Justin Furstenfeld

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Justin Furstenfeld
Justin Furstenfeld-photo-by-raymond-boyd.jpg
Furstenfeld performing at the House of Blues in Chicago
Background information
Birth nameJustin Steward Furstenfeld
Born (1975-12-14) December 14, 1975 (age 48)
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Member of Blue October, Harvard of the South
Formerly of The Last Wish

Justin Steward Furstenfeld (born December 14, 1975) is an American musician and actor. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the rock band Blue October. He is also a member of the band Harvard of the South.

Contents

Personal life

When not touring with his band, Furstenfeld resides in San Marcos, Texas. He is the brother of Blue October drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld. From his first marriage, he has a daughter born in 2007 to whom he dedicated the album Any Man in America . [1] The album title refers to his experience as an American man treated poorly in a divorce proceeding. [2] Furstenfeld's relationship with his daughter and ex-wife is the subject matter of much of the album. [1]

Furstenfeld wed a second time in Texas in 2012, marrying Sarah. Together, they have a daughter born the same year. [3] They had a son in 2016. [4]

Furstenfeld was treated for depression at a Texas mental hospital in the late 1990s, after which Blue October recorded the album The Answers as an expression of themes surrounding depression and suicide. [5] He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder following an anxiety attack in October 2009 aboard a jet airliner. The band canceled their tour while he was being treated in Minnesota and Texas hospitals. Furstenfeld said that problems associated with his first marriage caused a stress blackout, exacerbated by alcohol consumption. [2] He said in 2021 that he has been sober since May 2012. [6] In 2020 a documentary was released called "Get Back Up" that addresses Furstenfeld's experiences with depression, addiction, and recovery. [7] [8]

Music career

Growing up, Furstenfeld listened to hip-hop, rock, country, and dance; his favorite artists included Idaho, Marvin Gaye, The Smiths, Peter Gabriel, Red House Painters, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, Bauhaus, and Pink Floyd. He also counts among his influences Michael Stipe, The Pixies, Elliott Smith, Blue Miller, George Winston, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and U2. [9] [10] His first musical memory was Roy Orbison's ballad "Crying". [11]

During his high school years at Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), he formed the band The Last Wish, which he played in from the age of 13 until 1995. [12] [13] When performing solo, Furstenfeld uses the moniker 5591. [14]

In August 2008, Furstenfeld toured with Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, in a sold-out four-city book/concert tour. [15]

Other interests

In April 2009, [16] Furstenfeld published the book Crazy Making – The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld, in which he goes into explicit detail about the inspiration behind every Blue October song to date. [17]

Furstenfeld attended HSPVA on a drama scholarship, acted in several plays in high school, and appeared in the 1996 film Late Bloomers. He made his true feature film debut in the 2022 Christian Sesma directed action film Section Eight playing the character Ajax Abernathy. [18] Furstenfeld's original song "This is What I Live For" also played during film's opening credits. In 2022 Justin acted in the film Lights Out , also directed by Sesma. [19]

Discography

Solo albums

With The Last Wish

With Blue October

With Harvard of the South

As a featured artist

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue October</span> American rock band

Blue October is an American rock band originally from Houston, Texas, formed in 1995. It currently consists of singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, bassist Matt Noveskey, and lead guitarist Steve Schiltz.

<i>The Answers</i> 1998 studio album by Blue October

The Answers is the first album by Blue October. It was recorded in October 1997, at Sound Arts Studio in Houston, Texas. It was released in the United States, during January 1998, by RoDan Entertainment/Scoop. It is Blue October's only album featuring founding member and bass guitarist Liz Mullally, who also played piano on the album.

<i>History for Sale</i> 2003 studio album by Blue October

History for Sale is the third album by Blue October. The title of the album comes from a lyric in the song "Amazing". It was recorded at Sound Arts Studios in Houston, Texas, and at Stomp Box Studios in Arlington, Texas, and released in the United States on April 8, 2003 by Brando Records. It was co-produced by Justin Furstenfeld and David Castell. It is the only Blue October album to feature former member Dwayne Casey on bass guitar, and the band's first album featuring lead guitarist C.B. Hudson. The track "Come in Closer" features guest vocals by Zayra Alvarez, who later, on the CBS reality show Rock Star: Supernova, sang the song "Razorblade" on her final episode before being voted off. History for Sale was voted best album by the 2003 Houston Press Music Awards.

