Music Spectrum with Justin Roth

Music Spectrum: Who are the top 5 artists that influence your music?
Justin Roth: Michael Hedges, David Wilcox, Willy Porter, Martin Sexton, John Mayer

MS: Knowing how important music as teenagers, what was your favorite album when you were 15?
JR: Metallica’s And Justice for All
MS: How does that album rank in your collection today?
JR: I sold all of my heavy metal collection back to Music-Go-Round years ago and moved on. :-) So I guess we could say it doesn't really rank in my collection anymore, but I still think Metallica is a great band. They're just not in my current listening selection anymore. I'm still recovering from whiplash from those days. Oh, to be 15 again...

MS: I organize my music in a spectrum of sound, trying to place artists near others who have a similar style, influences, etc. I've put your music in the American Folk category. What artist should be to your left on the spectrum which is more to the traditional folk side?
JR: David Wilcox
MS: What artist should be to your right on the spectrum which is more to the rock/new folk side?
JR: John Mayer
Editor’s Note: John Mayer is in the Jazz-influenced Rock category of the Spectrum.

MS: What are some of the spiritual themes that come through your music?
JR: I don't ever really set out to include spiritual messages overtly, but positive messages do find their way into many of my songs. The song "Shine" is my most spiritually laced song which could be interpreted in different ways. I like to think of that song as a reminder to reveal the most beautiful part of each of our souls to the world. To give up our sense of control, to stop comparing ourselves with others and to revel in the wonderfulness that is in each of us. I'd have to admit it wasn't a conscious decision to write it that way. It pretty much wrote itself in a way that many of my positive message songs do, to remind myself of the things I forget to do myself. So I take the song as a gift unto myself in hopes that I don't forget to "practice what I preach".

MS: It seems that the Twin Cities have become a real hot bed of singer-songwriters. How has the local music scene influenced you? Who do you see in the Twin Cities as being the next set of important artists?
JR: The Twin Cities has been a great place to be based musically. It has tons of venues that lend themselves to a developing acoustic artist by offering a good environment to play for listening room type audiences in the coffeehouse scene. It's a good sized city to offer enough venues to play, but not too big to get lost in the shuffle. It's also home to other great players and writers like John Gorka, Leo Kottke, Peter Mayer, Billy McLaughlin and others. Peter Mayer is one that has been an inspiration to me through the years because he's one of the first singer/songwriters I saw when I was in college whose music I really connected with. He was relatively new at the time and now has become very busy touring all over the country selling out venues wherever he goes. There's also a great collection of singer/songwriters on Peppermint Records, myself and Peter Mayer included, that are based in the Twin Cities. Peppermint Records represents some of the most actively touring acoustic acts based out of Minnesota.

Thanks to Justin Roth for his time.