“The Beyoncé effect is, in fact, real. I got a lot of traffic just from people checking the liner notes”: With three Grammy wins and plaudits from John Mayer, Justus West is one of modern session guitar’s MVPs – but it hasn’t been an easy ride

Justus West wearing headphones and playing guitar with a bassist.

When Beyoncé collected the Album of the Year and Best Country Album statues for Cowboy Carter, they were actually Justus West’s second and third Grammy wins. John Legend’s Bigger Love, on which West co-produced the song Always, took the Best R&B Album gong in 2021. Still, the guitarist remains humble.

“I don’t feel any different, to be honest,” he says. “I was even telling my managers, ‘Look, until I walk that stage and I give the speech, I’m so grateful to be a part of it – but it’s not mine.’”