Justin Stewart of Tempe on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Justin Stewart. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Justin , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
The truth is, this is the first music I have released in almost a decade, so completing a double-single felt pretty special. I am also inspired that these new singles “19” and “97”, and these songs, are calling back to the reasons I started liking electronic music to begin with, and becoming a DJ and producer.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Justin Stewart, and I go by the performance name, Schux Famicom. I have been DJing since the late 90s, starting in Detroit, Michigan and later in Tempe, Arizona for more than decade. I have an unique taste in music and knowledge of different types of music. I think this helps me be successful at being a DJ. I not only drop fun, but I bring some knowledge and what I call “science” to the events that people can walk away with. I recently release my first new music as a producer in close to a decade, A double single called “1997”, which has the two ongs “19” and “97”. Both of them are a tribute to a time in space when things felt magical for me.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In 201,1 I lost my father to cancer. It was, and still is, a devastating moment for me, and really opened up my eyes on what the future could hold, and what it could look like. The idea of not having him around to support me, and the role that I had to take on to support my mom was a life changing occurrence. My return to DJing and music production happened after this moment. Even today, I wish he could see how far I have come in the past decade returning to my craft.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yeah, my DJ career and music production career for sure has had breaks. Everytime I have moved to a new city, I struggled to convince myself that performing music in public was important to me. Ironically, I am on the introverted side, so it has hard for me to find ways to get myself out there to perform in front of an audience. Luckily, after my last move to Tempe in 2012, I had some great champions and mentors to help get me out in front of people, and I have had time to really progress and be part of the Tempe and Phoenix music scene, either as a producer, performer, or event organizer.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Music and my friends. All of my oldest friends know how long I have been deeply moved and invested into my love for music. I think that can be traced back to when I was three, which is around the same age I met some of my oldest friends, who ironically I have been in musical projects with before, and hope to be in again in the future working on projects with them.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I can’t say I would give everything my best, but I will always give my passions my best, and make sure I am using my energy on those passions without praise. It is isn’t needed, the passion itself inspires me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @schuxfamicom
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchuxFamicom/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/schux-famicom
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u3Vacg1Q3PKhoFe8B9fFs?si=m-34FMWtSWGDhTQRj7T–A

  bandcamp: schuxfamicom.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
“Photo by Michael Williams ( @mikewwilliams ), funded by Tempe Community Arts’ ( @tempecityarts ) Tempe Playlist Program”