Justin Acee is an American musician and songwriter best known as the creative force behind the solo project NIGHTIES and as the former drummer of the indie rock band Made Violent. Born in Buffalo, New York, he grew up surrounded by music and spent his early adult years touring with his band before reinventing himself as a solo artist. His work blends alternative rock, dream pop, and lofi influences into songs that are personal, honest, and easy to connect with.
In recent years, Justin Acee has also become a familiar name outside music circles after his relationship with Tallulah Willis, the youngest daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. The couple’s engagement and later wedding brought new attention to Acee, giving many people their first introduction to his music and his story. This biography looks at his life, his education, his career in music, his achievements, and the personal journey that shaped him into the artist he is today.
Justin Acee’s Early Life and Background
Justin Acee was born in September 1991 in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in the city throughout his childhood and teenage years. Buffalo left a lasting mark on him, and he has spoken openly about how the city shaped both his character and his music. In an interview with Vents Magazine, he described Buffalo as a tough place to grow up, noting that the winters were harsh and that the local music scene often created rivalry rather than support among young musicians. Despite these challenges, he has always maintained a strong connection to his hometown, calling it a place that will always feel like home even though it was also a place he dreamed of leaving.
Music entered his life at a young age. Acee has said that he began playing instruments and writing songs long before he ever performed in front of an audience. This early exposure to music gave him a foundation that would later support his work as a drummer, producer, and solo artist. Growing up in a city with a small but intense music scene taught him discipline and resilience, qualities that would carry him through the ups and downs of a long career in the industry.
Justin Acee’s Education
Details about Justin Acee’s formal education have not been widely publicized, as he has chosen to keep much of his early academic life private. What is well documented, however, is his musical education, which came largely through hands on experience rather than formal training. He learned to play multiple instruments as a young person and taught himself the skills needed to write, record, produce, mix, and master his own songs. This self taught approach to music production has become one of the defining features of his solo work, since he handles nearly every part of the creative process himself rather than relying heavily on outside producers.
His years playing in a touring band also served as a different kind of education. Performing regularly, traveling to new cities, and working alongside other musicians gave him practical experience that shaped his songwriting and his understanding of the music business. He has credited touring with broadening his perspective and showing him that creativity can thrive in supportive communities, a lesson he took directly from his time on the road.
Justin Acee’s Music Career
Justin Acee’s professional path in music began with Made Violent, an indie rock band based in Buffalo, New York. As a co founder and drummer of the group, he helped build a sound that earned the band opportunities to tour internationally and perform at various venues and festivals. The years spent with Made Violent were demanding, filled with constant travel, long hours, and the pressure that comes with trying to grow a band’s audience. Eventually, after years of intensive touring, the group’s momentum slowed and the band came apart.
The end of Made Violent marked a turning point in Acee’s life. During this period, he also began confronting a personal struggle with addiction, and in 2020 he started his recovery journey. Rather than stepping away from music, he used this time to rebuild his creative identity, eventually launching a new solo project under the name NIGHTIES. Working under this new name gave him the freedom to explore a more personal and reflective sound, one shaped by everything he had learned during his years in a band and during his recovery.
As NIGHTIES, Acee writes, performs, produces, mixes, and masters his own music, a rare combination of skills that gives his songs a distinct and consistent voice. His sound draws from alternative rock, dream pop, shoegaze, and lofi influences, often layering laid back vocals over warm, atmospheric instrumentation. He has spoken about wanting his lyrics to feel like a form of honest confession, addressing personal struggles directly rather than hiding behind metaphor.
Justin Acee’s Songs and Notable Releases
Since starting NIGHTIES, Justin Acee has released a steady stream of singles that showcase his growth as a solo artist. Some of his most recognized songs include the following.
- “fix,” released in March 2024
- “ugly truth,” released in May 2024, which also became the subject of a music video featuring Tallulah Willis
- “tired (invisible),” released in August 2024, featuring Los Angeles based artist Ian Oshér
- “chin up,” released in December 2024, accompanied by an official music video
Each release has helped build his identity as a solo artist separate from his earlier band work. His single “tired (invisible)” in particular received attention for its introspective lyrics, in which Acee reflects on wanting to break free from old patterns and become a better version of himself. The song’s easygoing instrumentation, paired with candid songwriting, has become something of a signature style for NIGHTIES.