<i>Foiled</i> 2006 studio album by Blue October

Foiled is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blue October, released on April 4, 2006, by Universal Records. The album debuted at number 29 on the US Billboard 200, marking the band's first entry on the chart. The album was certified gold in the United States on August 9, 2006, and on February 22, 2007, was certified platinum. The album was also a success in Canada, where it has also achieved platinum status. It was supported by four singles: "Hate Me", "Into the Ocean", "She's My Ride Home", and "X Amount of Words".

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William Matthew Noveskey is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, and bassist, best known as the bassist in the bands Blue October and Harvard of the South, and as bassist and frontman of the bands (a+)machines and Icarus Bell.

The Last Wish was a rock band from Houston, Texas, noted for being the first band of Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld. Ryan Delahoussaye of Blue October played with The Last Wish at a couple shows, but he was never a member of the band. Song writing collaboration was often shared by Greg Hammond, Amy Immel and Justin Furstenfeld. The members of the band attended Bellaire High School, and HSPVA, and the group was started while the members were students. The band developed a sizable following in Houston, where they performed at venues like Zelda's, Fitzgerald's, Toads Tavern, Last Concert Café, Café Artiste, McGonigel's Mucky Duck, and The Abyss on several occasions to packed houses. Furstenfeld left the group in 1995 while they were working on their third album. Furstenfeld still plays Last Wish songs during his solo shows, and Blue October has played Last Wish songs on occasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Into the Ocean</span> 2006 single by Blue October

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<i>Approaching Normal</i> 2009 studio album by Blue October

Approaching Normal is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Blue October. The album was released on March 24, 2009 and debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard charts. It was Blue October's first album to be released on vinyl.

<i>Ugly Side: An Acoustic Evening with Blue October</i> 2011 live album by Blue October

Ugly Side: An Acoustic Evening With Blue October is a live acoustic album by Blue October. It is their third live album, and eighth album overall. The album was recorded during a sold out three-day tour of Houston, Austin, and Dallas July 22–25, 2010 during which the band played two acoustic concerts each night. The band had talked about recording an acoustic album as early as 2004, but the concerts were the first ever full-length acoustic shows that the band had ever performed. The popularity of the acoustic concerts among Blue October fans resulted in the band deciding to perform a nationwide acoustic tour to support the release of the album.

<i>Any Man in America</i> 2011 studio album by Blue October

Any Man in America is the sixth studio album and ninth album overall by alternative rock band Blue October. The album was recorded at Matchbox Studios in Austin, Texas between Summer of 2010 and March 2011, and was released August 16, 2011 by Justin Furstenfeld's Up/Down Records and distributed through RED Distribution. The album was produced by Tim Palmer, who has previously worked with artists such as David Bowie, Robert Plant, The Cure, U2 and Pearl Jam and had mixed Blue October's album History for Sale. The artwork on the album cover is a drawing of Justin Furstenfeld drawn by Tim Palmer's daughter Bluebell, who was three years old at the time.

<i>Sway</i> (Blue October album) 2013 studio album by Blue October

Sway is the seventh studio album by Blue October. It was recorded at Fire Station Studio in San Marcos, Texas, with co-producer David Castell in February and March 2013. Additional recording sessions for strings and vocal overdubs took place at Test Tube Audio in Austin, Texas, in April 2013, and the album was mixed at Studio 62 in Austin by Tim Palmer between May and July 2013. Production credit for the album is shared between Justin Furstenfeld, David Castell and Tim Palmer. Castell had previously produced Blue October's album History For Sale and co-produced Foiled, while Palmer produced the band's album Any Man in America and mixed History for Sale. Sway was Blue October's first album to be released after Justin Furstenfeld got sober, and the songs have a marked sense of positivity and optimism compared to the band's previous work.

<i>Songs from an Open Book</i> 2014 studio album by Justin Furstenfeld

Songs from an Open Book is the debut solo acoustic album by Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld. It features songs as they were originally written, with only a Guild acoustic guitar and a single vocal track. The album was recorded at Crazy Making Studio in San Marcos, Texas, which is Justin's home studio. Furstenfeld promoted the album with a nationwide U.S. tour, as well as dates in Germany and England.

