New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Justina Makes Her Move


By Gary Wien

originally published: 06/01/2005


It didn't take Justina long to realize that she was meant to be on stage. She was finally coaxed on stage by her father one night at "Van Gogh's Ear" in Union and played her first three songs live. Immediately afterwards, she couldn't wait to be back on stage.

Justina recently graduated from the duCret School of Art. For an artist that only picked up the guitar at 18, she's come a long way in a short period of time.

"Justina is a phenomenal talent, since her debut performance here, we knew we had witnessed something special at Espresso Joe's," said Sonny & Ed, the owners of Espresso Joe's. "She has wonderful lyrics that she transforms into great harmonious songs. 'All Down Hill from Here' is a great song about taking chances and 'Break of Day' is an inspiring song which is also the track title of her first CD release. Justina has the making of a star; we consider her as one of these sensational artists who is 'under the radar.'"

Espresso Joe's has been one of the biggest supporters of Justina from day one. She has also regularly played places like Crossroads in Garwood, Indigo Coffeehouse and the Bound Brook Hotel. She's hoping that her new CD (which was release in late May) helps her attract the attention of some record industry professionals and get her more shows across the area.

"I'm hoping to get the attention of some labels whether independent or major labels," said Justina. "But you hear from other people about their experiences and you're not so sure if a label is the right route to go. I just want to get out and play as much as I can and see what goes."




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



Justina says that she learned how to play guitar as a freshmen in college. On her 18th birthday, she received a guitar and her father taught her some chords. She just took it from there.

"It was around that time that the female musicians started taking over," she recalled. "And it just sort of caught my interest. I started listening to Jewel and reading her poetry. Then I started writing my own poetry. That kind of led me to wanting to learn how to play so I could put my thoughts and music together. I've always had an interest in singing so I kind of put it all together and came out with what I have now."

She honed her live performance from playing at open mics. Soon she was invited to do longer and longer sets. Finally she started getting booked as the headliner.

Her songs are a mixture of auto-biographical tales and pure fiction. "I try not to bore people too much with my love life and my personal life," said Justina. "But that's always going to come through. I try to write stories in my songs to make it a little more interesting."

You can catch Justina live in June on June 2nd at Crossroad in Garwood, June 3rd at the Indigo Coffeehouse in Aberdeen and on June 17th at SICA in Long Branch. In July she will be at the Hamilton St. Cafe in Bound Brook on the 16th and at Triumph Brewery in Princeton on the 21st. Visit her website at www.justinasworld.com for more info.



Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Motor

Motor City Revue

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

All-Bluegrass,

All-Bluegrass, All Night: Live at Albert Hall on July 12th

​​​​​​​(WARETOWN, NJ) -- On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Albert Music Hall will present an evening dedicated entirely to Bluegrass music. The event begins at 6:00pm and features six live performances, each offering a 30-minute set, showcasing both new and returning acts.



Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.