Justin Tranter
| Justin Tranter | |
|---|---|
 Justin Tranter in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Justin Tranter |
| Born | June 16, 1980 |
| Origin | Lake Zurich, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Pop, dance, glam rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Razor & Tie, Interscope, Geffen, Cherrytree, Epic |
| Associated acts | Semi Precious Weapons, Julia Michaels |
| Website | Official site |
Justin Tranter (June 16, 1980) is an American musician, songwriter and designer. His writing credits include collaborations with major artists such as Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Alexander Shapovalov aka Shapov (Hard Rock Sofa) and Fall Out Boy. Tranter is also the lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, a New York rock band.
Early years
Justin Tranter and his three older brothers were raised by his parents in Lake Zurich, Illinois. He studied musical theatre at the Chicago Academy for the Arts from 1994–98. While at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, he started an annual AIDS Benefit.[1]
After graduation from high school Tranter moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Along with songwriting, he also took classes in business management, in preparation for a career in music. Tranter graduated from Berklee in three years, with a GPA of 3.9 and a degree in songwriting. While at Berklee, Justin founded Musicians With a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education.[2]
In 2003, Justin won an Outmusic Award for the song "Blend In," co-written with Stephanie Delk, from "Scratched."[3]
Tranter began his music career on the Lower East Side of New York City's underground club circuit.
Music career
Tranter recorded his first album, Scratched, while still at Berklee. After graduation Tranter moved to New York where he put together his first band as the house band for an off-broadway show called Rockstars NYC. The show closed after 3 weeks and Tranter went on to record his second album, Tear Me Together.
In 2004, Tranter joined forces with fellow Berklee graduates, Cole Whittle, Dan Crean, and Aaron Lee Tasjan (who has since been replaced by Stevy Pyne) to form Semi Precious Weapons. He and Semi Precious Weapons opened for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball from 11/09-5/11.[4]
After moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Tranter signed a new publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music to write songs for other artists. Since then he has collaborated on numerous Billboard hits including two songs, Good for You and Sorry, that held the number one spot on Pop Radio for three weeks each.[5]
Late Fall 2015, Britney Spears shared on Instagram that she was collaborating on her 9th album with Tranter and his frequent writing partner, Julia Michaels.[6] About this collaboration with Britney Spears, Tranter affirmed in a 2016 Billboard interview: "It's been such a cool experience. Her voice is just so special, yeah, and she's a very underrated writer. That girl's melodies!".[7]
Tranter is also to appear as a collaborator on The Knocks' debut album, entitled "55", scheduled to be released within the early months of 2016.
In December 2015, Tranter was named one of Rolling Stone's "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015" for his songwriting contributions to the 2015 pop charts.[8]
As of 2016, Tranter teamed up with Gwen Stefani to co-write her third solo album, along with Julia Michaels, entitled This Is What the Truth Feels Like. He also provided back vocals on Kygo's song "Carry Me", which was taken from his debut album, entitled Cloud Nine.
