20-year-old up and coming pop singer/songwriter RJ Word is poised to take the world by storm. With years of experience under his belt – he first became interested in music at a very young age and has been pursuing it in one way or another for over a decade – he knows exactly what he wants to create and what he wants to accomplish with his music, and that’s more than most artists can say. With a drive to create something that breaks the mold, Word recently released his new single, “What You Need,” which touches on letting go of material things and long-term worries to have fun.
With a few single releases under his belt and new music (and some exciting collaborations) on the way, 2018 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for RJ Word. Read more about his background in music and plans for the future below!
Interview by Dom Vigil
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself for any readers who might not be familiar?
Hey, definitely! My name’s RJ Word; I’m a singer from Los Angeles, and I’m 20 years old!
You got involved with music and performing at a very young age. What first drew you to it? What made you excited about music?
Music was always playing around the house when I was little, affecting my moods and scoring my day-to-day life. There was nothing else like it; there still isn’t. I find nothing more gratifying than telling my own stories through songs.
Having essentially grown up in the music industry, what are some lessons you’ve learned along the way that have helped you or you’ve been able to apply to the music you’re currently working on?
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t be afraid to make the music you want to make, instead of just doing what everyone else is doing, or what you think people want you to do. As soon as I figured that out, everyone (myself included) seemed to enjoy listening to my music more. And it’s also been more fun to make.
You recently released your new single, “What You Need.” What inspired this track?
The record is about not needing material things to have a good time. It’s better to let go of long-term worries and just have fun. Seeing guys flexing to try and impress girls by renting cars and buying chains was definitely a lyrical inspiration.
“What You Need” finds you exploring some new sounds. What did you want to accomplish with the song?
I’d been listening to a lot of disco around the time I wrote the record, so I knew I wanted to make a record in the realm of that style. But I also wanted it to include contemporary rhythmic elements so that it wouldn’t sound purely like an homage to records from the late 70’s. We included more sections and chord progressions than a traditional pop record has, which is great for me, because I tend to get bored very easily.
With “What You Need” and a few more singles under your belt, are you working on any more new music? Could listeners expect new songs or an EP soon?
No EP for the moment, but definitely more singles on the way.
What would you like listeners to take away from your new music? If someone is hearing you for the first time, what would you want their first impression to be?
I hope they hear a break from the lack of musicality on radio today and find something refreshing about it.
Do you have any other big plans or goals for 2018?
I’ve got some really cool collabs with other artists coming up but I can’t really talk about them yet.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
My pleasure. Happy to do it! I you haven’t checked out my new record, “What You Need” yet, what are you waiting around for? 🙂
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