This is AJ.
AJ, could you tell us a little about how you got into music?
I started writing music about 11 years ago (August 29, 2009 to be exact).
It was the day after I had gotten my phone stolen at school and I remember the anger and frustration that I had.
Growing up, I was the temper tantrum child that went to his room and completely trashed it any time he was upset about something.
Even at a young age I knew that was not the best way to go about things; whether it was easily forgiven or not.
By the time I started taking writing seriously, of course me and the homies were freestyling for fun on park benches and at recess at school after lunch.
But it became something serious when I realized how much of a relief it was to get the frustration off my shoulders just by writing my pain down on paper.
I was a part of a group called Wavy Society in Alexandria, LA which transformed into what is now Great Human Beings (GHB).
All throughout high school we would record every weekend.
I left home for college in 2014 and continued off on my own in Shreveport, LA.
This is where I tapped more into my versatility and started performing.
A lot of my experience and development happened within those 5 years while I was there.
Within a year after graduating college, I made the move to LA to pursue the dream that everyone is chasing in the city, but for a higher purpose.
What is the most difficult aspect about launching a career in music?
Finding a balance for it all.
You have to have a balance between survival in your individual life and survival in the music industry.
Finding and grasping ahold of people’s attention when they listen to your music or watch your video is a primary focus.
Though as artists, we are to stay true to ourselves, but as entertainers we have to make sure we give the people what they want as well.
Creating a balance between the two should be our primary focus.
What would you say separates your sound/style from others?
Anytime I post/promote music on streaming platforms, I usually like to have it under the alternative genre.
My music is not on trap beats.
My lyrics are internally conscious where I more or so talk about life rather than about external issues going on in the world that everyone is aware of.
My flow switches at least twice within every verse or song simply because it would be a dreadful engagement for listeners if the cadence remained the same for 3 minutes straight.
My energy and delivery in my music definitely demonstrates that I have character; due to the funny or weird or off the wall ways I choose to say a word or a line in a song.
Do you have anything new or upcoming that we can expect to see from you?
So, I use to go by my real name for my stage name.
I changed it in March and just released my first EP on May 15 under my new alias ‘AJ Causey.'
The project is titled ‘Causey’ and consists of simply five tracks.
A music video will be following up soon, along with some interviews and collaborations with other artists.
I am also currently featured on the first season of HiDef Cypher presented by the Spot LA and Track Martians Music Group.
I am proud to see how much progress I am making within my first year of being out here since I moved from Louisiana only last August.
I am definitely continuing the ride with this energy and consistency.
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