Justin Tranter
| Justin Tranter | |
|---|---|
 Justin Tranter in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Justin Drew Tranter |
| Born | June 16, 1980 |
| Origin | Lake Zurich, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | Official site |
Justin Drew Tranter (born June 16, 1980) is an American musician, songwriter and activist. He has written songs for Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Linkin Park, Kelly Clarkson, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, DNCE, Kesha, In Real Life, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Fall Out Boy, and frequently co-writes with fellow song-writer Julia Michaels. Tranter was the lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, a rock band based in New York. He is also a board member of GLAAD, an organization that promotes LGBTQ acceptance in the entertainment and news industries.
Early years
Tranter and his three older brothers were raised by their parents in Lake Zurich, Illinois. They studied musical theatre at the Chicago Academy for the Arts from 1994–98. While at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, he started an annual AIDS Benefit.[1]
After graduation from high school, Tranter moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Along with songwriting, they also took classes in business management, in preparation for a career in music. Tranter graduated from Berklee in three years, with a GPA of 3.9 and a degree in songwriting. While at Berklee, Justin founded Musicians With a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education.[2]
In 2003, Justin won an Outmusic Award for the song "Blend In," co-written with Stephanie Delk, from "Scratched."[3]
Music career
In 2004, Tranter joined forces with fellow Berklee graduates, Cole Whittle, Dan Crean, and Aaron Lee Tasjan (who has since been replaced by Stevy Pyne) to form Semi Precious Weapons. Themself and Semi Precious Weapons opened for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball from 2009-2011.[4]
After moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Tranter signed a new publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music to write songs for other artists. He started collaborating with artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Hailee Steinfeld, as well groups like Fifth Harmony and Fall Out Boy.[5] Tranter and their frequent writing partner, Julia Michaels, collaborated on numerous Billboard hits including two songs, Good for You and Sorry, that held the number one spot on Pop Radio for three weeks each.[6] Tranter and Michaels also teamed-up to co-write Gwen Stefani's third solo album entitled This Is What the Truth Feels Like.[7]
In December 2015, Tranter was named one of Rolling Stone's "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015" for their songwriting contributions to the 2015 pop charts.[8]
Tranter has since written for musicians ranging from Britney Spears to Linkin Park, as well as providing backup vocals for The Knocks and on Kygo's song "Carry Me", which was taken from their debut album, entitled Cloud Nine.
At the 2017 BMI Pop Awards hosted by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), Tranter was named 2017 Pop Songwriter of the Year and collected awards for co-writing four of the top songs of the year.[9]
Discography
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Forever" | 2017 | The Lego Batman Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
Songwriting credits
Advocacy
Tranter began their activism with the initiation of an annual AIDS benefit while attending high school at the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts.[1] Their advocacy continued while attending Berklee where he founded Musicians With a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education.[2] In 2016, after flying to Orlando to help with the aftermath of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Tranter joined with frequent collaborator, Julia Michaels, and GLAAD CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis to find a way to make a larger contribution. Through Interscope Records, and joined by many talented artists and the music community, they brought about the release of the charity single "Hands" to raise funds for Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.[11]
In February 2017, Tranter joined the National Board of Directors for GLAAD, an organization that promotes LGBTQ acceptance in the entertainment and news industries.[12] As part of the GLAAD Media Awards in May and June 2017, Tranter raised $123,000 for GLAAD by auctioning off four individual songwriting and recording sessions.[13]
Tranter is also a long-time vegan, vegetarian since 1995 and a supporter of Mercy for Animals.
Design career
Tranter's jewelry company, Fetty, grew out of necklaces they designed to sell as merchandise for the Semi Precious Weapons shows.[14] These rock-and-roll inspired pieces consist mostly of heart and weapon themed charm necklaces and earrings.
In 2008, they designed a limited-edition sneaker for DKNY.[15]
Television appearances
Tranter has appeared as a guest on the E! cable network show Chelsea Lately.[16] In December 2008, they also appeared as a coach on the MTV reality show MADE in which they help a young girl transform into a "rock star".[17] Tranter appears in the diner in the music video for Telephone by Lady Gaga.[18]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Justin Tranter. |
- 1 2 "17th Annual Academy AIDS Benefit". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- 1 2 "Semi Precious Weapons on Apple Music".
- ↑ http://www.queermusicheritage.com/awards3.html
- ↑ "Inside Lady Gaga's Monster Ball". November 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "This Rocker Has Been Writing All Of Your Favorite Pop Songs". November 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "How an Unlikely Duo Became the Hottest Songwriters in Pop Music". January 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ↑ "Gwen Stefani: How Making My New Album Saved My Life". March 18, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ↑ "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015". December 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "WARNER/CHAPPELL NAMED MUSIC PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR AT BMI POP AWARDS". May 10, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ↑ https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/pictures-of-you-hmltd/m066vm1pu3vea
- ↑ "Britney Spears, Pink, Selena Gomez Join 'Hands' for Orlando: How the All-Star Song Came to Life". Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Hitmaker Justin Tranter Joins GLAAD's National Board of Directors: 'I'm Using the Success I've Had to Help Other People Shine'". February 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ↑ "GLAAD Media Awards: Songwriter Justin Tranter Raises $123K With Auction for Studio Sessions". May 17, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ↑ "Semi Precious Weapons Official Bio". April 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ Newman, Sabrina (February 7, 2008). "StyleHive Sneak Peek: Justin Tranter's Exclusive DKNY Sneaker Line". Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Guest Appearance on Chelsea Lately". November 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ "MTV MADE: Rock Star. Season 9, Episode 30". December 6, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Telephone (Video)". November 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
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