By Staff | November 7, 2026
Photo credit: Heather Raquel
Justice LaBrave’s sound doesn’t quite fit in anyone’s box. Bringing together ’90s grunge, punk, R&B, funk, pop - whatever you’ve got, Justice is willing to incorporate it. Songs that began early in their catalog took new shapes across HEAT, HEALING, and HEART, leading them back to rock, and even to fronting a band (one of our favorites, at that). Collaboration has made room for new vocal experiments, with each release capturing a different side of evolving sound. We sat down with Justice to discuss their evolving sound, coming back from grief, and how music by white artists may not be quite as original as you might think.
Welcome! As a Brooklyn native, what's the most Brooklyn thing about your music?
Yeah, born and raised and proud to be. I would say the inspirations of my music are very Brooklyn, Rock, R&B, Soul, Funk. The genres I pull from are the sounds of my upbringing; The Grunge and punk rock of the 90s, with the Bloom of NYC rap and R&B on radio, and the electric Pop tunes coming out of TRL at Times square. I remember cutting school to go to 106 and Park live taping. The most Brooklyn thing about my music is the source, it's me, the writing, the influence, it's all from the scoop of a Brooklyn kid in the 90s.
How on earth did “Dead Body” end up getting played in South Africa and Australia?
I'd have to give a huge shout out to the Q review for that one, a radio collective that represents LGBTQ talent all over the world yet they are based in Nova Scotia, Canada. I submitted the single to them as I try to do everything when it comes to promotions and marketing and they were able to get placed on globally syndicated radio stations and one thing led to another and now folks all over the world know my music. So Thanks Q Review, thanks to them I was able to build an online following beyond local shows and hearsay.
Did you have a sound in mind when you started making solo music, or did HEAT just happen?
Yes and no, when I originally put together HEAT, it was pieced together by songs I had in catalog as a writer and producer, so the songs had bones and some sort of direction when they were pitched however these 5 songs I kept coming back to with the purpose to reinvent myself as a solo artist post covid, and during the process the songs all took different shapes and even genres, for example Strangers was originally a R&B song that was pitched to a singer and rapper duo, it later became the lead single of HEAT with a alt-rock sound and when i realized it resonated with me artistically, I realized I missed fronting bands, I started to hear and visualize myself as a solo artist in the Rock ecosphere, getting back to a form that feels most comfortable on stage. At that point it became introducing this new version of me with the rock music and genre that guided me into creation.
Going from from HEAT to HEALING to HEART - were you planning a trilogy, or did the titles just work out that way?
Not the original plan at all HAHAHA, proof that if you have a vision just go for it because even if things don't look how you planned, you can still be proud of the outcome and the work you put into it! "HEAT N HEALING" was the original plan, a 9 song Album. But then I realized how much life can factor into any budget even without producing an album or EP and it gets significantly higher ESPECIALLY if you want to make music radio quality. So I had to shake and move a few times but I was able to take advantage of a few opportunities to not only get those 9 songs out, but 6 additional songs. As an independent artist it was important for me to learn how to be like water when it comes to plans, and keep disappointment away. So all things considered I'm grateful HEART was able to come out and round out the B tracks of the original plan making HEAT, HEALING, and HEART really a full introduction to me, my writing style and narrative as a storyteller. With HEAT, it pulled from my production, my catalog, HEALING is where I began to collaborate with different producers and HEART was co-producer by Carter Sanders and was done in Boston with Plaid Dog Records. Just three completely different spaces yet all sides of me.
What's something you can do onstage that you can't get away with anywhere else?
I would say, flipping my hair, in day to day life it's in a braid or bun, but when I'm on stage I let my hair down so to speak and I think if I casually started whipping my hair. I could see that being annoying for everyone included HAHA.
Rock has always borrowed from Black music, but Black artists don't always get the credit. Does that piss you off?
Hell yeah, it's bullshit. it's not only rock, its country, house, pop... are we really acting like Janet Jackson WASN'T the first pop star, like Dave Grohl didn't rip Cameo and the Gap Band, like every Soundcloud rapper in bedazzled jeans is cool but Little Richard was "TOO MUCH", it's not just Black musicians often its black queer music and culture that gets ripped and repackaged, which is why ignorance is dangerous, major culture shifts echo loud from small corners to create louder rooms. Look at the success of artists like Hayley Williams using Black choirs or even Beyonce having voguing and house tracks, it's the inclusion of everyone that keeps us all accountable. That's a major reason why I like to collaborate with artists of different genres.
We love No Call No Show! What did they bring out of you that wasn't coming out in your solo work?
Great Question. Whenever I'm collaborating it's usually with another artist I've met online, or backstage or through performing shows and just organically trying to meet each other halfway by whatever that means. What's special about this collaboration and its coming out in the music, is how long we've known each other. Mike and I went to college together and Josh and I went to High school, and Paul I met as he entered the band, so there's a comfortability in themes, writing and depth of subject because we all trust each other and there's this added layer of magic, knowing what we can all do musically but also show and learn the things we experienced in our own lives and bring that to the table as well. I'm experimenting with squeals, growling, and screaming on a track for the first time, I don't think I would have been so bold if I didn't have the guys hearing it and giving me honest feedback. It's feedback I trust, and they validate my vulnerability by keeping it real with me. And I'm able to do the same with them music wise or vocally even just singing while Mike harmonizes with a growl or scream, we are able to approach things without ego because we all genuinely want to create something that represents us both and elevates us to greatness.
After losing your brother, was it hard to get back playing shows and face people again?
Yes and no, I had this guilt of when it is too soon to perform. and I realized staying away from the stage wasn't helping and no writing and creating wasn't helping. music isn’t a drug its therapy for me and soothing and being on stage now is when i feel closest to him. he was a writer and singer and he wanted nothing more than the opportunity to do so and now I just do it for us both. there was nothing pulling me off stage or running me off stage but myself. I realized it's going to hurt me more the longer I stay off stage.
What's the most ridiculous thing that's happened to you on stage?
I'm grateful nothing major has happened but I have been heckled by a guy during my set and a good girlfriend of mine hit on him so he would stay quiet during the set and when i got off stage she chucked the entire drink on him and told him to respect the stagecraft... that was ridiculous but my girl is a real one. LOVE YOU JESS!
Anyone you'd like to shout out for their support?
No Call No Show for sure Mikie, Paulie, Joshie love you guys, Heather Raquel a really sick artist and photographer from Philly who handles most of my visuals. Mike, Carter, Becks And Plaid Dog Records, Andrew and The Brewery Studio in Brooklyn, Shout out to The Q review, My mother Rita, my Brother Victor, Rest in Power. Knifetwister Records thank you, you guys are real ones for making this happen!!