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 being 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 and adaptive. It has also ingrained within him an authentically grounded personality; one where sticking to your guns and maintaining personal and artistic integrity are paramount. “I just want to be really honest with my music. Yes, I am writing pop music, but I am not writing songs that are trying to just fit in just for the sake of doing it. I want to put together sounds and melodies and beats, as well as lyrics, that represent what I am thinking and feeling,” he said. Judson’s pop sensibilities were honed at a very early age, as he developed a precocious attachment to one of the biggest names in the history of popular music – Elvis Presley. “I remember listening to a lot of Elvis and seeing all his movies and being really impressed. That’s where it started for me; I had a little Fisher Price record player and I used to spin the 45s of Jailhouse Rock and Teddy Bear over and over and dance in my room all the time. Looking back, I realize those were really well-crafted pop rock songs. Even though they were 40 years old at the time they still spoke to me. And I think that’s what good pop music does – it just sticks in people’s heads,” he said. Later, that same curiosity and drive to create lead to him 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. As he matured as a musician, he discovered that more and more of his songwriting heart was turning towards upbeat pop music and Judson began to evolve into the artist that we see today – an eminently talented crafter of original, catchy and memorable music. He was drawn to the best national and international pop/soul/R&B acts on the planet, from Timbaland to Timberlake, the boy bands of the 1990s through to Buble, Bieber, Desman and Derulo. Judson taught himself all the tricks and techniques of the electronic composing, engineering and producing trade and then refined these skills after moving to London, ON to study Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe College. Releasing singles and videos independently, including on his popular YouTube and social media channels, Judson has built not only a loyal and growing fan base, but also a reputation as a potential hit making composer thanks to earlier tracks like Can’t Shake It, Bright Lights and the explosive (and somewhat naughty) Edible Incredible, released in early 2015. 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. His goal, which is undiminished from the moment he first picked up that seemingly discarded electric guitar, is to continue to write record and perform his own unique brand of pop music, without compromising his integrity, his values, or his genuine common touch. “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. I want to put people in a good mood with my songs. I want to write that song that they turn up when it comes on the radio or their iPod, or the song that they cheer and grab their girlfriends and run up onto the dance floor 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.