The Kat's Meow: Interview with Mogul RJ

 

The Kat's Meow is the official interview segment of The HairyKat Chronicles where we catch up with up and coming talent from all walks of life.

Today we chatted  with Mogul RJ to pick his brain about his experiences and journey in the music industry.

HK:  "How did you get started in the music industry?"

 

     

RJ: "The same way a lot of people get started: Singing in church. My mom was doing a lot of   

             recording signing for Michael Bolton and recording with her choir.  Being around all of that  

             made me want to do music. Singing stopped being fun around 13 or 14. I stopped singing 

             and started being a musician, playing instruments"

 

HK: "Who are some of your musical influences?"

     

RJ: "Man, that goes ALL over the place.  I love gospel music Donny Mc Clurkin, Deidrick Haddon,  

             Kirk Franklin.  In the hip hop world Diddy. He’s making it happen and he’s an excellent 

             business man. Hip Hop Artists like Biggie, Nas.  Can't forget about the West Coast like Snoop

             and NWA. Back in the day I wore a Raiders and  Kings jackets to school because I saw Cube

             wearing that. Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, real singers, The Isley brothers. Master producer

             Quincy Jones. "

 

 

HK: "What do you think of the current culture of music?"

 

RJ: " Music is always evolving once you think you fit in to what it is now, it cycles back to the 

         old school. Kendrick is doing that now, going back to the old school, taking it back to the art 

         form, not about money  and cars, but can you rap? R&B is making its way into the forefront

         as  well,  Frank Ocean,  Neyo, Justin, Robin, Chris Brown. I think R&B is making a comeback

         it was dead for a while. I like that its making its way back in. We’re getting back to real music.

 

HK:   "Is there pressure to be a certain type of artist?"

 

RJ: "Not as much as it used to be because it seems like you had to dumb yourself down  to be

             mainstream. You had to keep it real cliché with your music. You weren't able to express real

             emotion. Now, You can close your eyes and listen to a song and really feel it. That’s

             what music is really about and I’m glad its coming back that way. "

 

HK: "You wear many hats, a producer, writer, manager, and musician. Which do you enjoy the most and how do you maintain the balance between managing other artists and working on your own art?"

 

 RJ:  "As a musician I feel like I’m giving an equal part of each hat that I wear. Even as a manager

               I’m in with my artist and writing and producing with them. I’ve never worn a hat and it's

              been just that hat that I focus on. I was previously a  musical director, so it was production  

              and  writing. I've  never set out to do my own project. But I do pocket songs that  I write 

              and save them for a rainy day. "

 

      HK:    "As a manager what do you look for in an artist?"

RJ: "The first thing I look for is talent. Can you do what it is what you want to do? Can you really

            sing? Rap? The second is determining if they're the total package.  Are you marketable?  

            charismatic? do people gravitate to you? A lot of artist are temperamental too.  When you're

           an artist you're really involved in your feelings whether you know it or not and that can cause

           you to bump heads but its ok because we all understand what we’re trying to do in the end."

 

 

HK:   "What current projects are you working on? "

     

RJ:  "Working on Anthony Gates Sing Till I’m famous Project.  Really trying to get a buzz going in

               LA, Atlanta, Houston, and get his name and the word out there because this boy is   

              talented"

                                                                                                                                                                                  

 HK:   "Its often stated that the music industry is the shadiest business, do you feel that’s an

                accurate perception and how do you steer clear of shady situations?"

 

RJ: "I think that it can be a shady business and there’s a lot of scams out there.  Beware of

              Contracts with typos and fictitious addresses from shady promoters. Do your homework

              before you decide to work with anyone. Check their background. If they're asking for  

              money upfront . A lot of the shadiness is being put in the open so people are more hesitant

              to do much dirt."

 

HK: "What advice would you give to a young mogul trying to break into the industry? What’s some of the advice you wish you would’ve received?"

 

 RJ: "Its not going to be an overnight thing.  To the up and coming moguls, you’ll have to work a

              lot of long days and nights.  You're going to have to make decisions that people aren’t going

              to  agree with. Always have your artist's best interest in mind to build trust between you and

             your artist to be successful."

We appreciate RJ sitting down with the HairyKat Chronicles. Check out his artist Anthony Gates on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyGatesMusic. Next week's we'll be catching up with Rap Artist Ace Da Youngin.