Hi! I'm John Justus, the creator, singer and producer of Hallowtribe! Let me tell you why I'm here and what I'm trying to do...

The COVID-19 pandemic changed my perspective on what's truly important in life. I'm so grateful I found songwriting- it has been a welcome method for processing old wounds and insecurities and handling the fallout of the pandemic, including the fresh challenge of life after a divorce. After almost ten years of daydreaming and hinting at it, I finally left my career as a therapist to pursue music full-time. 

In April 2021, I played a handful of open mics, with my own songs for the first time, and it felt so good. I had so many friends and family supporting my new direction and dreams- started growing my hair out and exploring what it meant to be me- and I then promptly left for Australia, my birthplace, for what I thought would be forever. I had planned to stay with some family, work on my first album, then launch a music career at the end of the year but I met COVID restrictions in abundance and I found myself back in Milwaukee a month later, with almost no possessions. So I jumped feet- first into the music scene here and created Hallowtribe to act both as my musical outlet and as a vehicle for re-learning how to connect to myself and, hopefully, to others. I debuted the full band experience in December 2021, to positive reception, and I will continue playing as often as I can with a rotating lineup or as a solo project, whichever the fates allow. Now that I've tasted it, I can't get enough! 

Hallowtribe, to me, means "Transcend Together" and acts both as a band name and as a personal mantra: to bring people together and promote each-other's growth. Striving to help build a more unified community, I and Hallowtribe welcome all people to come and feel comfortable at shows- I actively resist any violence or hatred towards any member of the extended Hallowtribe family and fans. I hope you find a place to be yourself here, and some good music to boot.

 Thanks for listening- John Justus

The Man behind the Band: John Justus