Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with IMAAI.
Tell us about your music.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I’m Jutt Huffman and I write, produce and perform country music! Growing up on rock n roll and soul I naturally put a high energy into my recording and performances and leave it all on the table. I’ve spent over a decade performing in Nashville and traveling all over the country playing mostly country songs while building a catalog of original material behind the scenes. Now I am finally releasing these recordings that I have put my heart and soul into! If you like Zac Brown Band, Brothers Osbourne, Jake Owen, or Country Music in general I know you will be pleased with what you hear when you push play on my music!
When did you start performing?
I bought my first guitar at the age of 13 and have been playing on it 2 to 4 hours a day ever since. My pops got me my first gig at a dive bar in Whitehall, OH when I was almost 21. At 23 I realized I could possibly make a living playing guitar and packed my Saturn up to head to Nashville. After a year of learning the “Broadway Standards” and performing almost every night I left my day job and started performing full time. After paying my dues for over a decade, here I am 12 years later and finally making a push as a country artist with original music. I am so excited to finally share what I’ve been working on most of my adult life!
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
I grew up in Pataskala, OH with my dad and my brother. It was a village when we moved there and got incorporated when I was in elementary school. Then the city started moving in. My brother and I grew up in a poor part of town but we had a huge field and creek in front of our apartment. That made for long days climbing trees, building forts, catching crawdads, fish, frogs, snakes, praying mantis, lightning bugs, etc… My dad is a blue collar mechanic and taught us that being bored isn’t an option and to find something constructive to do. So we both joined band at school and wrestling. Wrestling taught me hard work and hard work is the foundation of me as an artist. Pops loves rock n roll and would take us out on Sunday drives with the windows down and the music cranked! When we drove the bus to school the bus drivers always had country music playing and most of my friends listened to country music as well. I’m really fortunate to have been raised in a small town where everyone knows everyone and more importantly have a wrestling family that was always there for me and my family. The morals of a small town is the heart and soul of country music and is what I represent as a country artist!
What performers have been your inspiration?
This question could take years to fully answer. I see inspiration all around me! There are so many local musicians all over the world that have more talent than many people we hear on the radio. I think one of the biggest inspirations though, as far as what I am doing in my career, is Chris Stapleton. He has spent years behind the scenes honing in on his craft on multiple levels. He had a bad ass southern rock band called The Jompson Brothers. He has his awesome bluegrass band The Steel Drivers. He was writing so many songs for the artists you hear on the radio. And he did all of that before mainstream even knew his name. He proves that you don’t have to be on the radio to be successful as a musician/artist and he proves that there are many different paths to “make it”.
Another artist that inspires me is Drake White. Not only have I got to open up for him quite a bit, but I have got to watch him perform a lot throughout his career. He is an enormous energy on stage and has soul shooting out of him wherever he goes. On his way up the mountain of his journey as a performer he had a stroke. He had to relearn how to do everything. Although it was a big setback for him he is still performing, writing, and living the dream. It is amazing to see anyone make it through tough obstacles and life changing setbacks but it is incredibly inspirational to see a man of that caliber of talent come back swinging when he could have easily quit.
What do you base your success on?
I use to base my success on getting out of poverty. Then it turned into can I make a living doing what I love. Recently, I have realized that performing cover songs for the rest of my life is not going to make me happy, although it is still a blessing to even be able to do that. Now I know that I am ready for the big stage so I am putting all of my resources into that. If anyone wants to help me all you have to do is listen to my music and share it, I know you will enjoy it! So at this point in life, success is traveling the country and playing as many music festivals as possible while releasing new music often! I think it would be great to settle down with my girlfriend and maybe get married and have some kids and live a Willie Nelson style life on a bus for most of the year!
What was your latest musical release?
I just released a single called “That Feeling (Freedom)” on June 30th. The song really speaks for itself. The inspiration is from the “American Dream”. It is about making something out of nothing. It is an anthem for all of the hard working, never quitting, freedom loving dream chasers out there. The verses are more personalized for my journey chasing a dream, the choruses are broader and can hit the soul of anyone busting their butt to get ahead, and the bridge is a reminder that we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the opportunity that we do without the sacrifice of so many brave souls that have fought for our freedom.
Do you have any news to share?
I just finished recording a whole album in the same studio that Jelly Rolls new album was recorded in so you can expect a lot of singles dropping this year! I’m also performing 200+ shows per year mostly at bars and smaller venues. My goal is to be performing at large venues and festivals by this time next year. You can help me accomplish that goal by following me online, sharing my music and reach out to me about where you would like me to perform! My band also does private events and corporate events with me if you want some big energy for your party! Just reach out to us!
How can fans find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JuttHuffman/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/jutthuffman
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jutthuffman/
Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
Thank you for the interview! I look forward to catching up down the road!