Meet… Justin Messina

Morris County singer-songwriter Justin Messina, 37, has a jet-propelled soul song called “Life’s Work” that’s as energetic as it is funky. Written as a promise to his husband, it is, as he says, “deeply personal.” Recorded in Pompton Plains with producer Chris Badami at Portrait Recording Studios, it will be part of his upcoming debut album which he says will feature numerous Jersey musicians.

Growing up in Bergen County, he always knew what he wanted to do. He played The Bitter End in Manhattan plus other tri-state venues, honing his craft, learning what worked in a live context, and sharpening his artistic worldview into a crystal-clear message of hope and acceptance. He considers “Life’s Work” an anthem of sorts for those still trying to figure out the inequities of growing up. Phrases like “childhood trauma” and “teenage drama” pop up on his website. Unconditional love is his message, because, as he says, “honest love is bravery.”

The rampaging guitar, lickety-split bass (like a stone skimming across a placid lake), funky drums and Memphis-styled horns all coalesce into his uplift.