Have you ever envisioned your own death?

It may sound morbid to some, but do you imagine where it might happen, when it might come, and who would be there beside you? What about how others will commemorate your legacy?

Contemplating these things is more common than we might think, which is why justbrandon’s new song resonates so strongly with so many. The American singer/songwriter and rapper (born Brandon Gabriel Jones) is driven by an intense desire to leave a meaningful, positive mark on the world – an impact so powerful that the way he departs becomes insignificant in comparison. He beautifully expresses this message throughout his deeply descriptive work “Bury Me on a Backroad.” Featuring acclaimed artist Willie Jones, best known for his collaboration with Beyoncé (see “JUST FOR FUN” off 2024’s Cowboy Carter), the emotive track fuses country and rap into a strikingly original style.

Bury Me on a Backroad - justbrandon x Willie Jones — Bury Me on a Backroad – justbrandon x Willie Jones

I might never come back home
So if I die, draped in all of my gold
Bury me on a back road
In a flyover state
with no name on the stone
‘Cause I don’t want nobody
crying at my grave
I don’t want my family
to go through that pain
So bury me on a back road
In a flyover state
with no name on the stone

In his formative years, Jones focused on writing and recording with his brothers while building a local fanbase through independent releases and live performances. His songwriting reached a broader audience in 2015 when he created music for social media influencer Taylor Caniff, earning national recognition. justbrandon’s creative direction encompasses video production, branding, design, consulting, and A&R. His myriad of talents has culminated in the standout creations he produces today, including “Bury Me on a Backroad” and other recent releases, including “Indiana” and “Busch Light Papi.”

Yeah, bury me on a back road
‘Cause I’m chasing the wind,
and might never come back home
Can’t believe that I made it this far,
’cause I really came up out the mud like a tadpole
This ain’t only for me, my city in the passenger seat,
they might want me to crash though
Taking shots, but I’m right at the glass,
put the ball in my hand
and I’m breaking the backboard

Got a dream and some cash and a tank full of gas,
and a past that I’ll never let go of
Raise a glass to the nights I ain’t die
but came close when I think back,
dog, I get choked up
If the stars don’t shine,
I’ma still find light in the fire
from the bridges I burned up
Put a stone with no name,
bury me and my chains, pour one out
on my grave when my turn’s up

“Bury Me on a Backroad” commences with compelling lyrics stating, “I may never come back home, so if I die draped in all of my gold, bury me on the back road, in the flyover state with no name on the stone.” The image is sharp in our minds, and we feel that sense of a humble end. Thumping hip-hop beats merge with electric and acoustic guitars, crafting a sonic world that feels both tenderly close and unapologetically confident. Jones’ rap vocals drop are instantly irresistible, effortlessly shifting the vibe from intimate to cool and fresh. The pairing is pure magic.

Atwood Magazine recently spoke with justbrandon about creative freedom, the profound meaning behind his music, and more. Read our interview below, and step inside the mindset of an artist thinking deeply about legacy – not as something carved in stone, but as something lived, felt, and carried forward in the moments that matter most.

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:: stream/purchase Bury Me on a Backroad here ::

:: connect with justbrandon here ::

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Stream: “Bury Me On A Backroad” – justbrandon

A CONVERSATION WITH JUSTBRANDON

Atwood Magazine: “Bury Me on a Backroad” deals with loss but carries an anthemic, almost comforting energy. What personal experiences or emotions sparked the idea for this song?

justbrandon: The song deals with loss but honestly came from thinking about legacy. Chasing something bigger than where you came from you’ve gotta lean into the fact that you might not always be understood or celebrated while you’re alive. I’ve lost people, almost lost myself, and had moments where I felt like I was heading somewhere that would change me… I wanted the song to feel honest to that, but not too heavy. It’s really about peace. If I never come back home just know I lived life to the fullest and make sure my kids are taken care of.

You wrote and produced the song yourself. How did having full creative control shape the emotional direction of the record?

justbrandon: Having full control let me follow the song instead of following a formula. I wasn’t really thinking about where the song would get streamed. I was thinking about who would be streaming it. That’s why the record is structured the way it is… There’s space, there’s energy, there’s reflection. I could let the song breathe when it needed to and let the production support the story instead of competing with it. If you’re cruising a backroad at midnight this song is gonna play with your emotions a little bit.

