SINGER  /  SONGWRITER  /  GUITARIST

Always questioning, always observing. Forever searching for invisible answers.

Photo by Voisine Vision Photography

​Justin Kelley is Hownd.
 
An old soul with a gift for mindful songwriting, Hownd delves deep into himself as an artist. His resounding electric guitar tone echoes within the walls of his signature sound that has developed over years of exploration. 

Hownd’s debut album, Only Good Things, is an illustration of where his roots lie. He expresses, “The project allowed insight into who I am as a solo artist. The topics in that album and self-produced style remain the foundation for what I’m doing now.”

His debut single, “Iron,” came out of the tail end of finding his voice. A somber, soothing tone with warm acoustic guitar and swelling rhythm, he exposes a different side of his ever-arching coin. 

Cementing himself into a new soul genre, Hownd released his most recent singles, “Pressure” and "How Will I Know," this year. Both recorded live to capture authentic performances, the tracks compliment each other, reflecting self-induced struggles:“The songs are truly about opening up and being comfortable with your decisions, regardless of surrounding voices.”

Hownd describes his early inspiration as stemming from the moment he first picked up a guitar. “The instrument gave me a vessel to express my thoughts. It made me realize I want to share my music with audiences." 

In essence, Hownd’s music carries an ethical character and identity. His distinctive electric guitar sound is driven by a custom ’58 Strat by local guitar company Karge Guitars, supporting his lyrics that mirror the most impactful observations of humanity.
 
“Always questioning, always observing. Forever searching for invisible answers."