Download MP3 Catastrophe, Amigo (Size: 1.25 MB) composition (p) and © 2000 Justin's Polite Music, ASCAP

MIXED BIZNESS Godlyke President Kevin Bolembach and Justin at 2001 Winter NAMM show.

AUDIO DOWNLOAD Justin's audio contribution to Guyatone.com is an interesting multi-tracked "micro song" that showcases his unique use of effects on bass. Justin supplied the following play by play descriptive information for the track, entitled "Catastrophe, Amigo." 0-13 secs: Ambient f/x using the PS-2 and the MD-2 on two instruments panned left and right, with the MD-2 taking over with building feedback on both tracks toward the end. 13-31 secs: Main groove kicks in with some MD-2 used as a doubling effect on the beats. Bass track with more MD-2 and PS-2 comes and goes. 31-49 secs: Alternate groove with 2 bass tracks: Left side features BR-2 Bottom Wah Rocker, while the right side features a counterpoint using the MD-2. 49 secs - 1:20: Return to main groove with single bass track on top, demonstrating extreme uses of MD-2 on its own.

JUSTIN MELDAL-JOHNSEN

Gear Used:
MD-2 Digital Delay
PS-3 Phase Shifter
BR-2 Bottom Wah Rocker

Experimentation and creativity go hand-in-hand. Nobody understands that better than Beck bassist and musical director Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated "Midnight Vultures" is a testament to the lavish, and learned use of tone altering effects. This practice, however, dates back to the beginning of Justin's musical career.

BIOGRAPHY

A Los Angeles native, Justin first picked up the bass at age 12, and eventually moved up to the inevitable "punk band playing in garage" scenario. His first real performing band was formed by finding like minds at school and the local classifieds. From '87 to '93, this indie/art-rock band, This Great Religion, made a name for themselves playing locally. This evolved into college tours and a series of self-promoted and self-produced 7" singles, which fought for attention in the era of metal bands and the eventual grunge takeover. During these years, Justin became more musically and stylistically broad-minded as a bass player, and developed a penchant for radically effecting his instrument, an unconventional technique for the time.

Starting in '92, Justin became more in demand for other projects, including a record with seminal L.A. hip hop/jazz group Circle of Power, and a period of touring and recording with The Elastic Purejoy, the solo project of Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen. Shortly thereafter, Justin joined Medicine, L.A.'s noisy, sexy and rocking answer to My Bloody Valentine. He recorded and toured their final album, "Her Highness", on American Records. In '95, Tori Amos called him to play on the "Hey Jupiter" EP. In early '96, his old acquaintance Beck entered the equation. Beck asked Justin to come by a rehearsal to 'jam', which turned out to be an indirect, yet official audition.

Beck has been Justin's main focus ever since. His highly visible position as Beck's music director and conceptual co-conspirator has afforded him the opportunity to be involved in a variety of interesting projects. Justin has worked with such diverse artists as Air (touring and recording), Mark Eitzel, Blinker the Star, Jamiroquai, Moby, Sasha & BT, The Pulsars, On, Electric Company, Amnesia, Jude, Pet, Bill White Acre, and many others.

Justin is currently working on new albums with Beck, Tori Amos and Air. In addition, he is becoming increasingly involved in his own band projects, recordings, remixes and movie soundtracks.

PEDALBOARD

While preferring to keep the complete contents of his pedalboard an enigma, Justin confesses to using the Guyatone PS-2 Phase Shifter, BR-2 Bottom Wah Rocker, and MD-2 Micro Digital. The MD-2 is permanently mounted to his Roland GR-series Synth Bass Guitar, which he uses for extreme sound effects (see image above).

Recording Credits

Listen to Justin using our new Guyatone Optical Series Effect Pedals.