Harvard of the South is a four-piece rock supergroup that released its first recordings and played its initial live shows in 2014 but has its beginnings in collaborations between Longwave/Blue October singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz and Blue October members Justin Furstenfeld, Jeremy Furstenfeld, and Matt Noveskey, dating back to 2011. Harvard of the South released their debut EP, Miracle, in October 2014. Their song "Without" was issued as a free download via SoundCloud on May 8, 2017. The band's full-length studio album was published on December 11, 2020.

<i>Home</i> (Blue October album) 2016 studio album by Blue October

Home is the eighth studio album by Blue October. The album was recorded between August and November 2015 at Orb Studios in Austin, Texas and Justin Furstenfeld's home studio Crazy Making Studio. Long-time collaborator, Tim Palmer, co-produced and mixed the album.

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<i>This Is What I Live For</i> 2020 studio album by Blue October

This Is What I Live For is the tenth studio album by Blue October, released via Up/Down-Brando Records on October 23, 2020 after originally being scheduled for September 18, 2020. The artwork for the album was created by Phillip Nichols. This Is What I Live For is the first Blue October studio album to feature lead guitarist Will Knaak on every song. The album also marks the first appearance of Justin Furstenfeld's daughter Blue Reed on one of the band's recordings, providing vocals on the song "Fight for Love". The title track features vocals and lyrics by Steve Schiltz of Longwave, a longtime collaborator and de facto session member of Blue October. The songs “I Will Follow You” and “This is What I Live For” were recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. The song "Only Lost is Found" samples the Idaho song "Live Today Again" from the 2005 album The Lone Gunman.

<i>Spinning the Truth Around</i> 2022 studio album by Blue October

Spinning the Truth Around is an album by American band Blue October. It is a triple album, released in three separate parts. Part I was released on October 14, 2022. Part II was released one year later on October 13, 2023, with Part III to follow in 2024. Part III will contain covers, and remixes and alternate versions of songs from Parts I and II as well as remixes of songs from previous albums.The title track was Part I's lead single, and was positively compared to Bruce Springsteen.

References

  1. 1 2 Archived 2014-05-22 at archive.today
  2. 1 2 Ramirez, Carlos (June 23, 2011). "Blue October's Justin Furstenfeld on His Bi-Polar Disorder and Divorce". Noisecreep. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  3. "Sayde Belle (@SaydeBelle)". Twitter. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  4. Lentini, Liza (October 14, 2022). "Blue October's Newest Honors The Album Journey". Spin.
  5. Staff (October 16, 2000). "Blue October Not Mental". ABC News . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  6. Condran, Ed (November 18, 2021). "Nothing to be blue about as Justin Furstenfeld kicks it up a notch with Blue October". The Spokesman-Review . Spokane . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  7. Benitez-Eves, Tina; Benitez-Eves, Tina (2019-11-30). "Blue October's Justin Furstenfeld Opens Up About 'Get Back Up' Documentary and Their 10th Studio Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  8. Niven, Norry (2020-05-21), Get Back Up (Documentary, Biography, Music), retrieved 2022-03-06
  9. Archived July 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Cockroaches, Porn, Voices Fill Blue October Singer's Brain". MTV. 2006-10-04. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  11. "Artists | Discover Music Artists and Bands". VH1. Archived from the original on December 12, 2003. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  12. Gomez, Adrian (November 2, 2023). "Becoming a 'better man': Blue October's Justin Furstenfeld keeps the positivity in 'Spinning the Truth Around (Part II)'". yahoo.com .
  13. Hobart, Rowland (February 19, 2005). "Well-Raised and Confused". Houston Press. Archived from the original on May 25, 2005.
  14. "Rock You like a Hurricane". Houston Press. February 19, 2005. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009.
  15. Brian Jacks (2008-08-04). "'Breaking Dawn' Sells 1.3 Million Copies In One Day". MTV. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  16. Justin Furstenfeld. "CRAZY MAKING by JUSTIN FURSTENFELD — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  17. "Crazy Making - The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld BOOK, 2nd Ed. *LIMITED*ON SALE* from Blue October". Store.bandwear.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  18. Wiseman, Andreas (October 29, 2021). "'Section Eight': Dermot Mulroney & Singer Justin Furstenfeld Join Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins & Ryan Kwanten In Action Pic — AFM". Deadline Hollywood.
  19. Ritman, Alex (February 11, 2022). "Berlin: Justin Furstenfeld, Amaury Nolasco and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone Join 'Lights Out'". The Hollywood Reporter.