Education
He studied music at the Chicago Academy for the Arts from 1994-1998. Tranter graduated from Berklee in three years, with a Grade Point Average of 3.9 and a degree in songwriting.
He studied music at the Chicago Academy for the Arts from 1994-1998. Tranter graduated from Berklee in three years, with a Grade Point Average of 3.9 and a degree in songwriting.
His writing credits include collaborations with major artists such as Gwen Stefani, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Fall Out Boy. Tranter is also the lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, a New York rock band. While at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, he started an annual Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Benefit After graduation from high school Tranter moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music.
Along with songwriting, he also took classes in business management, in preparation for a career in music
While at Berklee, Justin founded Musicians With a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education. Tranter began his music career on the Lower East Side of New York City"s underground club circuit.
Tranter recorded his first album, Scratched, while still at Berklee. After graduation Tranter moved to New York where he put together his first band as the house band for an off-broadway show called Rockstars New York City. The show closed after 3 weeks and Tranter went on to record his second album, Tear Maine Together.
In 2004, Tranter joined forces with fellow Berklee graduates, Cole Whittle, Dan Crean, and Aaron Lee Tasjan (who has since been replaced by Stevy Pyne) to form Semi Precious Weapons.
He and Semi Precious Weapons opened for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball from 11/09-5/11. After moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Tranter signed a new publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music to write songs for other artists. Since then he has collaborated on numerous Billboard hits including two songs, Good for You and Sorry, that held the number one spot on People’s Radio for three weeks each.
Tranter is also to appear as a collaborator on The Knocks" debut album, entitled "55", scheduled to be released within the early months of 2016.
In December 2015, Tranter was named one of Rolling Stone"s "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015" for his songwriting contributions to 2015"s popular charts. Jewelry was a natural outlet for Tranter"s creative talent as experience with his mother"s jewelry business led him to his early day job in a jewelry store after he moved to New New York
Tranter"s jewelry company, Fetty, grew out of necklaces he designed to sell as merchandise for the Semi Precious Weapons shows. These rock-and-roll inspired pieces consist mostly of heart and weapon themed charm necklaces and earrings.
In 2008, he designed a limited-edition sneaker for DKNY. Tranter has appeared as a guest on the East! cable network show Chelsea Lately.
In December 2008, he also appeared as a coach on the Music Television reality show MADE in which he helped a young girl transform into a "rock star". Tranter appears in the diner in the music video for Telephone by Lady Gaga.