Q&A: justbrandon Confronts Loss and Legacy on New Single “Bury Me On A Backroad”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
Photo By Melody Berkery
GRIEF HAS AWAY OF LINGERING IN THE QUIET MOMENTS - the long drives, the empty roads, the places where memory and loss intersect. On his new single “Bury Me On A Backroad,” justbrandon taps directly into that emotional space, offering an anthemic yet deeply human reflection on loss, remembrance and the hope of easing the weight that comes with saying goodbye. Released via Gravel Road, the track pairs his unmistakable storytelling with a powerful feature from critically acclaimed artist and COWBOY CARTER collaborator Willie Jones, creating a moment that feels both intimate and expansive.
Written and produced by justbrandon himself, “Bury Me On A Backroad” blends country grit with hip-hop honesty, anchored by an emotive chorus that reframes grief not as something to be escaped, but something to be carried with care. Willie Jones’ commanding presence adds depth and resonance, amplifying the song’s central theme: honoring those we’ve lost while finding peace in where we come from. Together, the two artists strike a balance between vulnerability and strength, crafting a song that feels tailor-made for late-night drives and reflective moments alike.
Following the viral success of “Busch Light Papi,” justbrandon continues to carve out his lane as a songwriter unafraid of emotional truth, grounding his work in lived experience rather than spectacle. “Bury Me On A Backroad” marks another step forward in his evolution, one that showcases not only his growth as an artist, but his ability to turn personal pain into something communal, resonant and lasting.
LUNA: “Bury Me On A Backroad” is deeply emotional and rooted in loss. What was the moment or memory that first sparked the idea for this song?
JUSTBRANDON: Bury Me On A Backroad was actually inspired by “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry. I was doom-scrolling one night and it came on in the background of a TikTok. I pulled the song up and really paid attention to the lyrics after not listening to it in forever, and it just felt like a lot. I remember thinking, I don’t want my family to have to do a bunch of extra stuff when I die. I went straight to my Notes app and typed “bury me on a backroad,” then came back and wrote the song a few days later.
LUNA: You wrote and produced the track entirely yourself. How did handling both the emotional storytelling and the production shape the final sound?
JUSTBRANDON: I was driving from Dallas to Nashville one night, and I do a lot of my writing on long car rides — I’ll freestyle line by line into my voice memos. I finished writing the chorus and started playing around with the cadence. I feel like the vocals to a hit song should be able to stand alone as an acapella and still invoke the feeling you want people to feel. At the same time, the instrumental has to be captivating on its own.
I’m an early adopter of Suno, the AI music production company, and I uploaded a voice memo of me singing the chorus while I was driving. I regenerated the song probably twenty times, looking for the perfect guitar melody. Once I checked into my Airbnb, I set up my studio equipment and locked myself in for the first 24 hours and finished two or three songs — Bury Me On A Backroad was one of them. I even toyed with starting the song acapella, but cut that part to keep it tighter.
LUNA: How did your collaboration with Willie Jones come together, and what made him the right person to help tell this story?
JUSTBRANDON: I’ve actually kind of known Willie forever. We have a lot of mutual friends in LA but never had the chance to work together. Once we were signed to the same label, we started crossing paths more and talking about collaborating.
I was in Nashville for a week, texted Willie, and he pulled up the same day. I played him a few songs and told him he could jump on whichever one he wanted. I was really hoping he’d choose Bury Me On A Backroad because I was falling in love with it, and his voice would take it to the next level. I think he gravitated toward it because we grew up similarly — preacher’s kids, Libras, family from Louisiana. We didn’t talk about it much, but I’m sure we’ve lived through a lot of the same things.
LUNA: Your roots in Southern Indiana play a huge role in your perspective and writing. How does “Bury Me On A Backroad” reflect the way you grew up?
JUSTBRANDON: I actually spent my early childhood in Northern Indiana — my dad worked in the steel mill, so we bounced around Gary, Michigan City, and other small towns before moving to Southern Indiana when I was in third grade. Indiana is the crossroads of America. Someone who lives ten minutes away from you can live a completely different life.
I didn’t come from money, so we moved a lot. By the time I graduated high school, I had friends living off-grid with no internet, friends whose parents owned massive companies, and friends in and out of jail — everything in between. I’d be drinking beer at a bonfire one night and hanging out in the projects the next day.
Because I moved so much, I never really felt rooted anywhere. I always wanted more out of life and wanted to leave my hometown. In the first verse I talk about chasing the wind, how my city’s in the passenger seat but might want me to crash. Small towns can show a lot of fake love when you’re winning, but secretly hope you fail.
LUNA: How does this single fit into the larger picture of your upcoming music?
JUSTBRANDON: This song shows a more serious side of me. I make a lot of music that makes people feel good, but this one is meant to make people think.
LUNA: How does being a multidisciplinary artist influence the world you’re building around this release?
JUSTBRANDON: I’ve been burned a lot — wasted money trusting the wrong people — so being multidisciplinary gives me control and clarity. I’m not just thinking about the song, I’m thinking about the entire experience: the visuals, the pacing, the rollout, how it feels the first time you hear it and the tenth time.
With Bury Me On A Backroad, that mattered a lot. It’s personal, and I wanted everything connected to it to feel intentional and honest, not overproduced or disconnected. Being able to write it, produce it, visualize it, and shape how it’s presented lets me protect the story.
LUNA: Your viral track “Busch Light Papi” introduced you to a new audience. How do you think fans of that song will respond to something as vulnerable as “Bury Me On A Backroad”?
JUSTBRANDON: No one only listens to one kind of music. The same people who fell in love with Busch Light Papi will fall in love with Bury Me On A Backroad — they just have to hear it. Busch Light Papi is the song you play when the bonfire’s roaring. Bury Me On A Backroad is what you put on when it’s just embers and everyone’s gone home.
LUNA: This is your first release with Willie Jones. Should fans expect more collaborations in this sonic lane, or are you exploring a wider spectrum?
JUSTBRANDON: I’ve got more songs with Willie, and none of them sound like Bury Me On A Backroad. I’m sitting on a lot of music that’ll start dropping in 2026, and all of it pushes boundaries in different ways.
Blending genres was never about staying in one lane — it was about following the song wherever it needed to go. Some of my new stuff is introspective, some is high-energy, some leans country, some hip-hop, some right in the middle. Willie moves across that spectrum naturally too, so working together opens doors instead of boxing us in.
LUNA: Do you have any 2026 resolutions or goals you’d like to share?
JUSTBRANDON: I just want music to be fun again. Chasing the algorithm started to feel like a job, and creativity doesn’t thrive there. In 2026, I want to make records because they move me — not because they check a box.
I want to collaborate without overthinking, experiment without worrying about performance, and release songs that feel like they were written for the person listening. The goal is to build a fanbase that feels like they’ve lived my music, not just heard it. If I stay honest and enjoy the process again, I trust the results will follow.
