The thinking person’s folk-ruffian, The Bedroom Philosopher (Justin Heazlewood) has the heart of a musician, the brain of a comedian and the face of a hot female character actor.
Justin found himself dancing on the tables of the music industry in 2002 with a regular segment on JJJ’s Morning Show. His lo-fi idiosyncrasies resonated so much with their audience that when he released his debut album In Bed With My Doona in 2005, he took pride in placing in the Hottest 100 with his ode to absurdity, ‘I’m So Post Modern’. He quickly gained a reputation for stage annihilating live performances that were both “life changingly memorable and a cause for major concern.” An only-child steam train of ideas, he deftly spins a radical rumpus of wit, song smarts and madcap banter.
In 2007 The Bedroom Philospher formed his dynamic backing band The Awkwardstra to expand his sound. The band began with Melbourne based players Nature Boy Hazel and Mad Dog Rabinovici and now comprises of electric guitar/sitar (Gordo), percussion (Donny Maracas) and horns (Donald Trumpet and Audrey Horn).
A third studio album, Songs From the 86 Tram, was nominated for an ARIA award. It was based on the multi-award winning show of the same name (Directors Choice, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2009.) The album showcases The Bedroom Philosopher’s ability to impersonate a huge range of suburban characters with depth and empathy, backing them with lively, genre-hopping soundtracks – think Chris Lilley meets Beck.
The first single, ‘Northcote (So Hungover)’ has been a cross-over hit, scoring high rotation on Triple J, backed by a brilliant film clip directed by Craig Melville (Chaser, John Safran) and featuring cameos by rock royalty Tim Rogers, Kram and Angie Hart. The clip was video of the week on ‘Rage’ and Channel V and has won two US film festival awards and the Australian Director’s Guild Award for best video 2010.
The Bedroom Philosopher has recently appeared on ‘Spicks & Specks’, ‘Collectors’ and ‘In Gordon St Tonight’, while performing shows at Falls Festival, Woodford, Queenscliff and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He has supported Tripod, Dan Kelly, Tim Minchin, Flacco and The DC3. As Justin Heazlewood he writes for Frankie, JMag, The Big Issue, Scrivener’s Fancy and Mess & Noise. He created Triple R’s sketch comedy show ‘Lime Champions’ and played a young John Safran on Race Relations.
He currently lives in Thornbury with his 70s tie collection.