Justin Acee’s Achievements
Over the course of his career, Justin Acee has built a body of work that reflects both longevity and reinvention. As a member of Made Violent, he helped the band reach audiences well beyond Buffalo, touring at an international level and performing at numerous festivals, an achievement that many local bands never reach. This period gave him valuable recognition within the indie rock community and helped establish his reputation as a skilled and dependable drummer.
His transition into a solo artist under the NIGHTIES name stands as one of his most significant personal and professional achievements. Successfully rebuilding a music career after the end of a long running band, while also working through a personal recovery journey, speaks to his determination and resilience. As NIGHTIES, he has released a series of singles that have found genuine listeners and warm attention within the indie and alternative music scenes, and his willingness to write about sensitive personal topics has resonated with fans who appreciate honesty in songwriting.
Beyond his musical output, Acee has also become known for handling nearly every stage of his creative process independently, from songwriting to final mastering. This level of hands on control over his art is an achievement in itself, reflecting years of self taught skill and a strong understanding of studio production.
Justin Acee’s Personal Life
Justin Acee’s personal life gained wider public attention after he began a relationship with Tallulah Willis, the youngest daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. The couple started dating in January 2023, and their relationship developed steadily over the following years, with both sharing glimpses of their life together on social media. Tallulah became an active supporter of his music, even taking on the lead role in the music video for his song “ugly truth.”
In December 2024, Acee proposed to Tallulah, and she announced the engagement publicly with a photo of the couple and a simple caption reading “Everyday.” The relationship also played an important supportive role during a difficult time for the Willis family, as Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023. Tallulah has spoken about how Acee provided comfort and steady companionship as her family navigated her father’s condition.
The couple married on August 8, 2026, in an intimate ceremony in Sun Valley, Idaho, surrounded by Tallulah’s family. Tallulah wore a custom Balenciaga couture gown for the occasion, a detail that drew significant attention from fashion and entertainment media. The wedding marked more than three years since the couple first began dating, and it brought Acee further into the public eye, introducing his music to a much wider audience than before.
Outside of his relationship, Acee has remained relatively private about his day to day life, choosing to let his music speak for him. His openness about his past struggle with addiction and his subsequent recovery, however, shows a willingness to be honest about difficult chapters of his personal story when it can help others who may be facing similar challenges.
Conclusion
Justin Acee’s story is one of steady growth, reinvention, and honesty. From his early years in Buffalo, New York, through his time touring with Made Violent, and into his current chapter as the solo artist NIGHTIES, he has continued to evolve while staying true to his roots in music. His recovery journey and his decision to write openly about personal struggles add depth to his songwriting, making his music feel genuine and relatable. As his relationship with Tallulah Willis brought him into a brighter public spotlight, Acee has remained focused on his craft, continuing to release music that reflects who he is. Whether known for his years behind the drum kit or his current work as a singer songwriter and producer, Justin Acee’s journey shows the value of persistence, self reflection, and staying committed to one’s creative voice.
FAQs
Who is Justin Acee?
Justin Acee is an American musician and songwriter from Buffalo, New York. He is the former drummer of the indie rock band Made Violent and currently records solo music under the name NIGHTIES.
When was Justin Acee born?
Justin Acee was born in September 1991 in Buffalo, New York.
What band was Justin Acee in before NIGHTIES?
Before launching his solo project, Justin Acee was a co founder and drummer of the indie rock band Made Violent, which toured internationally and performed at various festivals.
What are some of Justin Acee’s most popular songs?
Some of his well known songs released under the name NIGHTIES include “fix,” “ugly truth,” “tired (invisible)” featuring Ian Oshér, and “chin up.”
Is Justin Acee married?
Yes. Justin Acee married Tallulah Willis, the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, on August 8, 2026, in Sun Valley, Idaho.
How did Justin Acee and Tallulah Willis meet?
Justin Acee and Tallulah Willis began dating in January 2023, and their relationship gradually became public through social media before their engagement in December 2024 and their wedding in August 2026.
Has Justin Acee spoken about personal struggles in his music?
Yes. Justin Acee has been open about his past struggle with addiction and his recovery journey, which began in 2020. This experience has influenced the honest and reflective tone found in many of his songs as NIGHTIES.