Stream: Justus Proffit, ‘Hole’

S.Lo on February 6th, 2019

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A true ’90s baby, 25-year-old Justus Proffit grew up early in L.A.’s underground music scene, touring with a band at 16 and running a DIY space at 22. After releasing his second EP, “Nothing’s Changed” — a collaborative work with indie stalwart Jay Som — last year, he is finally ready to release his debut album, “L.A.’s Got Me Down,” out March 8 via Bar/None Records.

Remarking on the full-length, he says, “I wanted to come out with a rock record this time. I’m happy to start playing loud music again.” The new single, “Hole,” indeed rocks with a crunch and croon reminiscent of Chris Cornell’s Soundgarden. Recorded over six months with producer/engineer Alex Resoagli at various studios around town, Proffit played every instrument.

The process was grueling, he says. “The whole record, the dynamic was just me and him — no one else came in. We would start recording sessions at midnight because that’s when Alex would be available, so it was a really long process. We would work on it like four hours at a time,” Proffit says. “I’m so stoked that it’s finished, but yeah, I wouldn’t do that again. It was definitely stressful at the end.” It was also cathartic, as Proffit went through dark times losing friends to overdoses and dealt with his own demons, in the process cutting out toxic people in his life, “‘L.A.’s Got Me Down’ focuses on that so much,” he says. “Maybe the next one won’t — maybe the next one will be chill!”

For now, we’re glad he’s not chill and rocking out some great tunes.

||| Stream: “Hole”