Christian recording artist Justin Warren says his heart is to share the hope we have in Jesus through the songs he writes.
Warren, who hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, has shared the stage with a number of Christian artists, including MercyMe, Sanctus Real, Building 429 and Natalie Grant. This spring, he is touring with his good friend JJ Weeks, who Warren says treats him like a little brother. Weeks and Warren are teaming up with special guest WeRCalled for the My Front Porch tour.
Warren previously toured with Sanctus Real, an experience he called “amazing.”
“When you’re out on the road with them, when you’re living life with them and get to know them … they’re just … the real deal. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever been around. I was really impressed with the way they conducted themselves and carried themselves,” he said.
Warren saw an example of Sanctus Real’s character when their crew was working in the cold and snow to load equipment after a concert in Nebraska. Because Sanctus Real was headlining, they could have been in the warm bus getting ready to sleep. Instead they were in the back of the trailer helping load the equipment.
“That really made an impact on me,” Warren noted.
Having listened to Sanctus Real while he was growing up, he said, “I’ll forever cherish [being on tour with them]. It was a really great experience.”
Living life together
The logistics of touring can be daunting, Warren said. Managers and agents line up the shows, but there has to be a good communication system. The band has to know where they are going, what time to arrive, which meals will be provided and whether they stay in a hotel or on the bus.
He says they usually arrive at a venue midmorning, unload the equipment and do a sound check. Then there are meet and greet sessions, the concert performance and tearing down and reloading the equipment before they are through.
After the equipment is loaded, “we drive a little while, find the hotel … and get up and do it all over again,” Warren added. “It ends up being a lot of work, but it’s worth it. We believe in what we’re doing. We believe we’re making [music] for Jesus, and we’re excited to do it.”
Reactions from fans
Being on the road provides a variety of experiences, and so does hearing from Warren’s fans.
He remembers a little girl who had a terminal illness. The girl asked to meet him, and she brought him a pack of M&Ms. She told Warren his songs were an encouragement to her.
“I’ll just never forget … seeing her worship, knowing what she was walking through. She was still worshipping God so faithfully. It put me in tears, to be honest. It was incredible,” Warren remembered.
Warren also recalls when a woman contacted him through Facebook to tell him her son had just been murdered. She said Warren’s music was helping her through her season of pain.
“I’ll never understand why the Lord allowed me to do this, and why anybody would listen to [my music],” Warren said. “I’m thankful that He’s given me some songs and that people have been gracious enough to listen.”
“That’s God stuff. It’s not something I can take credit for,” he continued. “It’s very humbling that God would take these songs and use them to encourage people. Hearing encouraging words from people … does help motivate you and lift your spirit. It makes it all worth it.”
Warren added, “There’s been times where I’ve gone out and done some events where I’m walking away kind of bummed or discouraged, and then you turn around and the Lord just absolutely blesses your socks off the next time out. I’m always incredibly thankful for that.”
In 2022, Warren signed with Radiate Music and joined Cade Thompson for the Bigger Story tour.
His latest release, “All Things Well,” can be streamed through all major platforms. To learn more about his music, go to justinwarrenmusic.net.
