Justin Young's New Album 'Clean Slate' Cuts to the Heart of Personal Grief

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When Justin Young's mother first sat him in front of a piano, he was five years old. Little did he know then that the music he would create over the years would become much more than a part of his lifelong journey as a songwriter/musician. Taking early influences from Billy Joel, Elton John, Marc Cohn and Jeffrey Gaines, Young's music and lyrics would someday create an antidote to personal pain, powerful enough to carry him through a period of profound loss. With the debut of his indie album Clean Slate, Young provides a testament to the resilience of love, human strength and rebirth and the power of music to restore hope. 

"About two years ago, my wife of 10 years -- the mother of our two children -- was killed in an automobile accident, and the music just died," says Young, whose prior albums include contemporary Christian release Just For Me and his a capella collection Solo Noel. "For some time, everything in me just shut down. But as I moved through the grief, parts of me started to reawaken. I found myself writing pieces that helped me heal. Clean Slate works on a very deep level to release pain and humbly celebrate what has been and still is very beautiful, real and present about life."

The album, available at http://justinyoung.com, features songs written both before and after his wife's death. Young describes the album as the culmination of a decade, the "emotional climax" of which was his personal tragedy. Young says he carefully selected the songs to take listeners on a journey from emotional depths to peace and hope and embody his philosophy, "You must feel to heal."

"The song 'Let Me Dream' was a true miracle," he explains. "Written just a few days before my wife unexpectedly died, it tells a story about loss and love. I sang it at her funeral and every night to our six-year-old daughter to help with the grief. Since then, countless people have contacted me, either thanking me for its healing message or requesting to use it in memory of those they or their loved ones have lost."

Indie critics are also taking note. Indie Music Digest has already spotlighted Clean Slate as its "Pick of the Week" and nominated it for "CD of the Year." For Indie Music Digest's interview with Young, visit http://www.indiemusicdigest.com/Justin Young Interview.html.

While Clean Slate features Young's voice primarily, the collection incorporates youth talents harkening back to his personal roots -- the Virginia-based non-profit Hurrah Players and the Governor's School for the Arts. Part of Young's goal is to recognize and give back to organizations that have played such a vital role in his growth as a musician.

Clean Slate videos are available at www.YouTube.com/JustinYoungMusic. For information about the album and Young, visit http://justinyoung.com.

Media Contact:

Justin Young
[email protected]
757-354-3132

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Justin Young