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Justin TranterAmerican songwriter, singer and activist
Date of Birth: 16.06.1980
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Justin Tranter: Acclaimed Songwriter and LGBTQ+ Activist
- Music Career
- Songwriting Focus (2014-Present)
- Advocacy Work
- Personal Life
- Other Ventures
- Television and Film Appearances
Justin Tranter: Acclaimed Songwriter and LGBTQ+ Activist
Early Life and EducationJustin Drew Tranter was born and raised in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, as the youngest of four siblings. Throughout their youth, Tranter faced bullying, leading to their transfer from Zurich Lake High School to Chicago Academy for the Arts. While pursuing musical theater at the academy, they organized an annual AIDS Benefit show to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS. After graduating in 1998, they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, balancing songwriting with business management classes. At Berklee, they founded Musicians with a Mission, a scholarship fund dedicated to the education of LGBTQ+ youth.
Music Career
Beginnings and Semi Precious Weapons (2002-2014)Tranter released their debut studio album, "Scratched," in 2002, followed by "Tear Me Together" in 2004. In 2004, they formed the rock band Semi Precious Weapons in New York City with fellow Berklee alumni Cole Whittle, Dan Crean, and Aaron Lee Tasjan. The band's debut album, "We Love You," was released in 2008, and they subsequently toured as an opening act for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball Tour from 2009 to 2011. Semi Precious Weapons released two more albums, "You Love You" (2010) and "Aviation" (2014), before disbanding in 2014.
Songwriting Focus (2014-Present)
Following the breakup of Semi Precious Weapons, Tranter relocated to Los Angeles and signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music in 2012 to write songs for other artists. They have collaborated with numerous notable acts, including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Khalid, Fifth Harmony, and Fall Out Boy. In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine named Tranter one of "20 Biggest Breakthroughs of 2015" for their role in crafting some of the year's top pop hits.
Tranter often collaborates with Julia Michaels, and several songs co-written by the duo have charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Two such tracks, "Good for You" by Gomez and "Sorry" by Bieber, reached the top spot on the Top 40 Mainstream chart. Tranter and Michaels also teamed up to co-write Gwen Stefani's third solo studio album, "This Is What the Truth Feels Like" (2016). Since then, Tranter has penned songs for artists ranging from Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to Imagine Dragons and Linkin Park.
In recent years, Tranter has expanded their work to include film and television scores. They served as executive music producer and songwriter for the soundtracks of the Hulu film "Happiest Season" (2020), Billy Porter's directorial debut "Anything's Possible" (2022), and the Netflix film "Purple Hearts" (2022). They also co-wrote the end-credits song "Hindsight" for Billy Eichner's film "Bros" (2022). In 2023, Tranter will executive produce and write songs for the soundtracks of Larin Sullivan's "Young King" and the Paramount+ prequel series "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies."
Advocacy Work
Tranter's activism began in high school at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where they founded an annual AIDS Benefit to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. This was followed by Musicians with a Mission, the scholarship fund for LGBTQ+ youth education that Tranter established while at Berklee College of Music.
In 2016, Tranter traveled to Orlando to assist in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting. They co-wrote and co-produced the charity single "Hands" to raise funds for Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.
In February 2017, Tranter joined the National Board of Directors for GLAAD. At that year's GLAAD Media Awards, Tranter raised $123,000 for the organization by auctioning four bespoke songwriting and recording sessions. Each year, Tranter hosts a private "Spirit Day" concert to raise funds for GLAAD's efforts to support LGBTQ+ youth. The fourth annual event in 2022 raised $400,000.
Tranter is also an advocate for animal welfare and has been a vegetarian since 1994. They were honored with the ACLU of Southern California's Bill of Rights Award in 2019 for their activism as an "outspoken and powerful voice for the LGBTQIA+ community, diversity, the climate crisis, the arts education, animal rights, and ending gun violence."
Personal Life
Tranter identifies as bisexual, gender non-conforming, and non-binary. They have stated that when it comes to pronouns, "they/them/theirs is what I go by."
Other Ventures
Tranter's jewelry brand, Fetty, evolved from necklaces they designed to sell as merchandise at Semi Precious Weapons shows. Fetty is sold at retailers such as Urban Outfitters and Barneys, with designs often featuring hearts and weaponry. In 2008, Tranter designed a limited-edition sneaker for DKNY.
Tranter is the founder and CEO of Facet Records and Publishing, which manages a roster of artists, songwriters, and producers.
Television and Film Appearances
Tranter has made guest appearances on the E! cable network show "Chelsea Lately." In December 2008, they also served as a mentor on the MTV reality show "MADE," where they helped a young girl transform into a "rock star." In 2010, Tranter made a cameo appearance as a diner patron in Lady Gaga's music video for "Telephone." They were interviewed for the 2012 documentary film "Jobriath A.D." about rock musician Jobriath.
