Justin draws from a number of artists in his songwriting, but his short list includes:

1) R.E.M.: “I bought Monster in 1995 and learned that pop music could matter. Like most everyone else who grew up in the '90s, Automatic for the People set the standard for what an album could be." http://www.remhq.com

2) Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits: “Mark Knopfler's playing is completely fluid without being excessive or showy, and his tone is absolutely amazing. He was a journalist before becoming a musician -- he creates some great characters.” www.mark-knopfler.com

3) James Taylor: “If you grew up in Chapel Hill, you listened to James Taylor. There’s a reason he’s still relevant, though – his songwriting is impeccable, and his lyrics are nuanced and subtle.” www.jamestaylor.com

4) Jump, Little Children: “Jump, Little Children reminds us that playing music is supposed to be fun and doesn’t always have to be taken seriously. I learned from them that there is a place for classical training in rock music.” www.jumphq.com

5) The Tragically Hip: “In Canada, these guys are bigger than Celine Dion. Gordon Downie’s lyrics are strange and wonderful. An amazing live band that is entirely underappreciated in the United States." www.thehip.com