Justin Maki Celebrates Eternal Love on New Single “Nine Lives”

Japan-born, Canada-raised artist Justin Maki follows up his recent single “Technicolor Dreams” with “Nine Lives,” an effervescent pop-funk anthem rooted in love, loyalty, and the immortal pull of connection. The FCLMA-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer delivers his most romantic statement yet – a bright, syncopated celebration of devotion that feels both timeless and cinematic.

“The statement comes across as a striking romantic hypothetical,” Maki explains. “If I had the opportunity to live more than one life or to live a much longer life – I would choose you over and over again, day in and day out, despite the other options, despite my instinctual desire for variety, because I just love you that much.”

The title “Nine Lives” evokes the mythic resilience of cats, creatures said to survive anything. For Maki, the concept becomes a metaphor for eternal love: “It’s the ultimate 2025 Breakfast Club boombox moment.” With its playful yet heartfelt imagery, the song captures the kind of devotion that transcends time, embodying the joy, reassurance, and risk of giving oneself fully in love.

The song was co-written with Drew Shalka of Mute Choir during a snowstorm-stranded session in Nashville – the same collaboration behind Maki’s previous hit, “Technicolor Dreams.” “It was one of the most productive writing sessions I’ve ever taken part in,” Maki recalls. “We wrote the entire song – lyrics, melody, arrangement, and demo – in the span of about six hours, then capped the day with his partner’s homemade tuna casserole. With 100 songs written for this project and eight selected for the record, it's truly a statistical miracle that two of the eight were co-written with Drew.”

Once the initial version was complete, Maki worked with VAŪLTS – the JUNO-winning production duo of David Mohacsi and Maïa Davies – to transform the track. Originally, “Nine Lives” carried the weight of melancholy, reflecting on unrequited love. “You wouldn’t know it, but this song was originally about unrequited love,” Maki says. “It started off as a documenting of a failed relationship that could and would never rekindle. I wrote: if I had nine lives, I’d try almost anything… but nine lives ain’t gonna make you love me. When David and Maïa suggested a revamping of the message and the lyrics, I originally resisted, but I’m so glad that I trusted them and the process.”

The finished single is a vibrant anthem, featuring a lush rhythm section and stacked vocal harmonies that bridge vintage disco with modern funk. Its chorus and instrumentation reflect Maki’s signature sincerity, while the bridge demonstrates his willingness to experiment creatively. A rhythmic tangle of drums, vocals, and guitar collide before resolving into a warm and cathartic finale, balancing technical intricacy with emotional resonance.

Justin Maki is a musician, artist, and creative entrepreneur based in St. Thomas, Ontario. Named FCLMA Pop Artist of the Year in 2021 and Contemporary Singer-Songwriter of the Year in 2022, Maki blends R&B, soul, funk, and jazz into an accessible pop framework. His sound has been compared to Allen Stone and John Mayer, with the pop sensibilities of Bruno Mars, making his music both sophisticated and widely appealing.

Having performed over 2,000 shows across North America and beyond, Maki has shared stages with The Sheepdogs, Neon Dreams, Olivia Lunny, and Matt Rife. His collaborators include acclaimed producers Matthew Johnston, who has worked with Shad and Chad Price, and Mark Howard, known for his work with Bob Dylan, U2, and Neil Young. He also co-produced the ISSA Award-winning Good Vibes LP by Patrick & Daniels.

With “Nine Lives,” Maki continues to refine his artistic identity, celebrating vulnerability and the joy of reinvention. The song encapsulates devotion that feels enduring and alive, offering listeners an anthem that is both emotionally honest and musically infectious. It positions Justin Maki as a creative force unafraid to explore the depth of human emotion while keeping a playful, cinematic sensibility at the heart of his pop-funk sound.