We recently connected with CJ Pitts and have shared our conversation below.
CJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I would say the biggest risk for me has been moving away from my family and friends across the country to pursue my dream. I was 19 years old when I first found my spark in music after being asked to help out in a studio session. I fell in love with that whole world and decided to go to a music college in St Paul, Minnesota. I grew up however in Delaware so all I knew was the east coast and til this day that’s where all of my family and childhood friends live. Once I was in college I really put my head down and ran full speed ahead with music and learning all I could about being an artist and performer. I managed to land a spot in some cover bands and was able to gig around the city for years learning stage presence and all about being a performer. In the meantime I was also practicing my own songwriting to make that transition to being my own artist and one day perform my own records.
I lived in Minnesota for about 6 years after I graduated in 2014 working in the cities but eventually felt I had outgrew that place and it was time for a bigger leap. I decided to move to Los Angeles, California to be submerged in the artist world out here and chase all opportunities I could possibly find. I’ve now been here for about 6 years and still trying to crack the code on how to sustain myself fully as an artist. I have been able to meet other artist, find work, get in good with studios, build a team to help get my music out there to the world but it is a day to day battle. I rarely travel back home, maybe once a year and have spent so much time away from my family all these years. I have sacrificed so much being away from them but I truly believe it will all be worth it one day and all the time I have lost with them will come full circle along with the success I desire in this field.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is CJ Pitts and I am an independent artist, singer/songwriter, and rapper based out of LA. I grew up on the east coast however in Bear, Delaware until I was 19 years old and thats when I left home to pursue my dream in music. I attended a music college in St Paul, Minnesota where I studied vocal performance, the voice as a whole and some of the music business. I fell in love with music there and my passion became overflowing for music and hasn’t stopped pouring out since. I learned so much in MN and even got my first work as a performer joining some cover bands which gave me my confidence on stage and taught me the ins and outs of live performances.
During that time I began songwriting for myself trying to practice and get better with my own lyrics to transition into being an artist which was my biggest dream and desire. From there I started doing a lot of writing and eventually moved to LA to work out west for bigger opportunities.
I feel like my music that I create for myself stands out because even though it has mainstream elements, there’s just something slightly different I believe in my approach and lyrics that give it its own little lane on this major musical highway. I’m most proud of my latest R&B EP I released last year because it was my first body of work and I put a ton of time into every lyric, melody and even visuals for certain songs. My hard work paid off because my EP made its way into the hands of a gentleman who had ran billboards in Times Square, NYC and he wanted to show me some love and had my EP blasted on a billboard for all of the city to see. That was one fo those moments for me where I knew I was on the right track and to just keep going.
For my future fans I just want you to know that my passion for music is real and runs deep in my heart and soul and I will be creating the best music I can possibly create for all of my days here on earth and I would love for you to take this journey with me.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Yes, so I studied in college Vocal Performance as a major and it was cool because I learned technique and how to use my voice. Looking back now though I wish I would have majored in Music Engineering and minored in Voice because as an artist being self efficient is huge and one of the biggest problems artist run into is not having an engineer or being able to afford studio time and mixing and mastering, That has been an uphill battle for myself so I wish I would have learned those skills to better prepare me for my future in this industry. I honestly feel I would be much farther along in my career if I had those skills and now I am having to learn them so that’s a huge one for me.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Seeing someones face when they hear your music for there first time, such a pure and genuine smile and glow about them. It makes me feel warm inside knowing something I created made them react that way and consume them. Also people telling me my music helped them in some way or their relationship or they we’re moved by a song. That hits me because that’s one fo the main reasons I do what I love, to move and help others through my art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiam_vk6IKAAxXqmGoFHVXZDTUQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fcjpittsmusic%2F%3Fhl%3Den&usg=AOvVaw31nqXt1OUHAkDz-dAZ020G&opi=89978449
- Twitter: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjxjZ3z6IKAAxW4mmoFHfG9Cf4QFnoECAsQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fcjpittsmusic&usg=AOvVaw02C9T55wyOI3jxqGAvTSpW&opi=89978449
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CJPittsMusic
- Apple Music: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTJwNnZ3STNzcHNpR1FoVzlPSHdJcW42T2VsZ3xBQ3Jtc0treHdrazdvN3kyMEwtVEVrRmFlTlBNUkFCMzk5RmxOSFZFTlJNdkF5djBMMGM3MmFhNTVvamVMLWNtM2pxSEduUFJFaWlDWmVOWk90WlpGZlRYVHE2ZWJubTRHVXZMVVlZTGs3eEp1eUZQY3V6OG5xVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fartist%2Fcj..&v=waBuBrVia0Y
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QXkMkcGRybIxWebJZmbSf?si=-r0l3PyHSCuEP-45xUWzDQ
Image Credits
Lyubovi Frank Kerrigan