Folk, blues, and rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Just Vreeland opens up about his introduction to live performance, his love for the blues, good advice, and much more.
What first got you into music?
When I was in the seventh grade, a teacher and musician named Matthew Keller helped to form a band in which I sang vocals after seeing me sing along to a Nirvana song in one of the classrooms at school. His efforts introduced me to live performance.
Who are some of your influences?
My earliest musical influences were people like Van Morrison and The Little River Band. Nowadays, I mostly draw my inspiration from blues rock and folk musicians like John Fogerty, Bill Perry, Steve Earle, and many others.
What draws you to your preferred genre?
My preferred genre, which is more blues rock, stems from my love for strong guitar and vocal performances. The influence of blues music was also heavy in my area growing up (Hudson Valley, NY), which had helped support prominent blues musicians like Popa Chubby and Bill Perry.
What is your creative process like?
It’s often spontaneous, but I make efforts to try and actively practice writing and arranging music to encourage more ideas. For a while, I’ve given myself this challenge to write ten songs a month to keep refining my writing. When I get an idea, I usually write it down feverishly, and build until I have what I think is a well-arranged song. If it stays in my head long enough after that, I consider recording it.
Every time you see me perform in front of a receptive crowd, you’re seeing pure joy.
Do you have any favorite personal songs you’ve written, and why?
On my album I’d Be Invisible, “Watch Yourself” is my favorite track, which has received a lot of praise from my peers. Looking back, I like how I arranged the feel of the song, and I’m most proud of the lyrics I wrote for it. It has a lot of wordplay, and tries to envy a very vulnerable feeling disguised in southern lingo.
Talk a bit about your thought process while putting on one of your enthusiastic live performances?
When I fronted a band for the very first time, a feeling of ecstasy came over me that to this day is only ever replicated on the stage. Every time you see me perform in front of a receptive crowd, you’re seeing pure joy. There isn’t too much thought beyond the passion for performing. Of course, I usually pick songs and musicians that bring the most out of me to maximize the experience for both myself and the audience.
How did you get started in the Savannah music scene?
I started by knocking on doors and going to open mics, trying to figure out a way to start playing shows. It took a long time to finally get offers. For a long time, I was busking on the street four days a week while juggling classes at SCAD, just to keep myself playing. Hitman’s blues jam at the old Molly MacPherson’s was one of the first jams that took me in back then, and they helped shape me into a more expressive and professional performer. Hitman himself also helped me get into many venues like Warehouse, Shrimp Factory, Churchill’s, etc.
I can’t remember a whole lot of that night, and that probably says enough. It was loud, bluesy, and we had the crowd on their knees.
What are some of your favorite local Savannah places to play, and why?
I’ve played many places, and have been grateful to play all of them. Some have great food, some have great pay, some have built-in audiences, and some have it all. The Warehouse is one of those places. I’ve gotten to know the staff there, who are incredibly gracious and generous with the musicians, as well as very funny and engaging. The crowd is often very receptive, and tip great. I consider myself very blessed to play there as much as I do. Other places I really enjoy are places like Wexford, Shrimp Factory, and Coastal 15 (Bohemian Hotel).
What’s the craziest Savannah performance you ever had, and why?
Probably one of my performances with my backing band at the Warehouse. I can’t remember a whole lot of that night, and that probably says enough. It was loud, bluesy, and we had the crowd on their knees.
Name a Savannah artist you’d love to collaborate with, and why?
Hitman Blues Band. They helped me get my start in this town, and all I’ve wanted since meeting them was to hear them on a record. The current lineup with Brett “Hitman” Barnard, Ellis Duncan, and Larry Duff is the most authentic and engaging blues band I’ve ever seen.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
It’s all genuine. There’s no greater pleasure I get than playing in front of you and seeing your reactions. The joy, the memories, the comradery, all of it. The opportunity to play is a blessing that I hope I never take for granted.
What are your thoughts on the current status of the Savannah music scene?
It depends what scene you are referring to. Throughout my time here, I’ve learned that it is kind of divided. I almost never interact with any of the metal and punk bands anymore, and hang out more with the working bands, which are mostly solo, blues, and country. In my part of it, I feel a great sense of comradery, and support from all of my peers. If we could get some more venues, and some more attention from the industry, I think a lot of talent in Savannah could go very far.
A lot of my lifestyle (diet, sports, etc.) is also done in bettering the product (myself) that I sell at the gigs.
Do you have a secret music indulgence that you might want to admit or share?
It’s not very secret, but I must be some kind of “Australophile”, because something just draws me to the punk, indie, and rock music coming from Australia. I was always a big fan of old bands like Little River Band and Men At Work, but the newer stuff like The Chats, The Murlocs, Cosmic Psychos, Skeggs, Courtney Barnett, is just so cutting-edge. I don’t know what’s happening down there, but they gotta keep it up.
What is the best career advice you’ve been given?
It probably wasn’t a single piece of advice, but probably the value of hard work taught to me by my mother, and the sales skills and persistence taught to me by my father. It kept me knocking on doors and looking for gigs that would have never happened had I given up. A lot of my lifestyle (diet, sports, etc.) is also done in bettering the product (myself) that I sell at the gigs.
What’s next for you?
On August 24th, I’m releasing a new single, called “It’s A Hard World”. It’s an acoustic song talking about a person’s struggles in life told (sort of) from the perspective of a mother’s words. It’s helped me really keep going with music when it felt like it was hard to get gigs, bands, and other factors together. It’s been really received with live audiences, and I’m looking forward to getting it out there. I want it to be the first of a series of singles that showcase my acoustic sound, which is heard at my solo gigs.
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