Artist Spotlight + Exclusive Interview With The AJR Brothers!
Hey Buzznet,
Have you heard of the AJR Brothers yet?
AJR just recently released this video and they have already caught the attention of Ryan Seacrest and Billboard Magazine amongst many more!
“The three brothers of AJR – Adam (bass/vocals), Ryan (guitar/piano/vocals), and Jack (vocals/guitar) – take a collaborative approach to making music that spans their writing, vocals, and instrumentation. All of AJR’s songs have been self produced and recorded in their own living room, and the band is consistently inspired by the creativity and individuality that surrounds them by living and growing up in New York City.”
Here is an interview we did, enjoy!
When did you first realize you had a passion for singing?
We each started singing almost 15 years ago, but the passion for singing together as a group started about 8 years ago. We saw a show in New York City and realized that performing original, honest work was something that we wanted to be a part of. From there we street-performed in the parks around New York and wrote original songs. Eight years later, after writing, producing and recording every track ourselves in our living room, here we are!
What has been the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of our job has been staying determined. For 8 years we had so many people giving us all sorts of conflicting advice on what we were doing: the kind of music we wrote, how to brand ourselves, the marketing we were doing. It’s important to listen to what people have to say, but be true to yourself. We continued to evolve and be who we are and work hard. Then, we were discovered.
You have appeared on some big shows, which one was your favorite?
We did a tour with Hoodie Allen in the UK and he, like us, is not on a label. It was really inspiring to perform with someone who is selling out venues and doing it on his own without the label machine behind him. The fans in the UK were great as well: they were so excited about our music even though they had never heard it before.
What is the best advice you can give someone who is trying to follow in your footsteps?
We know it sounds cheesy, but stay true to yourself. The world doesn’t need any more copies of other artists out there. If you have something original and you believe in it, stick with it. Starting a YouTube channel with covers is a great way to go, but make sure to put your own creative spin on the songs you sing. People have already heard the original, so we have found that they are looking for something different.
If you could put together your dream tour, who would be the lineup?
We would love to go on tour with Fun. Imagine Dragons and Vampire Weekend. Their indie-pop sounds and do-it-yourself mentality inspired us to become the band we are now. If we could pick any lineup throughout time, we would probably say The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Kanye West and us. That would be a crazy tour!
What are your guilty pleasures and do you have any hidden talents?
Our guilty pleasures are Chipotle (we could eat it every day.) We like watching old Disney movies, and our favorite T.V. show is The Office. Jack is an awesome ping-pong and tennis player, Adam is an avid reader and writer and Ryan is amazing at Final Cut Pro, and shoots and edits our videos (he is a very talented editor.)
What music are you listening to right now?
Right now we are listening to some of the people we would want to go on tour with: Imagine Dragons, Fun., Vampire Weekend, Macklemore. We also love The Head and The Heart, Family of the Year, Kanye West, and Miley’s track Wrecking Ball. It is really catchy!
Do you have any fan moments that stand out to you the most?
When we opened for Demi Lovato in California, we really felt the fan love. Thousands of fans came running out of the stands to meet us and security had to hold them back. We signed everything from shirts and shoes, to phones, and arms. It was such a great moment seeing how much they appreciated the music.
What is your favorite city or country to perform in?
We love performing in both the US and the UK. They both have very different mentalities about music but they both are really fun as a performer. The UK it seemed to be more about the music itself, while the US was more about the experience of being at a show. The difference might be subtle, but we really feel it onstage. We are looking forward to the experience of going to more countries. Australia is a possibility and exploring the world and different cultures and their music is a passion of ours.
Any last words for your fans and readers?
Thank you so much for your love and support. We can’t believe how far we’ve gotten already, and we’re so excited to see where this takes us! Be sure to check out our brand new music video made in collaboration with our fans. Without you it would not have been possible!
Follow them on Twitter HERE!
Buy their album on iTune HERE!
What do YOU think of AJR?
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