We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful A.J. Throwback. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with A.J. below.

A.J., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on at this point of my creative career has been my most recent EP series, ‘The Late Bloomer’. Originally conceived as a third-person narrative album loosely based on my life, ‘The Late Bloomer’ arose from my need to be more transparent as a hip hop recording artist. I have observed how much people gravitate towards artists who are relatable and intrepid in being vulnerable and this project has been one of my biggest forays into that creative space.

It has become even more meaningful for me because I nearly bailed on the project twice, especially last year when issues in my personal life got in the way of professional relationships and nearly shelved everything once and for all. There were a lot of songs which never got mixed, mastered or even recorded and the album was not coming together as originally conceived. However, upon my wife’s suggestion, I decided my story needed to be told with the songs which were already completed–even if it meant breaking up the project into two EPs instead of one album.

A.J., before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My stage name is A.J. Throwback and the origins of my creative identity begin with my time at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Although he wasn’t the first person to express the sentiment, my best friend Jason “Country” Mitchell said I had a “throwback” vibe and I have owned that tag for over 2o years now. Needing to separate myself from the pack as well as the abundance of artists named “Throwback” in the creative space, I added “A.J.” to stand for “Authentic Joe” and drive home the point of being unapologetically me regardless of whatever the current trends or “conventional wisdom” might suggest.

Having my late father as the ultimate springboard into my love of music and media, I first got into media as a high school intern for the ‘Washington Afro American Newspapers’ before landing my first job out of college as a freelance sports reporter for ‘The Washington Informer’ and later running my own multi-subject blog called ‘New Problem Tuesdays’. I got my start in radio in college as co-host of a late-night R&B slow jams show, ‘The Midnight Storm’, on WEOS 89.7/90.3 FM. All of these experiences set up my most impactful years in radio as co-host and DJ for ‘Breakout Kings Radio’ and creator, co-host and DJ of ‘The Balancing Act Radio Show (BARS)’–both of which aired on WINDCRadio where I have remained as Music Director. As a music creator, I began producing for indie hip hop artists based in the D.C. area before striking out as a recording artist with my debut mixtape, ‘Legend of the Fall’.

As an entrepreneur, I established Balancing Act Music & Media LLC as a multimedia company which provides authentic experiences. With my music experience facilitation services, I pride myself on curating music playlists focused around the client and their guests which either transport them to their fondest memories, allow them to live in the beauty of today or both. As a music producer, I make each experience with a recording artist a true collaboration between two or more visionaries to achieve a common creative goal versus imposing my will simply because I created the music. As a recording and performing artist, I seek to create the most transparent and genuine music possible which will not only allow me to express myself, but also add value to the lives of and create a simpatico relationship with my listeners. I have also made my way into merchandise with “batch.” (short for “Balancing Act Trinkets & Clothing House”), which is another extension of my music as well as a way for others to express themselves through fashion.

Some of the greatest examples of solving problems have been in radio and media, especially in the independent creative spaces. As co-host of ‘Turntable Thursdays’ with DJ Shane and Ryan Lucas, not only do we have meaningful discussions about hip hop, but we also provide a space for both up-and-coming and renowned veteran hip hop artists to “receive their flowers” for their contributions to the culture when terrestrial radio or mainstream media outlets may overlook them. As co-host of ‘The Return 2 Black Broadway Podcast’ with series creator and movement leader Re’Gideon Peoplez, our goal is to reignite the spirit of “Black Broadway” along the U Street Corridor by showcasing independent artists in the “DMV” (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) as well as promote peace and unity within the African-American community.

My problem solving experiences are a perfect segue into what I am the most proud of in my time in this industry: providing a space for others to express themselves. Being a producer was one of the first opportunities for me to do so because I had to transition from someone who simply made beats in my mom’s basement to creating sonic backdrops which properly complement an artist’s style and a song’s subject matter. During my three years of running four different series under my ‘BARS’ platform, I forged some of my most significant relationships because I was willing to share my spotlight with so many artists, entrepreneurs and change agents–many of whom received either their first opportunities and/or their most memorable experiences interacting with the media.

At the end of the day, I want anyone who interacts with me, my brand or anything with which I’m associated to know balance is at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s men continuing to dominate the entertainment industry, celebrating the vitality of youth while undercutting veteran experience or making violent and salacious subject matter more appealing to creators and consumers, we have devolved into a society which heavily operates in extremes all too often. Recognizing this type of discordance, the foundation of everything I do within music and media is to level the playing field and challenge the saying “fair is a place where they judge pigs”.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is trying so hard to turn everyone into an enthusiastic fan of mine After releasing my second mixtape, I came across someone who was looking for music to play in clubs around the D.C. area. However, the gentlemen kindly told me while he was personally a fan of the song I sent him, he didn’t think it would resonate with his audience. For most of the next three years, that interaction fueled an insatiable desire to appeal to the masses. It would take a lot of soul searching as well as contemplating a departure from music altogether before finally arriving to the true beginnings of my artistic identity. Rejections became blessings in disguise because they taught me that no one is obligated to like me or anything I create and it is misguided to think that “everyone” is my target audience. I have to devote more of my time, energy and resources into finding my tribe.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most significant times I had to pivot was when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in 2020. Dealing with the sudden passing of my father was one of the most emotionally trying times of my life, but COVID-19 added insult to injury as it shut down so many parts of our society–including physically going into the radio station which was the home to my ‘BARS’ flagship show. Doing my best to give myself enough time to grieve but not so much time that I lost momentum, I became an avid student of “YouTube University” and watched hours of instructional and review videos about USB microphones, mixers and audio interfaces, external lighting sources, webcams and multicam setups, virtual streaming studios and so much more.

Through glitching and lagging broadcasts, ordering and returning incompatible equipment and spending a lot of money to put on the best possible audio/visual experience, I eventually hit my stride within a month of going virtual. While I returned to the radio station later in the year for three months, I went back to the virtual realm because of the danger being in close quarters with guests posed to me and my family. Going virtual was a significant shift in the way I approached media because it gave me an invaulable amount of knowledge and experience which has not only helped me, but also has helped others connected to me and my brand.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bammllc.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.j.throwback
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajthrowback
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJThrowback
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ajthrowback928
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@a.j.throwback

Image Credits
Mears St. Photography, Jacqueline D. Jones, Joseph Lawrence Goings