An Interview with AL3JO

Dami: What inspired you to start making music?

AL3JO: I’d say around junior year in high school I started to experiment with making my own music. It hit me that I’d be grown soon and that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life so I just asked myself, how do I enjoy spending my time? And I came to the conclusion that I’m always just listening to music. My homie showed me how to use FL Studio and I became obsessed ever since. At first I ain’t even wanna rap but I had some shit to get off my chest and decided fuck it, let’s do this.

Dami: How much would you say you’ve grown creatively since you first started?

AL3JO: I’m still growing but I’ve definitely become more comfortable with myself and expressing how I feel. It’s cool to look back on some of my first tracks in 2022 compared to what I’m doing now. Overall, I just feel more confident in my music and I’m happy other people can resonate with my world. Making art with my friends too has inspired me heavily because we feed off each other’s energy and I’m proud to see them progress as well.

Dami: How would you describe your sound now?

AL3JO: That’s tough because it really depends on my mood and what’s been going on with life when I’m creating. I listen to a bit of everything so I like to challenge myself in the studio. I’d say though right now, it’s very heavy, nostalgic and emotional.

Dami: Who are your biggest inspirations?

AL3JO: That’s a good question. I take inspiration not just from music but from movies, shows, philosophy, my own experiences, etc. but if we’re just talking artists? I’d say Scarlxrd because his energy is unreal, along with EDEN for his incredible ability to convey emotions so vividly and of course my brothers in ATO; the collective we’re apart of. Every one of these people has helped me through the roughest moments of my life. I can’t forget about all the producers I’ve worked with though, I wouldn’t have these songs without them.

Dami: You just dropped an EP titled “Head in the Clouds”. Can you tell us about it?

AL3JO: I did and I can. The whole idea stemmed from always having my head in the clouds; I’m constantly daydreaming. I make a lot of music and then plan how I want to release after. I feel like Head In The Clouds is a reflection on the past year to where I am now as well as a lighter body of work from my previously much darker album RESURGE.

Dami: Are both projects connected?

AL3JO: I wouldn’t say so, but it’s definitely a follow up.

Dami: What was the creative process like for Head in the Clouds?

AL3JO: I guess it was a way for me to pull myself a little more out of this dark place I’ve been in mentally; to keep pushing forward. I was feeling burnt out after RESURGE because it took so much of my energy along with people in my life that weren’t making me feel the greatest so for me, making Head In The Clouds was like fuck that shit, I know my worth. The first song, Astral Projection was the first one I recorded with Head In The Clouds being the last. Overall, I recorded the full project within like the past 3 months.

Dami: What 3 words would you use to describe it?

AL3JO: Passionate, emotional, and determined.

Dami: What’s next after the EP?

AL3JO: I can’t tell you exactly but there’s a project I’m excited to drop this summer that was supposed to drop a year ago but it wasn’t time yet. Aside from that, I’ve got projects lined up for the rest of the year and some fun songs with collaborators.

Dami: When making music, where do you grab inspiration from?

AL3JO: Usually I’ll just go through beats until one really catches my ear or invokes a certain emotion within. I try not to force anything. If I don’t have something to say right now I’ll hold off on it but return after living more life. The instrumental really dictates though how I want to move forward with a song. If I’m not making music I’m probably listening to it, so I’m sure I subconsciously take bits and pieces from whatever I’ve been bumping lately as well.

Dami: How has it been pushing your music to a larger audience?

AL3JO: It’s been difficult I won’t lie, especially when it comes to social media. In a way I’m a very private person which is contradictory to having to create content for my music to be heard but it always makes my day when somebody reaches out to me talking about how they liked this song or related to it, etc. I hope to reach even more people all around the world and get to perform at shows often, I feel performing is the best part for me.

Dami: You got any shows lined up for this summer?

AL3JO: I wish haha, although I do have a show at Howard’s Bookstore on July 6 amongst some other talented artists so you can catch me there in Torrington, CT. If you’re reading this though and you run a venue or know anybody, hit me up! I’d love to perform anytime and anywhere, I just never know who to talk to because the CT music scene from what I’ve seen doesn’t really showcase many rappers but I’ll bring the energy no matter what!

Dami: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

AL3JO: Honestly I don’t really think that far ahead but hopefully playing shows, connecting with fans and loving music just as much as I do now. I’d love to grow ATO as not just a collective and our label but a brand and design clothing, maybe I’ll even pick up an instrument. If I can have a little money in my pocket, ensure safety for my family and friends and find peace within myself along the way I’d call AL3JO a success. Bonus points if I can find a nice girlfriend too of course.

Dami: Speaking of ATO, can you tell us more about the brand?

AL3JO: Yeah, so ATO stands for ALWAYS TAKING OVER. OSLEY and our friend Rudy thought of it with me sitting in a McDonald’s and it just stuck ever since. Rudy’s doing his own thing with music which is really cool so right now it’s just OSLEY and our fellow artists Creeps and lyco! When we say always taking over it doesn’t just mean to take over anything we do, but to always be in control of oneself, your life and your future. The brand is still in the works but we’ve run with it as our label and we’re happy to have thrown a showcase show back in February of this year alongside Pray Vivendi, Abel and a few of Rudy’s friends. It was a lot of fun and our biggest event yet so we’ll definitely have to throw another ATO show soon.

Dami: Any ATO project soon?

AL3JO: There is one but I can’t tell you when it’ll release.

Check out Head in the Clouds here