Writing discography
| Year | Title | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "I Choose U" | Timeflies | Non-album single |
| 2014 | "Please Don't Say" | Breathe Carolina | Savages |
| "Run" | Nicole Scherzinger | Big Fat Lie | |
| "Centuries" | Fall Out Boy | Non-album single | |
| 2015 | "Lose Myself" (ft. Lynn Gunn) | Seven Lions | Non-album single |
| "Like Mariah" (ft. Tyga) | Fifth Harmony | Reflection | |
| "Nostalgic" | Kelly Clarkson | Piece by Piece | |
| "Love Myself" | Hailee Steinfeld | HAIZ | |
| "You're Such a ..." | |||
| "Rock Bottom" (solo or ft. DNCE) | |||
| "Hell No's and Headphones" | |||
| "Revival" | Selena Gomez | Revival | |
| "Hands to Myself" | |||
| "Good for You" | |||
| "Me & the Rhythm" | |||
| "Body Heat" | |||
| "Perfect" | |||
| "Prosecco" | Timeflies | Just for Fun | |
| "Cake by the Ocean" | DNCE | Swaay | |
| "Jinx" | |||
| "Used to Love You" | Gwen Stefani | This Is What the Truth Feels Like | |
| "Sorry" | Justin Bieber | Purpose | |
| "Touch" | Pia Mia | Non-album single | |
| 2016 | "Tied To You" (ft. Justin Tranter) | The Knocks | 55 |
| "Make Me Like You" | Gwen Stefani | This Is What the Truth Feels Like | |
| "Misery" | |||
| "You're My Favourite" | |||
| "Where Would I Be?" | |||
| "Truth" | |||
| "Send Me A Picture" | |||
| "Red Flag" | |||
| "Asking 4 It" (ft. Fetty Wap) | |||
| "Naughty" | |||
| "Me Without You" | |||
| "Rare" | |||
| "Rocket Ship" | |||
| "Getting Warmer" | |||
| "Obsessed" | |||
| "Splash" | |||
| "Our World" (ft. Justin Tranter) | Shapov | AXTONE 10 | |
| "Close" (ft. Tove Lo) | Nick Jonas | Last Year Was Complicated | |
| "Carry Me" (ft. Julia Michaels) | Kygo | Cloud Nine | |
| "Dope" | Fifth Harmony | 7/27 | |
| "Just Like Me" | Britney Spears | Glory | |
| "Invitation" | |||
| "Do You Wanna Come Over?" | |||
| "Slumber Party" | |||
| "Better" | |||
| "Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortés)" | |||
| "Popular" | Cher Lloyd | TBA | |
| "Hands" | Various Artists | Non-album single | |
| "Music" | JoJo | Mad Love | |
| "I Can Only" (featuring Alessia Cara) | |||
| "Edibles" | |||
| "La La" | Laura Marano | TBA | |
| "DNCE" | DNCE | DNCE | |
| "Blown" (featuring Kent Jones) | |||
| "Good Day" | |||
| "Naked" | |||
| "Zoom" | |||
| "What You Do to Me" | John Legend | Darkness and Light | |
| 2017 | TBA | Zara Larsson | TBA |
Advocacy
Tranter began his activism with the initiation of an annual AIDS benefit while attending high school at the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. [9] His advocacy continued while attending Berklee where he founded Musicians With a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education.[10] In 2016, after flying to Orlando to help with the aftermath of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Tranter joined with frequent collaborator, Julia Michaels, and GLAAD CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis to find a way to make a larger contribution. Through Interscope Records, and joined by many talented artists and the music community, they brought about the release of the charity single "Hands" to raise funds for Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. [11]
Design career
Jewelry was a natural outlet for Tranter's creative talent as experience with his mother's jewelry business led him to his early day job in a jewelry store after he moved to New York. Tranter's jewelry company, Fetty, grew out of necklaces he designed to sell as merchandise for the Semi Precious Weapons shows.[12] These rock-and-roll inspired pieces consist mostly of heart and weapon themed charm necklaces and earrings.
In 2008, he designed a limited-edition sneaker for DKNY.[13]
Television appearances
Tranter has appeared as a guest on the E! cable network show Chelsea Lately.[14] In December 2008, he also appeared as a coach on the MTV reality show MADE in which he helped a young girl transform into a "rock star".[15] Tranter appears in the diner in the music video for Telephone by Lady Gaga.[16]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Justin Tranter. |
- ↑ "17th Annual Academy AIDS Benefit.". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "Inside Lady Gaga's Monster Ball". November 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "How an Unlikely Duo Became the Hottest Songwriters in Pop Music". January 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ↑ "This Rocker Has Been Writing All Of Your Favorite Pop Songs". November 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "'Sorry' Songwriter Justin Tranter Owns His Sexuality and the Pop Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
- ↑ "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015". December 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "17th Annual Academy AIDS Benefit.". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ↑
- ↑ "Britney Spears, Pink, Selena Gomez Join 'Hands' for Orlando: How the All-Star Song Came to Life.". Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ↑ "Semi Precious Weapons Official Bio". April 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ Newman, Sabrina (February 7, 2008). "StyleHive Sneak Peek: Justin Tranter's Exclusive DKNY Sneaker Line". Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Guest Appearance on Chelsea Lately". November 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ "MTV MADE: Rock Star. Season 9, Episode 30". December 6, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Telephone (Video)". November 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.