Justin Trawick isn’t just another guy with a guitar. This local singer/songwriter has a knack for incorporating a variety of styles including R&B and folk into his music. His lyrics are well thought out and no matter what direction his songs take, there are solid and powerful vocals anchoring them down. Trawick has been performing in and around D.C. for the past few years, including a recurring songwriter showcase at Solly’s Tavern on U Street.

We stopped by Vermillion in Old Town Alexandria last week to check out him out. He was accompanied by an electric mandolin and a stand up bass. There was a sizable late-night crowd, and the trio energized the laid back atmosphere with a mixed set of both original songs and covers, including Radiohead’s “High and Dry”. We spoke with Justin to find out what it takes for a local artist to rise up into the national scene, the importance of good lyrics, and his upcoming live album.

Buy his album at: CD Baby

See him next at: 8:30 p.m. @ Ned Divines in Sterling, Va.

Visit him at: JustinTrawick.com

Questions for Justin:

Describe your musical style.

My musical style is all over the place, to say the least. About a year ago I started calling it “urban folk rock” because I thought that mostly encompassed what I was doing, which is pretty much everything from bluegrass to hip hop. Last night I played a show with my upright bassist at the Galaxy Hut in Arlington where it was just a duo acoustic show and all the songs were soft, slow, and thoughtful…think Ryan Adams. The night before we were at the 930 Club in D.C. with my full six piece band which, in addition to Jean and I, included electric guitar, congas, drums, and even my friend rapping on a few songs. I guess my goal is to play a little bit of everything, to incorporate as many styles as possible, and to make each show different.