Easy Love

Easy Love is the solo project of Justine Brown, a multi-instrumentalist and DIY artist based in southern California.

Wander Feeler, Easy Love’s sophomore album is being released by Loantaka Records May 29.

Wander Feeler is a summary of those long drives, reflections of relationships beginning and ending, the feeling of freedom dissolving when arriving home from traveling, and the constant struggle with self worth. Her instrumentals are the glue that holds it together; the sweetness that you crave next after eating something savory. She wanted to create an album from start to finish that flows naturally, initiates the feeling of knowing what song is going to come on next, and gets you excited about it. Listening to albums over and over until they are memorized is now almost a past time, but it’s something Justine still does regularly. 

 Recorded in just one week during the month of Jan 2019, Wander Feeler was engineered and mixed by Eric Penna. He offered his newly built home studio just outside of Boston as the place for where the project could be brought to life. Penna would cater to each song by carefully selecting from his collection of vintage guitars for Justine to play. 

“Cool Type,” the stand-out banger of the album, begins with Justine’s voice and the flick of a lighter, plunging into 90’s guitar world. She states her feelings matter-of-factually to a former lover about their relationship that left her hanging. A wall of soft distorted guitars and harmonies intends to send shivers down your neck. “Never alone” lures you in with a slide guitar riff and ends with layered vocals cushioned on top of an auto-harp, soothing you like ocean waves at sunset. Head bopper “Alright” attempts to free the writer of her self-doubts, suggesting that she must keep going despite the anxiety she experiences in life. The biggest hurdle for her right now is what a fight it can be as a woman trying to make it in the music industry. “You aren’t taken seriously sometimes and it’s like you’re being put under a microscope," Justine said. "If you care about what other people think, the pressure can make you falter or question what you’re doing. Occasionally, it hurts enough to make me want to give up. I’ve learned that the only way to inspire others is to do my best to keep my dreams alive."

Born and raised in Riverside, California Brown soaked in the nature-rich surroundings and reveled in the inland city's fruitful art scene. She was able to grow in her craft by playing free all-ages shows at Back To The Grind, downtown Riverside’s local coffee shop and heart of the community. 

When it came time to venture beyond Riverside, Justine gained lots of experience on the road drumming and singing backup vocals with Summer Twins, a band led by her sister who sang and played guitar. Gaining the interest of Burger Records, Summer Twins worked with founders Sean and Lee to put out their records. The sisters were offered spots on festivals and tours which helped them gain a solid fan base. During a caravan tour out to SXSW, Justine found herself mesmerized as she watched Melle of Mozes & the Firstborn shred on guitar. It was like she had been struck by lightning – Justine was compelled to pick up the guitar and start her own project. Not long after that she was crafting her own guitar solos. 

East Love's debut album was released on Burger Records in 2017. Influenced by 90’s/00’s indie rock, Justine arranged and played all the instruments on the recordings. Around the time of the release she joined her friend’s band, Winter, on bass and backup vocals. Justine traveled as far as Brazil with Winter and become a seasoned touring musician during her time with the band. During several trips up the west coast alongside forests and streams, she wrote melodies on the guitar in the back seat, putting together instrumentals and shells of songs that would eventually become her next release. 

For Justine, being creative as an artist is the most healing aspect in her life. Knowing that it could inspire and help others is a kick in the butt to wake up and stop making excuses. Within her own life, Justine strives to allow for self Love to come Easy. Easy Love’s Wander Feeler is set to be released on July 10 on the Echo Park-based label, Loantaka Records.