Pop Culturalist Chats with RJ Word

Success doesn’t happen overnight, especially not in the music industry. It takes years of honing your craft, dedication, and a lot of patience, but when it happens, it’s a feeling like none other…just ask RJ Word. He fell in love with musical theatre at a young age but quickly realized he wanted to write and sing his own songs. He was discovered by renowned vocal coach Roger Love (The Beach Boys) and has been hard at work ever since. He’s amassed millions of fans from around the world and is one of the most talented artists of his generation. Earlier this month, he dropped an exciting collaboration with Pitbull, Rich The Kid, and Juan Magán titled “Echa Pa Acá”. Pop Culturalist caught up with RJ to chat about his career, his new single, and what’s ahead.

PC: How did you get your start in music?
RJ: I listened to a lot of music when I was young and I did musical theatre at an early age. Eventually, I got tired of singing show tunes [laughs] and wanted to write and play my own songs. It transitioned from there and I haven’t looked back since.

PC: How would you describe your sound? Who or what has had the biggest influence on your development as an artist?
RJ: My sound is in the pop realm. I’m inspired by a lot of different things, including the tracks that I listen to and the places I’ve experienced. One of my biggest inspirations growing up was Michael Jackson.

PC: You’ve dropped a few singles this year. What was the inspiration behind your song, “What You Need”?
RJ: Lyrically and musically, there are different inspirations. From a musical standpoint, I’ve been listening to a lot of disco and I wanted to do an up-tempo, fun track with live horns. Lyrically, it’s about not feeling the need to flex so much. It’s about having a good time and not worrying about the material things in life.

PC: That’s a great message! You’re also featured on a collaboration with some major heavyweights which just dropped. Tell us about that single and how it came to fruition.
RJ: Of course! It’s called “Echa Pa Acá”. It features Juan Magán, Rich The Kid, Pitbull, and myself. Juan and I actually work with a lot of the same people, so that’s how we met. We really hit it off and knew we wanted to work on a record together. The way I joined the song is actually pretty funny: I went out to Vegas to see Juan perform and he already had Pitbull’s verse recorded and wanted to see if I wanted to be on the record. Rich The Kid was the final key to the track. It all came together and we are really happy about it.

PC: Are there any additional plans to release more singles this year? Maybe an EP or album?
RJ: Yes! It looks like I’m going to be dropping another record with Juan, which will be more like a duet. I also plan on releasing at least one other single that’s just me this year. I have a couple of records that I’m working on and I’m trying to decide which one would make a nice single.

PC: What is the creative process like when you’re working on a new song and has it changed throughout the years?
RJ: It depends on the record and whether I’m writing a song by myself or if I’m working with other people. The creative process is also drastically influenced by the instrument that it’s being written on. For choruses, I like to come up with the melody first and then write the lyrics, but for verses, I tend to write the lyrics and melody at the same time and then tweak the melody. It’s always easier to focus on the lyrics when it’s wordier.

PC: Are there any plans to hit the road this year?
RJ: Absolutely! I’ll be doing some shows later this year. I really want to go perform in Mexico.

PC: Is there a venue or festival on your bucket list?
RJ: I really want to play the Hollywood Bowl. It’s been on my list for a long time. It’s such a cool and iconic venue.

PC: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being a part of this industry?
RJ: It’s not an overnight thing. You have to buckle down and work on it. It’s not an easy industry to be in and anyone who thinks it’s not a fulltime job needs to realize it can be even more! I find myself working hours on end, but it’s my life and I really wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. It’s overwhelmingly rewarding.

PC: Have you encountered any moments of self-doubt and how did you persevere over those feelings?
RJ: There’s always self-doubt when things don’t pan out the way you think they will, but it’s about not letting it affect you. There’s no point in moping around. If you’re sure you want to do something, you have to stick it out and find the positives. You can’t wallow in self-pity.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
RJ: I’m not really embarrassed by anything I watch. I’m really enjoying Who Is America?, the new Sacha Baron Cohen show.

PC: Favorite movie?
RJ: I love Lawrence of Arabia—that’s a great one. Inception is great. That’s really held up for me over the last couple of years. This year, I really liked Ready Player One and now it’s up there for me…just like, what a movie. What else did I enjoy this summer…oh, Sorry to Bother You. That one caught me off guard.

PC: Favorite book?
RJ: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

PC: Favorite play or musical?
RJ: Musical is Book of Mormon. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, but it immediately came to mind. Thoroughly Modern Millie is another great one, and Pippin is interesting.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
RJ: Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of City Pop, which is Japanese pop from the ’80s. It’s very jazz-influenced with a lot of excessive chord changes, which I love because I get bored pretty easily.

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

PC: Go-to karaoke song?
RJ: “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra

PC: Hidden talent?
RJ: I fenced for six years!

Make sure to follow RJ on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and pick up your copy of “Echa Pa Acá” on iTunes or Amazon Music.