Interview: J. Hartley Showcases His Career with New Release

Working with producers Lalo Guzman and Academy of Country Music Award nominated Brad Hill, J. Hartley solidifies his place as an independent singer-songwriter with tactful metaphors and strong vocal range, all while appealing to a vast audience and growing fanbase.

J. Hartley showcases talents with the release of "John Wayne. He shares the inspiration behind the release, upcoming projects, and finding his voice in latest interview.

Thanks for chatting with Music Update Central! You just released your new single, "John Wayne". What's the inspiration behind the single? This song was written four years ago and I think everyone who has heard it at the live show has been waiting for me to release it. We kinda got the inspiration from the song “Tom Ford” by Jay Z. When we all got to the studio to write, we were talking about how it would be cool to do a song about John Wayne. We asked each other “How was John Wayne in the movies?”. He was the good guy, who had to stand up for what was right and prove himself. We pulled from my own life experiences and wrote about the way I try to live my own life. The song is definitely true to me. When it is time to get work done, I have my sleeves up and it’s time to go. You have to hustle and get things done in life. I am not the type to start a fight, but I will finish one – just like John Wayne.

When you're writing your songs, where do you get your inspiration? It really depends. I try to relate the song to experiences in my own life. I tend to draw from life experiences and give a bird’s eye view of how I felt in a certain moment.

When did you know that you wanted to pursue a musical career? I have always known in the back of my mind that I wanted to pursue a musical career. When I was in Kindergarten, my parents got a call from my teacher. She sounded concerned and told them that I would walk around the playground talking to myself. Funny thing is, I wasn’t talking to myself – I was singing songs that I would make up about my teacher because I had a crush on her. As I grew up, I played music in Michigan and then made the move to Nashville about 5 years ago.

What can fans expect in the upcoming months? Fans can definitely expect more new music! I have a song about my son and my family called “Boy Meets Girl” that I am excited to get out there to the world.

Where can our readers follow you? My website, JHartleyOfficial.com will connect you to all my socials. Or you can follow on Instagram (@Jhartley) and Twitter (@IAmJHartley). Stay tuned for new music coming soon!