The title feels very grounded and visual. What does a “backroad” symbolize to you in the context of the song?

justbrandon: Originally I was writing the song with a literal backroad in mind; I had just listened to “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry and felt like Kim was doing too much. I don’t want to be buried in satin. Literally, bury me on a backroad. I feel like I’m living my life in a way that I’ll be remembered for the right things. I don’t need some elaborate funeral or a big headstone.

As I wrote the song, the “backroad” became more symbolic because it turned into a way of saying, “Don’t turn my death into a performance. I lived my life. I wasn’t perfect. I did my best. I don’t want fake love showing up after I’m gone. Just take care of my kids and keep it moving.”

Willie Jones brings a powerful presence to the record. How did the collaboration come together, and what made him the right voice for this song?

justbrandon: Willie’s a different breed. When he sings, you feel it. I knew this hook needed that without sounding sad, and Willie has this energy about him that even if he’s talking or singing about something that’s not necessarily a happy subject it will come across in a warm way. I don’t think there’s a song that Willie can’t sing. I played him a few different records and told him he could get on any of them. He gravitated towards “Bury Me on a Backroad,” and from there it was history.

Your music blends country and rap in a way that feels natural rather than forced. How do you approach merging those worlds without compromising authenticity?

justbrandon: I don’t try to blend genres. I really just make music that I would love to listen to. I grew up on hip hop, but always loved country and everything else in between. My dad grew up playing the violin so I just remember so many road trips as a kid listening to ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ back-to-back… because what fiddle player doesn’t listen to that song back to back? Followed that with Eazy E, followed by David Allan Coe, followed by Prince. And growing up in the midwest, listening to Nelly, Bone Thugs, and Nappy Roots… all country influenced rappers, those influences live in me naturally, so when I write the blend happens on its own. Authenticity comes from not chasing a sound, just making the music you feel like making.

You’ve said your perspective is shaped by real life. How does your upbringing in Southern Indiana continue to influence your writing today?

justbrandon: Southern Indiana literally shaped me – the good parts and the bad. It taught me that success is worked for and that people care more about how you make them feel than what you’ve accomplished. I still write like someone who knows what it’s like to be overlooked and underestimated, because I was and still am. On top of that, there’s such a blend of cultures in Indiana that I swear I’ve lived a thousand lives. My experiences span such a wide spectrum that there aren’t very many rooms I can walk into and feel uncomfortable.

The EP includes five winning remixes from a SUNO-sponsored remix contest with over 4,000 submissions. Why was it important to involve the community in this release?

justbrandon: I’ve found so many dope songs just scrolling through SUNO. There’s a whole ecosystem of creativity happening in the AI space that a lot of people aren’t really seeing. Everyone’s so focused on being scared of AI or hating on it, but this shows the other side of it. There are real people using these tools to make genuinely good music. I listen to all kinds of music and I’m curious by nature, so the contest really wasn’t about competition. I just wanted to hear what other people would do with the record, and it didn’t hurt that we could give away some prize money. It gave my song multiple new lives and honestly gave me a lot of new music to listen to.

What surprised you most about hearing fans reinterpret “Bury Me On A Backroad” in their own styles?

justbrandon: How personal some of them got. A lot of people added lyrics. Some versions leaned darker, some more hopeful, some completely flipped the energy; there was one that reimagined the song from my mom’s perspective and it was insane! It reminded me that once you put a song out into the world, it isn’t yours anymore.

What do you hope listeners feel or take away after hearing “Bury Me On A Backroad” for the first time?

justbrandon: Confidence in their journey. I want people to feel like it’s okay to chase something bigger without having everything figured out. Live life, and don’t stress about how you’re remembered as long as you stayed real.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, what can fans expect next from justbrandon, sonically or creatively?

justbrandon: More energy. Less rules. More risks. I’m focused on making music that feels like moments that people will want to relive over and over, and not just because that means more streams for me. Sonically, there’s definitely a lane that I’m in but I like to experiment. Nothing is off the table.

What is one word that best describes this chapter of your life?

justbrandon: Next.

A backroad memory that still sticks with you?

justbrandon: In Southern Indiana you’re never more than 15 minutes away from a backroad. Literally in high school when there was nothing to do, we’d just go cruise backroads. It’s too hard to nail down one specific memory because there are so many.

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