael Farren would ever write with a no-name guy like me from Denver. He said “Sure. At least once.”

I didn’t respond for a week.

But then I did. “Set it up.” He texted me back an address and a time. That’s when I jumped in my jeep and drove halfway across the Country to Nashville.

To say I got sized up was an understatement. The man wrote an entire song in one take. I didn’t even get a word in. I had the idea for the song but that was it. I felt deflated when I left his house. I thought, “if that’s what real songwriting is like, I don’t have what it takes.”

But as I thought about it, I realized I could give up, or I could learn from it. So I pulled my tail out from between my legs and broke down all the lyrics and words and something new stood out to me. I felt something reading the words.

And for the first time, I realized I was focusing on making things rhyme instead of focusing on making someone feel what I want them to feel listening to the song.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

People who listen to my stuff and say they don’t like Country music but they like what they hear in my songs. I like that. I don’t have a Country background. I don’t wear boots or own a truck or a lot of what you think might be traditional “Country” stuff. But when I pick up a guitar and start to slide melodies and make hooks, Country is all kinda how it comes out.

What sets me apart? Ha. I’d say I have all the odds stacked against me. I’m in my 40’s now and just getting started. I don’t sing about cold beer or trucks or dixie cups or corn fields. I sing about what I think matters and stuff that makes people happy to be alive.

Streaming has changed how people make money in music so I came out with my own line of custom hats. They all have a theme revolving around my last name “Wilder.”

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had been pursuing songwriting and music pretty hard. I was jumping on planes, traveling to Nashville every month, living in hotels, being away from my wife, just chasing this dream. I got to a point on one trip where I asked the question, “how long do I give this before I finally hang it up?” It’s a realistic question. Up to that point, music was becoming a really expensive hobby. My last royalty check from Capitol CMG was $24. I thought it was $24,000 but my friend pointed out it was a period and not a comma.

My buddy who is a private chef in south Nashville said he wanted to send my music to one of his clients who works in the music industry to get his feedback. He sent me a screenshot of his text to me the next day.

“Your friend is clearly talented. And so is everyone in Nashville. I would encourage your friend with this – the only difference I have seen from those that “make it” versus those that don’t, is the number of “no’s” they can get past and just keep sticking to it.”

I decided right then that I would never give up. I would see every “no” I get from another A&R person, another producer, another industry person – as just a sign that I am one step closer to that first “yes.”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

To not compare myself to others.

When I would look at someone’s success – their following, their stream numbers, how well they perform and notes they can hit, what kind of house they live in and on how many acres, what kind of car they drive, how in shape they are, how perfect their hair is…

The list is endless.

I had to stop caring. I made it a point that I’m not competing against them – I’m competing against myself. I’m not listening to their music and thinking, “how can I write that but better?” I’m looking at my songs and asking, “how can I beat what I’m saying and say something I’ve never said before?”

Comparing yourself to others gets you nowhere but anxiety town. And in the end, if you do what others do, if you mimic how they sound or how they look – this might sound too simple but you end up not being you. And I believe you and all of us were designed to be us. And the world needs that unique “you.”

Jamie Tart said it best in an episode of Ted Lasso when he was asked if he’d rather be a giant lion or a panda. Jamie replies, “Coach, I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?”

So if I step back, I look at my personality, my gifts, the way I think – and I just lean into it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justinwildermusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwildermusic/

Image Credits
Nick Kupin