JUSTIN is

For the past 4 years of my life most of you knew me as justin the kid who wears the beanie and never takes it off. I cant even tell you how many times i’ve heard “take off your hat” and i would never do it i’d just avoid the topic make a joke and deflect the conversation. I’ve been hiding under a shell because i wasn’t ok or confident with the way i looked. It’s one of the worst feelings in the world to feel like you have to hide your true self just so people dont judge or look at you funny, and its a feeling that im tired of doing. My hair has literally been the sole reason for my anxiety and lack of confidence with my appearance and it definitely doesn’t make it better living in a society where image and hair is so judged and admired.

I dont think anyone knows how it feels to be a 24 year old kid who wears a hat to cover up hair loss..im sure everyones faces just dropped and youre all thinking “finally now we know the secret!” yep i’ve been dealing with hair loss for roughly 4 years. I’t crippled me and the only look that didnt reveal that was putting a hat on and pretending everything was ok. But that made it worse..I started to become so obsessed with my hair to the point where i would worry all the time about what i would do if the hat came off or if i had to go to a restaurant with a dress code so i avoided it all. I avoided pools, the beach and so many other places that i loved because of that fear or having to show my self. 

It took me to literally hit rock bottom to realize that I am not my hair. I am Justin the hopeless romantic who loves to write music loves spend time with my friends and family. I am not the person who leads people on and leaves them when they start to get close to prevent them from seeing the real me.

So having said all this and now that my secrets out and pretty much the weight of the world is off my shoulders i took it upon my self to take off and throw away my beanie and cut my hair. I am proud of who I am no matter what i look like this is me and life is to short to worry about what everyone else thinks. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I couldnt be happier.

love always

justin

Dear world,

As most you already know my life pretty much is my music. Im sure you all get the constant invites via facebook and i apologize if they are incessant but to me the only way to get my music spread is through persistent advertisements haha. SO yeah having said that, I am writing this to let everyone know that I am in dyer need of a live band. I’ve had my fair share of help and fill ins from good friends and I thank all of you for helping me out in every way possible. But now that things are getting a little bigger and more serious with my music I really want some sort of permanent group that will play shows with me around the island and northeast. The spots im looking for are Drums/Precussion, Bassist, Lead and Rhythm Guitar player and a Celloist. If you or anyone you know is looking to pursue playing music seriously please hit me up via email ASAP. (justinmichaelmorrell@gmail.com)

much love <3 thank you all

So yeah my life has been pretty status quo lately. Nothing to exciting, nothing to sad which is a bummer cause I live for spontaneuity and adventure. Being idle was never something i handled well i dont know if it’s cause my brain needs constant distraction or cause without excitement i usually end up suffering from severe writers block. Both pretty brutal so Im really hoping good things are ahead for this summer so i can get of this funk cause im pretty much in desperate need of inspiration. I felt a little tonight and i think thats what i originally was gonna post about but idk i started typing and felt the need to vent. But getting back to tonight..

I was surprised by my friend mike with concert tickets to see bon jovi at nassau coliseum. I’ve never seen mr bon jovi live ever and truth be told i was never really a huge fan of him but I was curious to see how he preformed live and let me tell you I was instantly satisfied with my decision to go I was blown the eff away from the first note to the last. That guy is the epitome of a front man and definitely a true inspiration for aspiring musicians. I have never been apart of a crowd that loud and captivated in my life, my ears are still ringing. It totally made me realize how much i loved music and helped me get my head back on somewhat straight and out of this anxiety haze its been in. Im really starting to see that i am so lucky to be in a position where I have the chance to play music as a career. For a while i let myself get bummed out because of circumstances and decisions out of my control but like they say when one door closes another opens and I dont care how many doors I have to knock on i know im on this earth to play music and to make everyone smile so from this moment on thats what im gonna do <3 so be on the lookout fellow earthlings no more lazy justin anymore it’s my time to shine

