Maverick Judson wants nothing more than to be the artist who creates music that elicits just such an electric response from a crowd. And he may just have accomplished this with the impending national release of his new single – the dynamic, hypnotic and relentlessly infectious song Just Drive. Born and raised in the uniquely named northwestern Ontario community of Emo, Judson brings an unpretentious, blue collar ethos to his form of pop music. By his own description he is an approachable, small-town ‘everyman’, yet the music he creates is as prolific, polished and professional as anything produced out of the big city scenes. Proof of Maverick Judson’s status as a rising pop composer and performer comes in the form of award-winning Canadian pop star Danny Fernandes, who enthusiastically collaborated on Just Drive. And it’s evidence that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, small town or big, there are no barriers to creating impactful, refined popular music for the masses. “I just want people to see me as a regular guy who has a dream. I want people to see that you can be creative and make an impact as an artist from anywhere. I drive a truck. I have bills to pay. I live in a small house but I have this desire to create big music. I feel that I connect with people who work hard and play hard. I never want to lose that,” he said. “Just Drive has a broad appeal. I think it will move people and has something to say to lots of different people. It’s one of those songs that will make people smile when it comes on the radio or on the dancefloor years from now.” The long hours and hard toil of the construction business has taught Judson to be self-reliant. It was his own curiosity and drive to create that lead him to picking up a six string for the first time. “My dad had an old electric guitar sitting beside the piano collecting dust. One day I just picked it up and asked him if he could show me a couple of things. After that I just kept playing and practising, and eventually got into metal, which I loved at the time because it was so guitar driven. I played in a bunch of different bands and even promoted some shows while I was in high school,” he said. You will hear that influence in the original version of "Just Drive". When it comes to Just Drive, Judson wanted to be challenged as a songwriter and producer, seeking the inspirational and educational experience of collaborating with a likeminded artist, but one of greater stature and gravitas. Enter Fernandes. “I sent emails out to a lot of people and one night I was having dinner with my girlfriend and got a text from an unknown number from Toronto saying it was Danny. I didn’t believe it at first but he asked to call me and once I heard his voice I knew it was him. He said he listened to my stuff, liked it and said he wanted to help me out,” Judson said, adding that Fernandes would contribute his vocal talents to one verse of the song, as well as providing feedback of the overall arrangement and sound. Judson has more material waiting in the wings, including a collaboration with another established pop sensation – Karl Wolf. “I like to write songs that people want to hear in the morning when they’re on their way to work. I want people to feel good about what they’re listening to," he said. With Just Drive being launched nationally Maverick Judson may soon find his days as a truck driving pop troubadour will soon come to an end, as legions of new fans latch on to its insistent energy and positive affirming message. There’s little doubt that with his drive, talent and knack for penning pop tunes of rare quality that he will soon become a powerful creative force on the Canadian music scene.