What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is love,cj. I was born in Corona, CA, but have lived in Dallas, TX most of my life.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
When I was younger, I said “I love you” a lot and still do. A friend in college called me “love,” and since my real name is CJ, I mixed the two.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I started making music in my senior year of high school. I’ve always been a writer and loved poetry but thought I was tone-deaf. Six years later, I’m now confidently releasing music I love.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I rewrote this song three times and have three different versions. You’re hearing the first version because I was overthinking it.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
I want people to hear the contrast of different emotions, and for each song to stretch a feeling into 2-3 minutes.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
This song pulled me out of a writer’s block. I hadn’t saved any work for two weeks until I saw a comment that said “Made for this,” which inspired me to keep writing.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’d love to collaborate with Paris, TX. I love what they’re doing for alternative rap and how they genre-bend.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
I just want to perform and connect with local artists.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
World-building. I want to create a world with my music and brand.
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Yes, definitely!
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
Anything on your blog would be awesome, thank you so much for this opportunity!
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
My Instagram is @mailfromcj.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Email me at reyescj01@gmail.com.
