We were lucky to catch up with AJ Raggs recently and have shared our conversation below.

AJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents were the most supportive they could have been. They always allowed me to pursue my dreams, and did their best to help me do so. I know many friends of mine who did not have the support of their parents in the pursuits of their dreams, and I have also seen that lead to these same friends giving up their dreams. I feel like parental support can make or break a child’s dream.

My mom bought me my first keyboard. That inspired me to start learning how to play it. She always has built me up, and told me that I can do anything that I put my mind too. This gave me the confidence that I needed in order to pursue this crazy dream.

My dad is always, constantly trying to find new ways for me to get closer to my dream sooner. In a way, he doesn’t let me settle. This support is the kind of “kickstart” I need to remind me why I do what I do.

I am so grateful to God for the parents He chose for me. I wouldn’t trade them for the world!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is AJ Raggs, and I am a pop-music artist/songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. I moved out here last year to pursue this crazy dream I have of selling out Madison Square Garden. I’ve had a love for music from a young age. Both my mother’s father, and my father’s father were singers. They would call me on the old speaker phone and sing nursery rhyme songs to me. My dad used to play all of the good oldies on the radio in the car – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mob Hits, The Beatles and more! I think this fostered a love for singing and helped me want to pursue a career in music. I’ve never really wanted to do anything else! God put this love of music in my heart from a very young age, and I can’t imagine pursuing anything else.

The music that I make is still growing – I’m still developing and figuring out my signature sound. However right now I feel like I’m going in the pop/rock/hip-hop direction! I do have some songs out right now on Spotify, Apple Music and all streaming platforms. When I perform, I try to tailor each show to each individual audience, based on the needs of the event. I always work with clients to be able to deliver the best performance possible.

I’m think I most enjoy sharing stage performances with an audience. For me, singing – and music, in general, is the most pure form of communication. It expresses things that can’t be expressed in normal speech. That connection is amazing, and I firmly believe there is nothing else of this world like it.

With my music, I hope to create a sound that fosters joy, happiness, and hope. I know, as humans, there are things we all share in terms of feelings, and experiences, and I love letting others know that they are not alone.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Performing. I feel like that can mean a myriad of different things to different people. For me, it’s getting up on stage and sharing music with a room full of people. That experience isn’t quite like any other. It’s the most pure form of communication I know! Oftentimes, in conversation, words fail to explain, or communicate exactly what we are feeling. But in the moment that you put music to words, and you sing the lyrics together, even if you haven’t necessarily experienced the topic that the song is speaking about. You get it. It’s a powerful feeling, and a great blessing to be able to share a moment like that with others.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Sometimes, if people are not as passionate about the music, or the art, or whatever it is, they don’t get it. They don’t always understand that, while this is a career, and a way I have chosen to make my living, it’s more than that. It’s not the kind of thing you can “leave at the office”. The office is everywhere. It’s almost constantly on your mind. It’s one of your greatest desires. I know, at least speaking from my own experience, that even going out with friends to do something fun can feel like it is taking away from the music. Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging out with my friends very much, but there is still a part of me that feels a bit dejected because I think “I could’ve been working on my music…now someone else is ahead of me”. That kind of thought process can be destructive, if you’re not properly disposed, and anxiety can kick in. It is helpful to remember that in order to be fully able to perform as a musician, both on stage and off, you need to have a good quality of life, as much as you can! It is good to hang out with friends, I’m not trying to knock that at all. But that is something that perhaps others who aren’t musicians themselves most likely will not understand.

Contact Info:

• Other: www.linktree.com/ajraggs

Image Credits
Josh Brown