#Risingartist: We need to hear a little lovin from LJR
We had the chance to chat with LJR, unfortunately our video ran into some technical issues but that did not stop us from letting you know about this amazing artist. While you are listening to his latest new song, you can see the play by play of our conversation. Who knows, that song might end up on your playlist.
Who are you?
My name is LJR, and I’m an indie pop-rock singer and songwriter. I grew up in the evangelical church and pursued my PhD in mechanical engineering before 180ing to a music career. Now I’m releasing my debut album one song at a time per month with a series of sci-fi short films that together tell the story of the past decade of my life.
Can you tell me a little bit about your latest song?
“Need a Little Lovin’” is an upbeat pop song that blends eastern and western music together with a ripping guitar solo. My college roommate and close friend Gurpreet Sarin from American Idol sang and played tabla on this one, bringing north Indian classical singing and drumming into this very summer pop tune in a way that I absolutely love. It combines my love of pop music with Peter Gabriel’s tendency to blend entirely different worlds together, especially on tracks like “In Your Eyes.”
What was the inspiration for writing “Need a little lovin”
It’s about desperately needing and wanting love but not knowing what to do with it when you find it, ultimately pushing it away. It came out of a relationship where I first saw that dynamic happening in my mid 20s.
So, you are not alone on this track. How did you get Gurpreet Sarin on this record?
He was my college roommate at UMBC! We played together in college frequently and did some collaborations after as well, and I loved his sound and voice so much that it felt very natural to bring him on for a feature.
What was it like to work alongside Gurpreet Sarin?
It was fantastic. We have a great flow creatively and he is really good at taking my general ideas and converting them into something that is not only much more awesome but much more authentically him, which is what I want the most in the first place.
What was the process like working during the pandemic?
It wasn’t too difficult, but we did have to take precautions when it came to quarantining beforehand and being extra careful so we could work in person together.
You mentioned that your brother did a guitar solo for this song, how is it like working with your brother?
It’s very challenging for both of us, but we were able to come together to make this album happen in a way that was very healing for me. Daniel produced the whole album, which was a really huge gift to me, and I love the result.
With a new song coming out each month of the calendar year, you mention that you are working on a film for each one. How did that come about?
I always thought the concept was cool when I saw other people do it, so I decided I would try it as well. Making short films is turning into a new love of mine, which I don’t know would have happened otherwise. It’s also sparked more reflection into my personal experience as I try to come up with visuals for each song, thinking more deeply about the best ways to represent the concepts, which often ends up with working in some symbolism that helps me integrate my past self into my current one.
What’s the overall story outline for the music videos?
I’m not revealing the exact outline for the whole thing just yet; I want people to be surprised and try to figure it out as it’s happening, but the general idea is that it’s my internal journey over the past 10 years, and how I’ve come to see my life narrative up until this point.
What do you think is going to be the biggest challenge of this project? Songwriting or filming?
Probably the belief in myself honestly. I’ve found the artistic blocks are the hardest ones to get over. Even though I do believe in my music, it’s hard to choose to believe in my own power and creative energy every single day without getting exhausted. After that, filming and editing, with songwriting probably being the easiest of them all.
Hailing from Maryland, LJR is a tenacious and passionate pop-rock artist who strives to empower andinspire his audience to live their lives to the fullest.LJR’s love for music was first sparked at the age of five, when after seeing countless of hisfather’sshows and watching his older brother learn guitar, he took up the drums. From there his natural talentsoared, and he began to sing and play piano, leading worship during services at the evangelical megachurch Grace Community Church he attended in Maryland. As a committed evangelical Christian, hespent his childhood and adolescence dedicated to sharing the word of God, but, faced with a variety ofintense challenges as he approached adulthood, he began to question his faith and made thecourageous decision to exit the church. Although leaving his religion behind was one of the hardestthings he ever did, the events that occurred during that time would develop into a deep part of themotivation that continues to fuel his music career today.Holding tight to the core values he learned growing up, LJR has written countless expressive andtranscendent songs influenced by the beloved catalogs of renowned artists such as Peter Gabriel andThe 1975. Seamlessly blending ‘80s-style pop beats with alternative rock guitar solos, his music istremendously anthemic and infectious while conveying remarkable vulnerability, speaking to thoseparts of the soul that yearn to heal and grow.LJR has opened for platinum-selling singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson and acclaimed duo A GreatBig World, and his distinctive, resonant style has won him fans around the globe. As he enters thenext phase in his career, he is determined to share his compelling stories with the world and istransforming his experiences into powerful lyrics that explore self-love, realization, and acceptance.By fearlessly sharing the scope of his own inner demons with others, he aspires to provide his listenerswith a sense of comfort and to encourage them to discover the strength that they’ve hadwithinthemselves all along. “I want them to feel that they are not alone,” he says, “and to create a deepfeeling of hope and energy for change forward into their lives.”LJR is currently preparing to release his 12-track debut album “When the Sky Began to Fall,” whichhe will share with fans one song at a time beginning on April 30. Recorded over the course of threeyears, the album promises to showcase LJR’s brilliant songwriting skillsand will serve as a testimonyto the last decade of his life, detailing his personal evolution through discussions about hisinsecurities, relationships, and journey through faith. “I hope it brings a deep joy and hope to people’slives,” he shares about the album. “I’m also really excited to create sacred moments withpeople atshows. I think those times are opportunities to share the deepest parts of ourselves while freeing othersto do the same.”Look out for LJR’s first single “I Can’t Say” on April 30.