225 Press Play: Justin Garner – Preview the singer’s new single “Hopeless Romantic”

225’s new feature Press Play gives you an exclusive listen to a local band’s latest songs before the release date.

2011 was a good year for Justin Garner.

In that year, the Baton Rouge R&B/pop singer released an exclusive album that was shipped to Japan and climbed up the charts there.

“It paved the way for me to get recognized here,” Garner says. “I paid my dues there, and here, people are like, ‘Who is this Justin Garner guy?'”

When he got back home, he had a creative rebirth. This February, he released Year One, an EP to introduce himself to locals. When he saw the overflowing support overseas and here, he quickly started getting to work on a proper full length debut this July.

After a few months of writing and recording, Garner is set to release Warrior next week. You can pre-order the album or purchase it on iTunes on October 22 .

The album’s production credits are impressive. Garner worked with executive producer Shaun Andrew, a duo from the Netherlands called DFRNS (pronounced “difference”), Dominic Bazile (who produced Ludacris’ smash “Get Back”), and Germany’s Kolja Dominiak.

Garner’s goal was clear from the beginning—go bold or go home.

“Sound-wise, I wanted to show off my vocals more, show off more soul and passion,” he says. “I wanted to add more guitar elements. The thought of my father and his band, The Rocking Imperials, inspired me. I’m heavily influenced by go-go music, and they had a go-go/soul-type rock to their music. The thought of that put me in a mindset of exploring all genres. That’s how Warrior came about.”

For Garner, the release depicts that battle he’s staged in his career.

“Music industry-wise, people like to tell you that you can’t do something,” he says. “I’m an ‘I can’ person. Being a warrior is about believing in your dreams, fighting for your dreams … I’m going to continue to work hard and make music. No one can tell me no.”

Listen to “Hopeless Romantic” from Warrior below.

This song is no longer available for streaming. Justin Garner’s single “Hopeless Romantic” is now available for purchase here.