Love always,

Justin

p.s live like your dreaming and you will achieve anything in this life

there’s nothing better to me then finding that one song you can relate to. here’s one that sums me up in a nutshell

midnight lock all the doors and turn out the lights feels like the end of the world this Sunday night

there’s not a sound outside the snow’s coming down and somehow I can’t seem to find the quiet inside my mind

3:02 the space in this room has turned on me and all my fears have cornered me here me and my TV screen

the volume’s down blue lights are dancing around and still, I can’t seem to find the quiet inside my mind

daylight is climbing the walls cars start and feet walk the halls the world awakes and now I am safe at least by the light of day

John Mayer - quiet

Well Its 430 in the morning and as per usual im awake watching the nanny eating ben and jerrys ice cream in bed..I guess you can say I’m really excited for the show tomorrow or I’ve just lost my mind. (probably the latter) Anyways like I just mentioned my show is tomorrow and I hope i see all you fellow long Islanders there. It’s been a while since I’ve played a hometown show so I really hope everyone comes out not only for me but for all of the other great bands supporting the amazing cause <3 I don’t really know where to go from here my brain is tired and I’m probably rambling so I’m gonna catch some z’s

Love out loud <3

tonight i had a writing session in the bronx with my good friends, band mates and producers Dave and Peter. It was by far one of my favorite writing sessions to date that i’ve ever been apart of. I just cant believe my life has fully been engulfed by music i mean i’ve been wanting this for so long but I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that it’s all happening now. For the past few weeks i’ve been surrounded by music, pure talent and just real down to earth people that appreciate life whole heartedly and I think tonight on the drive home from the bronx it all hit me. I can’t wait to see what the future holds so for now ill just sit here and let it all sink in.

im alive

<3

After advice from friends and everything telling me that i shouldnt have gotten involved and everything I decided that i had to just get todays events off my chest right now for one last and final time.

” your a local artist that means nothing to the music industry. With all this said, if your not happy give up or go play broadway bar for the rest of your short career”

reading these words today really sort of put things into perspective.

I wrote a status update today that probably came across to most as a rude, arrogant and egotistical statement. It was nothing of the 3. If any one really knows me they know that i am actually quite shy, insecure and soft spoken. I dont expect the people who replied to know that because well they dont know me at all besides the occasional hello at a local show.

But yeah after reading that reply i was sort of shell shocked. Im tired of the  bullshit here for real. Im calling out everything right now including myself to get it all of my chest and to just make myself feel a lot better.

Anthony Dobrini - honestly i think you’re a good kid who takes chances on bands and helps people with all your heart and i apologize if what i said today offended you in any manner. Me and you have seen almost 10 years worth of music and changes in this scene and I respect you very much so. Having said that truth be told this island is a chatter drama box and i hear things that you’ve said about me if its true or if it isnt it still got under my skin over the past year and you handled the situation today with my friends band in a manner that made me upset. Granted i probably shouldnt have gotten involved and it shouldnt have made me upset but i’ve had a rough few days mentally and i decided to get involved. im mature enough to say maybe i shouldnt have but everyone has a voice and we all use it sometimes when we shouldnt. 

Dan Cerney - You surprised me the most because we’ve always acted really friendly towards eachother and i dont know why Tiffany was supportive of what you said because she of all people knows that im always the first to always offer to pay at every single show she runs at the door. Every band on long island knows that im one of the most active supportive people of this scene and promoters know that i do bust my ass to draw kids out. ive played vibe lounge for 4 years and never complained once about selling tickets. I’ve toured this country, I’ve been apart of a band that has seen it all and had everything stripped from me. You don’t know anything about me man I’ve been through more then you think you know. The things you said about me and my music and short career was honestly ridiculously hurtful and uncalled for.

so yeah this is why long island is broken. everyone is on different pages everyone is so judgemental here its sickening. maybe me stirring the pot today was a good thing so we can all use our differences and combine them into ideas and create harmony here. lets put our egos, judgements, critiques and bad history aside and all get along? yes even you bellweather.

whatever..group hug?