Justyn Timez: The art of finding your sound and yourself

Originality is an extremely difficult thing to find in the music industry. In fact, many will chase trends or the algorithm just to get their name out there and try to stay relevant. To them, it isn’t about creating something organic or that will resonate with audiences, it’s about doing anything to get noticed and slowly grow a fan base. Originality essentially takes a back seat to attention.

Unfortunately for  Justyn Timez,  these trappings were unavoidable as he began to navigate the world of music. He just wasn’t exactly comfortable being himself at the beginning and it really hurt him. He was stuck donning a persona that really wasn’t him. A mask that he never let slip in front of the audience. He even claims that it created a disconnect between him and listeners

“It felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit. You can move, but you’re uncomfortable the whole time.  Timez admitted when talking about following trends” I was chasing sounds that worked for other people, and every time I did that, I felt a little more disconnected from myself. It absolutely became an identity crisis because music is personal—when the sound isn’t you, you start questioning who you are.”

And he had every right to question himself. He was  doing what he loved, but didn't feel he could do it as himself. Like he needed to take on another persona just to make people like him. He wasn’t building an audience,he was building attention that never really led anywhere. Despite these realizations he still hung on to hope that something would stick.

Now, this doesn't mean he wasn’t slowly working on his own sound, he just didn’t believe in it yet.  He was riddled with thoughts that his authentic music would fall on deaf ears for being too different. These thoughts haunted him so much that he continued to try to please everyone and got a very harsh life lesson in the process.

“One moment that really crushed me was performing at FSU. As soon as I stepped on stage — before I could even introduce myself — I heard BOOOOOO.” That moment cut deep. I wanted to quit right then. Timez admitted ,  But instead, I funneled all that pain into my writing. I refused to let that be the end of my story.”

After that performance, Timez knew  if he wanted to go further in the world of music, it was time to find his own sound. It was no longer enough to chase what was trending  and do what everyone else was doing. He needed to dive deep  and create music that could stand out. Something organic and  original that people could lose themselves in.

“Honestly, it wasn’t something I learned overnight, Timez claims when talking about finding his own sound” . It took years of making the wrong songs for the right reasons. Coming out of Brooklyn, there’s pressure to sound a certain way, to fit into what’s moving at the moment. I had to unlearn that. I’d say it took me a solid few years of trial, failure, and self-reflection before I really got comfortable saying, “This is me, even if it’s not what’s hot.”

Timez’s journey towards finding who he was musically  started with his roots where he slowly saw himself enthralled by Reggae and Caribbean style music. The beat, the vibration, and the energy of the culture, it all mesmerized him instantly. Then there was the  heavy use of drums, the vibe,  and the emotion. It all just resonated with him so much that he wanted to incorporate it into his signature sound.

Then he started listening to Rap music and fell in love with the genre almost instantaneously. It was dangerous, loud and focused on witty lyrics with unique beats laced in.  It wasn’t just any other genre for Timez, it was a rebellious culture of artists with bass heavy beats and lyrics that could empathise points in a meaningful way. It was also a genre he knew he could make a difference in.

It was at  this point where he  slowly started to  realize  the power that music holds. How it can motivate, heal,  and help others with unresolved emotions.  He also figured out that while he loved hip hop music to its core, he didn’t always agree with the message being sent. That there was more to the culture than just senseless violence, living in the city, doing drugs, having sex and going to the club.

Instead, he wanted to talk about inner pain, mental health and finding peace. All subjects that would resonate with the right audience.  It was finally clear to him at this moment that if he differentiated himself with cunningly heartfelt lyrics and unique beats, he would evolve into the artist he wanted to be. 

Fast forward to the present day and Timez  has definitely evolved into an unstoppable force. His beats are more layered than ever and his hooks are absolute ear worms. There’s always something new to discover in his music that just adds to the experience of it. The best part is that while it looks like Timez has hit his final form, he disagrees. In fact, one of the things that make him different is his ability to grow.

“I think growth is continuous. As people, we’re always changing, and what we experience directly shapes what we create. “ Timez said when asked about evolving" I understand that what I present now won’t be the same ten years from now — just like I sounded different ten years ago because I was experiencing life differently. Staying fresh comes naturally when you allow yourself to grow honestly instead of trying to freeze yourself in one version.”

 His songs  follow that philosophy perfectly, and feature a unique  touch to them that only he can bring. He’s also  not afraid to try something different while writing from a very personal place. It’s not just the same old music, it's something  different. Every single time.  Add in the confidence he shows on every track as he seamlessly weaves lyrics with intricate beats and you have something special. 

These include songs  like,’ Cruel world, new sweater and ,”Jane,” which really goes to show the diversity in his range.  On one hand,” Cruel world, New sweater” sounds like something you blare out of a boombox or car at a stop light. It has that big energy people can’t resist bobbing their head to and jamming out. Then there is his other song, Jane” A song with a slower pace to it, but a lot of heart and a very unique beat.

 And then there are the songs he’s already working on in 2026, including,” Right here”. A track with an unmistakable wall of sound at the beginning, some of very insightful lyrics and an overall message of pushing on no matter the odds. Timez even stated in a recent Facebook post that the song is set to be released March 3rd 2026. 

“ Going into 2026. I’m focused on intentional releases, cohesive visuals, and structured rollouts rather than random drops.  Timez said when discussing his plans for 2026. The work centers around tightening my sound, expanding my visual world, and presenting complete ideas from music to visuals to content. What’s next for me is consistency and execution — building momentum through planned releases that feel connected and purposeful,”

In the end, Timez is a perfect example of everything right with the music industry at the moment. No facades, no worrying about what the audience will think, just a pure love for music that keeps him searching for something organic. To Timez, it is the one thing that truly makes his art timeless.

“Originality is the only thing that makes art timeless. Trends expire, but truth doesn’t. I don’t want to be remembered as someone who fits in— ,”Timez emphasized when looking back on what separates him from other artists in his genre , “ I want to be remembered as someone who carved his own lane.”