Justin Clayton, born in Liverpool, is a singer songwriter, though perhaps not your typical singer with acoustic guitar; more like a one man band, preferring to arrange and write just about everything that ends up on his recordings...all the pieces of the puzzle. A self confessed control freak at times, perhaps, but: "for me, at least, it's more about the vibe, the little world you try and create within which you say what you want to say...like camouflage or something?", muses Clayton.

At an early age, after dropping out of art college, Justin's career in music began with him working as a guitarist for various artists, some well known, some not; Justin found himself thrown in at the deep end playing with the 'pros', having had no musical training to speak of. And back then, writing songs was more of a part time / fun thing...not really something he took seriously. He never had any intention to be a singer whatsoever..."it just happened".
During a trip to the USA, where he ended up more often than not, he had an informal meeting with Warner Chappell Music Publishing in Los Angeles and to his surprise was offered a deal, after bringing in a 4 song home demo CD that he had hastilly put together...and he had sung on the demos because nobody else was around at the time to sing on them. But Warner Chappell would only sign him if he decided to be the artist; the 'singer'. So Justin went home after his meeting, thought it over, and the next day decided that he would try and be just that. For someone who was far more comfortable just blending into the background "it seemed like a challenge", says the soft spoken Clayton. So began his career as singer songwriter.
Within weeks, that was all he wanted to do.

After signing with Warner Chappell Justin set about writing an album's worth of material in a small studio flat in LA, and a couple of showcases later, a record deal followed; Justin was signed to newly formed Los Angeles based independent label Ultimatum Records.
Back in the UK, Justin found a like minded musician in Marty Wilson Piper of legendary indie band The Church to produce the album, and off they went, to Sweden, to record at 'The Blue Room' studios.
Andreas Ahlenius engineered and mixed and Marty produced, along with Justin.

Justin's debut solo album 'Limb' was released in the US to much critical acclaim in the indie rags, and his first single 'Drag' charted top 10 on various radio playlists. He toured the US in support of the album, with his band, opening for acts such as Sebadoh, Goo Goo Dolls, and Beth Hart.

In some ways the album was ahead of it's time...somewhat out of the norm in the then current music scene, and so did not cross over onto commercial radio. Though more dark and rough around the edges in nature, the album preceded similar debut albums by melodic indie rock bands like Coldplay, Elbow, Starsailor to name a few, and then the wave of singer songwriter acts that were to follow.
Limb was never released outside of the US, though the album has since been re-issued by Justin on his own imprint and is available via the 'music' link above

Since his first and only album release to date, Justin has been through the plethora of music industry scenarios...has been courted by labels here and there, but labels come and go overnight, it seems, and Justin is no longer with Warner Chappell. (He does now, at least, own the rights to all his past, present and future solo work).
But through it all he has never quit and keeps on gigging, positively welcoming the challenge, recently having completed a 2 year long residency in a Los Angeles club.
In May 2008 he was invited to open for Irish artist Gemma Hayes, touring the UK.
And Justin has written rather a large amount of songs along the way...

'Timing is everything', and this may well be one of the main reasons why few people out there have ever heard of Justin Clayton, but those that have come across his often unapologetically sombre, and deceptively simply arranged music over the last few years, perhaps at one of his gigs, or on listening to a demo CD, continue to ask; who is this guy...and why haven't I heard of him? Where can I buy the album?
" That's the only thing that keeps me from thinking I'm insane to be trying to do this", says Clayton. "I think maybe it was all too easy for me before...I got signed so quickly, but I don't think I knew what I was in for! But I have no regrets. Now, god, within a few years, it's a different world, and that's fine; you have to try to make it happen on your own and then somewhere along the way try to get a meeting with someone in the industry who can help move it all along to the next level. I just can't seem to help wanting to write flippin' songs and sing them. I am somewhat obsessed with the whole process. I think...I hope...I have as good a chance as anyone like me of getting my music out there. I'm just doing my thing, whatever that is, and hopefully someone out there might like it....maybe it would resonate in their own worlds. Or maybe they'll hate it! That's fine too".

So now, as of May 2008, having found his own way to record a new album, starting with engineer / producer Sheldon Gomberg in Los Angeles, and finally returning to Sweden to work with Andreas Ahlenius and gang once again, Justin hopes these recordings will find a home.

biog / interview by Alfie Dell