LJ

Interview 12 December 2003

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Hello Mike,

 

 

(John)  Lou and I met in college, at Albany State University,  where we both played on the basketball team. This was our first claim to fame (or so we thought).  One day, while coming from a basketball game, that our team just won, Lou and I were singing on the bus.  Two players from the lady's team said, "You guys should form a group."  So, we began practicing our vocals together.  Later that year we came together and created LJ, and we have been making moves ever since. 

 

(Lou)  We grew up listening to James Brown, Luther Vandross, Run DMC, Tupac, and Donny Hathaway.  We are inspired by these artists. We even took notes from them . As you heard, in some of our music, we have the old school sound, but with a new school flavor. 

As a group, LJ, Supports all of the present artists and their personal styles.  We do think that the "bling bling" image is changing.  R&B artists of today are venturing out into their own styles.  No one wants to look like the next artist.

 

(John)  It is Awesome to be in Atlanta, and to be in one of the fastest growing music capitals in the United States.  We have been fortunate to have worked with numerous Atlanta based artists, and it feels great to be accepted here in Atlanta, as well as the rest of the U.S.

 

(Lou)  Our goal for this album was to make music that the young and older audience can enjoy.  We want our music to put people in a good mood.  Our first venture of composing our album was to go to New Jersey, thanks to Mr. Astin.  We worked literally around the clock.  All of our songs were written in one week.  The way we write songs is very moving.  First, we listen to the track, and the music tells us what to write.

 

(John)  People respect and love our versatility.  Or goal is to kill the stigma of being labeled as just rappers or singers.  We are entertainers.  As artists we paint beautiful pictures with our music, and we also make everyday situation that we have experienced part of our music.

 

(Lou)  It is very hard to say which songs are getting special attention.  It seems like different songs react with people in different ways. Every track on our album has a different personality, and for us being so versatile in our music, we have gotten notable mention for the entire album.  To say which is our favorite song from our album would be like pulling teeth, because we love them all, but we find that the ladies go crazy over Fortunately.

 

(John)  Anthony Hooper produced twelve out of the thirteen of the songs on our CD.  We cannot say enough about Mr. Astin.  We owe our whole career to him.  He believed in us from the beginning.  Mr. Astin took a chance so that LJ can make you dance!!

 

(Lou)  Cool Joe Records have put a great deal of time and energy into LJ.  They saw the potential in us and they helped to train our talent , and created our image.  Most importantly they helped to guide our careers in the right direction.  Cool Joe is moving us up the ladder to success, by packaging, promoting, and marketing LJ.

 

(John)  Our shows are going quite well.  We are booked for shows on a regular bases, and have also shared the stage with some well known artists, such as Bone Crusher, Marcus Houston, Jagged Edge, Timbaland and Magoo, Jacki-O, Ying Yang Twins, Kelly and Rasheeda, and Avant, just to name a few.

 

(Lou)  Well, I am from Montgomery, Alabama where a lot of older singers are from, and have dwelled.  As you know Alabama is the home of the famous "Temptations" and the new found American Idol Star, Ruben Studdard.  I now reside in Atlanta, GA where John and I met Mr. Teddy Astin, CEO of Tough Act Promotions and Cool Joe Records, and this experience has been awesome.  What a great place to experience our love of music, as we know it.    

 Yes, I come from a very musical family, starting with my grandfather, who sung gospel music that aired from a local radio station in my home town.  My mother sung locally in the church.  My father, who views the artist "James Brown" as his idol, can imitate him better than most I have heard.   He made sure that as a family, we appreciated the talent of James Brown long before others realized how great he really was. Last, but not least, my brother, sister, and I sung in the church choir, practiced our instruments together, and we sung around the house daily, imitating every artist that we could think of.  So I guess that I was destined to sing and maybe one day break into acting.

 

(John)  We are no longer in college, as of this moment.  We are fully dedicated to our music and focusing on our careers.

 

(John & Lou) Music has to be our life, for the fact that we have made it our dream and goal.  The way we were raised , we were taught that you have set goals and never stop at nothing until you reach them.

 

(John)  We still play basketball every now and then, when we have the time.  Now basketball just seems more like recreation.  It is still a past time favorite.  Lou and I both enjoy the same NBA team, and of course, it is the Atlanta Hawks.

 

(Lou)   This is the first time for us to perform and record music professionally,  and we believe that for both of us just being armatures, we are doing a pretty good job.

 

(John & Lou)  The artists that influenced us old and new:  Donnie Hathaway, James Brown, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Tupac,       

D' Angelo, Music, and the list goes on.

The artist that we are into as of now:  LJ, Alicia Keys, Music, Jay-Z, Nas, Lil' John and the East Side Boys, Elephant Man.

 

(John & Lou)  Thanks a million for the interview.  In the words of LJ, " We Comin!!" 

 







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