Pataskala native releases first album
NEWARK – Picking up his life and moving to Nashville to chase a career in music was one of the scariest things Jutt (Justin) Huffman has ever done.
As it turns out, it was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
It took him a few years, but he finally made it, celebrating the release of his first album earlier this month.
“I’m stoked about the album. It’s been two years of working on it, and I finally have something I can actually sell, something that is a physical thing people can touch and hear and it’s actually me,” Huffman said.
Huffman grew up in Pataskala, graduating from Watkins High School in 2005. Most people probably remember him for his second-place finish at the state wrestling tournament or perhaps as their delivery boy for The Columbus Dispatch.
But all along, Huffman had another passion: playing guitar and writing songs.
“It’s always been a part of my life from a real young age. My dad played guitar when I was younger, and I always thought there was no way I would ever be able to play,” Huffman said. “I just thought it was so cool.”
He didn’t start chasing his musical dreams until he was in the eighth grade, when Huffman decided he wanted a guitar of his own. He asked his father to buy one for him, but his father told him he would have to work for it.
Huffman was able to start doing some landscaping work for the apartment complex his family lived in. With the money he saved over a few months, Huffman bought his first guitar, a Squier Stratocaster.
“My dad taught me a few chords that summer, and I basically have been teaching myself ever since,” Huffman said. “It was like a hobby for me for the longest time, something I did to just get away from everything. ... I never played in front of anybody. I was always so scared.”
When it came time to graduating high school, Huffman wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He spent a year working before enrolling at Kent State University.
He wrestled for a season and things were going well, but Huffman started running out of money to pay for his tuition, so he went back home and started working again.
A few years later, he decided to enroll in a program to earn his real estate license. He worked at an office in Columbus for a few years and started playing music at bars on the weekends.
An opportunity came up for him to transfer to the company’s office in Nashville. Huffman thought it was time for a change in scenery, so he applied for and accepted the job.
All he took with him were some clothes, a PA system, his guitars and amplifiers to start his new life. He started playing more and more shows and, after seven months, quit his job to pursue music full time.
“It was intense. I don’t know when I realized that I made it. It didn’t just happen overnight; it was a lot of getting gigs on my own and basically getting my name out there,” he said. “Now I’m at the point where, last year, I did 270 shows and now I’m having to turn down a lot of gigs. It’s been a crazy ride.”
His first album, which is untitled, was two years in the making and features songs of various styles and positive messages. Huffman said it has a summertime kind of feel to it with high energy.
The album is available to buy on iTunes and Amazon and can be streamed for free on Spotify by searching for Jutt Huffman.
Huffman is excited for people to hear his music and hopes it makes people feel good when they listen to his album. He has to admit, though, it’s still difficult to believe he is living and working as a musician.
“I think, when I was growing up, a lot of people didn’t think it’s like a real career, like it’s something you can’t really do, and I didn’t either until I moved down here. Seeing all the people down here who are so happy doing what they loved, all of them said they felt blessed and just kept doing it every day,” Huffman said. “Now that’s what I’m doing, and I’m not quitting. I feel like this is just the beginning.”
emaddern@newarkadvocate.com
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