Justus Proffit

Justus Proffit creates music that feels like a well-worn denim jacket; it is comfortable, slightly frayed at the edges, and carries the weight of everywhere it has been. His sound is a bridge between the 90s slacker-rock aesthetic and the modern DIY bedroom scene, blending jangly guitar hooks with a persistent, underlying sense of urban isolation. There is a tactile quality to the recordings, often capturing the hiss of tape and the natural room acoustics of non-traditional recording spaces.

What sets Proffit apart is his ability to marry the aggressive energy of garage rock with the vulnerable, hushed delivery of a folk singer. His vocals often sit just slightly back in the mix, delivered with a deadpan sincerity that makes the listener lean in. The songwriting is deceptively simple, relying on strong melodic foundations and rhythmic shifts that keep the tracks from feeling static, even when the mood is at its most somber.

Newcomers should start with the 'Nothing's Changed' EP, a collaboration with Jay Som that perfectly highlights his gift for melody within a hazy, lo-fi framework. From there, 'Sick in Love' offers a more expansive look at his solo capabilities, showcasing a more polished but no less intimate side of his songwriting. It is music for the quiet moments of transition and the restless hours of the night.