Pop-Culturalist.com

Chart-topping pop artist RJ Word has taken the music industry by storm. Having discovered his passion for music at the age of ten, he’s spent the past decade honing his craft as a singer, songwriter, and producer, amassing a million fans worldwide.

This year, he solidified his place as one of music’s most promising acts, teaming up with renowned Latin DJ Juan Magán for their latest electropop collaboration, “Báilame,” a funky, hip-swaying track that will have you up on your feet. Pop Culturalist caught up with RJ to chat about the single.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
RJ: I’ve been singing since I was a little kid. First, in school shows. I’d take any opportunity to take the spotlight. [laughs] There was always music playing around the house. I would always be singing along.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
RJ: Having really supportive parents was instrumental. Having people who believed in me in my corner helped me achieve my goals. It helped me get to a place in my career where I could support myself. From an inspiration standpoint, David Bowie, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
RJ: Probably doing my first arena show in Mexico. When you pull up to an arena, it’s pretty surreal that there’s an audience there to see you, as opposed to a typical festival. Festival crowds can be bigger at times, but there’s something about going through the dimmed backstage of a sports arena and walking out to the crowd. The first arena show that I did was for 18,000 people. The energy blew me away.

PC: Tell us about “Báilame” and the inspiration behind the song.
RJ: We were in the Dominican Republic, Juan Magán and I. We released a single last year called “Echa Pa Aca.” It was a lot of fun. We knew we wanted to get started on a couple of other records. We let those island vibes influence us. We made that and one other record that was more reggae. The chorus for “Báilame” just stuck. It’s about dancing and having a good time. I wrote the more illicit affair verse when I got back to Los Angeles. There’s no true story that influenced it. The song is a vibe.

PC: You’ve been releasing singles for a few years now. If you had to choose one song that best encompasses you as an artist, what would it be and why?
RJ: I feel like we’re always evolving and growing. So I feel like the latest release usually reflects what I’m feeling at the moment. “What You Need” was definitely instrumental in pushing me in a direction that I felt better represented my musical sensibilities. It’s more disco-influenced. It has more characteristics of the songs that inspired me to get into music. I started to work more with live musicians and instrumentalists with the intention of creating bigger productions.

PC: Your singles have been streamed millions and millions of times. Does that add pressure to future releases?
RJ: I don’t think it’s beneficial to chase the success of previous singles. I think that would drive me crazy if I compared every song to a previous release. I have definitely spent days, if not weeks, questioning if a new song that I put out is as good as a previous record and whether I chose the wrong single to release. For every record, I probably have five or six that didn’t come out as a single. They all represent a phase in my life at that time. I think, for the most part, I see the growth in my releases as time has moved on. There are older records that now I would never release. I’m glad they came out and I think they were important to help me move forward in my career. I see the doors they’ve opened and how they were stepping-stones. That’s why I always recommend to new artists who are just starting out to release songs. We can spend six months in a studio or in our homes hammering away to make something feel right. But you’re not going to progress unless you let go.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: First album you bought?
RJ: Probably Michael Jackson’s #1 compilation.

PC: First concert you attended?
RJ: Stevie Wonder at the Greek

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
RJ: Probably Thriller. I know it’s the most successful album, but it’s perfect in so many regards. Whenever I look to put together a longer-form project, it is a reference point.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
RJ: The Hollywood Bowl

PC: A must-have on the road?
RJ: Cold brew!

Make sure to follow RJ on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Pick up or stream “Báilame” today.