Formerly known as Penny Lame, Jianna Justice is a new lo-fi pop trio led by songwriter Jianna Justice on guitar and vocals, and featuring the talents of Ben Jackson (Warehouse) on bass and Jonny Williams on drums. Their debut single, “Twenty,” is a melancholic rumination on growing up and dealing with the oncoming pressures of adulthood and societal expectations that somehow comes off as cheerily brisk. Credit that to Justice’s wry sense of humor, which shines through on the track’s incisive opening lines: “Today I called my mom on her house phone / She asked me if I’m in love yet / She asked me who the hell I’m voting for / She prays it’s not a Democrat / She prays it’s not that pretty boy next door.”

It’s never wise to try and glean too much from one track, especially a debut, but it’s hard not to feel the promise bursting from the seams of this song. Its laid-back bustle, shimmering guitars, and subtle swell of strings strike a woozy balance of sun and sadness that captures the thrill and terror of youthful milestones, in this case turning twenty and leaving your teenage years behind.

But it’s Justice that’s the true revelation here. Her vocals are soft, almost elfin, but she thrusts them into the world with an assertiveness that grows increasingly captivating with each discerning line. By the time she glides her way through the second chorus, the enchantment is complete: “But maybe when I’m twenty I’ll learn how to sleep alone / I’ll do better in large crowds, do better on my own / Maybe when I’m twenty I’ll like how my body looks / Maybe when I’m twenty everything will feel like it should,” she sings, and it’s that combination of gut-wrenching self-awareness and wishful thinking that hits you squarely in the chest.

For the time being I’ll heed my own advice and reserve my final judgment until I hear more, but on “Twenty” Jianna Justice sound every bit the real deal. Listen below.

Jianna Justice will make their live debut on Monday, March 28 at the Georgia Theater Rooftop when they play in support of BOYTOY (Burger Records). Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is FREE.

More Info
Bandcamp: jiannajustice.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @jiannajusticemusic
SoundCloud: @jianna-justice