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Justin Barney's Essential 50

Emotional, Romantic, Vulnerable

This whole thing was my idea. Having all the DJs make their Essential 50. I just wanted to see it. But here I am, having the toughest time with it. Looking back on the list, I think it shows how crucial the formative years are. There are some artists that have been added to the list that didn’t exist when I was 20 years old and there are some older artists that I’ve gotten into since that that made it onto the list, but when I sit and look at my Essential 50, it’s mostly those bands at my core. 

The bands and artists that got me then and get me now, I think, are bands with heart. Big emotions. Romantic ideas. Raw vulnerability. My favorite feeling is a swelling heart. I’m always chasing that. For better, or for worse.