Country Music

Music Monday with Justin Biltonen, 3 Doors Down Bassist Turned Country Artist

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From bass player for 3 Doors Down to performing as a solo country artist, Justin Biltonen is a well-rounded musician that you shouldn’t underestimate. Justin’s newest single, Heartache Rodeo is an “if winners were losers,” underdog kind of song. Written as a tune that hopefully many could relate to, Justin pushes the boundaries of Americana country sound.

Biltonen says, “I was a country fan my whole life growing up in North Carolina, that’s just what we always listened to. I started playing music when I was 10 and had bands all through high school doing the rebellious rock and roll thing. As soon as I graduated high school, I toured with a rock band I had started with some friends. We jumped in a van and played bars for basically no money, but it helped me cut my teeth on learning how being on the road worked. When I was around 20 years old, I circled back to country music, Waylon, Cash, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson; I also got into Shooter Jennings, Drive by Truckers, Jason Isbell and other Americana stuff that was coming out at the time. I naturally started trying my hand at that style of music. A few years later I was opening with my band for Jackel at EXIT/IN in Nashville. A guy named James House (writer of Broken Wing by Martina McBride and more) walked up to me that night and said ‘you got a cool sound, have you ever considered writing country?’ and I responded with ‘absolutely!’ For the next year or two I traveled back and forth to Nashville and James took me under his wing.”

“A few years after that my band was under the same management as 3 Doors Down, so I got to know the guys and became friends with everyone through simply being around the studio. I became part of the friend group organically. Fast forward a few years later when they were in need of a bass player again, they asked me to join. That was 8 ½ years ago.”

Justin Biltonen adds, “about four years ago when I wasn’t on a current tour with 3 Doors, some friends that I had been writing country music with convinced me to enter some of the local Writer’s Rounds in Nashville. The response I got gave me the confidence to put my own stuff out. Even 3 Doors Down fans started getting into it! I put two songs on Spotify, not knowing what I was doing I figured if people like it, cool, if not, I’m still gonna put music out. I think that DIY punk rock attitude helped push me as well.” To learn more about Justin and his music, check out his website.

Lindsi Rian

Running on Dutch Bros coffee and my love of travel, I’m always up for an adventure. I believe in exploring new places and drunken nights around a campfire. Unpopular opinion or not, Cards Against Humanity is the best game ever created. @lindsiriancreative

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