Jake Thomas Talks With Justin Moore- WGNA Exclusive

I spend a lot of time talking with the country artists you hear on Country 107.7, WGNA-FM about everything from the songs they have out to their kids. Justin Moore recently gave me some of his time and you'll only get this info here.

Justin first came to Country 107.7, WGNA-FM about 2 and a half years ago to play me some music in the conference room. He is a real guy from Arkansas, that wrote all of his first songs. Justin who records for Valory Music and is label mates with Reba McEntire also played the WGNA Rising Stars Concert Series in 2009 at Proctors. He is currently moving up the country music charts quickly with the biggest hit of career "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away". Justin loves all of our listeners and answered these questions for me just yesterday. I hope you learn something about him in this interview.

WGNA: Justin, tell us a little about where you grew up and who helped you pursue your dream in country music.

Justin: I grew up in a little town in Arkansas called Poyen. It's about 45 miles south of Little Rock. Its a very blue collar town with 2 churches, a school, and no stop lights. I love it. I wouldn't say one person, in particular, helped me pursue my career. It's been an army of people. however, the most influential, were probably my parents.

WGNA: When you played for us here in Albany the first time about 2 years ago things were just getting started. Were you surprised that about the way our fans embrace country music in Albany, New York with WGNA?

Justin: When you grow up in the South, you have the perception that that's the only place that's country. I have found out that is completely not the case. There are rednecks everywhere. Albany is no exception.

WGNA: Since your career has started and is really taking off a lot has changed for you and your wife including the birth of your first baby. Is it hard to find time for the family when you’re on the road so much?

Justin: It is hard to balance the career with having a family, but that's the case in any job. Unfortunately, our job requires us to be away from home more than most. I am lucky to have my wife be so strong, and supportive. I bring them on the road with me every couple weeks.

WGNA: Tell WGNA’s fans where you came across the song “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”, and why you wanted to record it.

Justin: We had finished recording, what we thought, was the entire new album. We were trying to choose, from those songs, a first single. My producer sent me a YouTube clip of Rhett Akins doing this song. I had heard it a few years prior, and remembered loving it. I immediately asked the record label to record it. I could relate to it, and knew many others could also. I feel blessed we had the opportunity to record this song.

WGNA: What’s the title of your upcoming second album, and if you had to tell our listeners 3 songs you really love on the project what would they be?

Justin: The title of the new album is "Outlaws Like Me" after the song with the same name. It is the best song, in my opinion, I've ever written. It addresses battling good and evil in yourself. I think we've all been through that in our day. Another one of my favorites is "If You Don't Like My Twang." I had somebody tell me a long time ago at a crappy job I had that I was too country. I didn't understand that statement then, and still don't. I don't believe that's possible, and probably another favorite is "Run Out Of Honky Tonks." It's one of the countriest songs I've written and recorded. It's a classic country heartbreak song.