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How would you describe your music?
Well, I’d almost say it’s hard to describe the music other than it’s pretty much everything I’ve listened to in life in what I am musically and what I play. I kind of lean towards Rock and it would be easiest to say “It’s Rock music,” and it is. I do have a song D.O.G. which has some banjo in it with some rapping and some trumpet. So you know basically kind of what comes out is going to come out and I won’t say I’m only going to do this kind of music because really whatever comes out comes out and if it sounds good and works with what I’m doing that’s what I’m going to do. So musically it’s pretty open. I have a sound but for the most part, I’m open on that. Lyrically I’d like to call my music as Social Rock
What is Social Rock?
In short Social Rock is basically about what’s going on around us in this day and age concerning technology, the internet and social media and it’s effect on humans and everything around us. It plays a non-stop role really.
What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
One thing that immediately seems to set my music apart is just the fact that it kind of has a purpose. Music has always been used as a release for millions of people throughout time. From the Blues to the 60’s hippie movement, to punk rock people use music to speak what they want to say. And you know, as opposed to going out there and firebombing places and smashing things up you don’t need to do that, you write a song about it and you make that song represent what it is you feel and what y you’re trying to say. You do it musically to show the anger you have behind it. I feel like one of the best times in the United States was when gangs kind of stopped fighting and started break dancing. There was a short period of time there where things were the best they were. They were expressing what they were feeling in a different way and it really was working. It was a bummer that didn’t progress in any further way but I’d like to see music used as a way to express what people are feeling … more. The commonality that I have of all my songs seemingly being about the internet, technology or social media, things like that, definitely sets it apart. Not that I only write about that but basically for the last few years that’s what I’ve been concentrating on. I like to create a song that’s really when you hear it on the radio and you listen to it and you hear just a little of it I want it to be happy and uplifting with a great melody. And get people to you know think “that’s kind of an interesting song I like that” and you can hear it and like it on one level. But then also have another level where if you really want to examine the lyrics and try to figure out what the songs about there’s another meaning in there. And it’s not maybe the most pleasant thing but it’s not anything we don’t already know, it’s just coming to grips with what’s happening.
Has your musical journey had a deliberate direction or did it simply gradually evolve in whatever direction it found?
I’ve always been into music and I have an older brother who listened to a lot of good music so he was a great influence on a lot of the music that I like. As far as playing music instruments-wise I actually wanted to play the violin but couldn’t so I went for guitar and it’s been on and off with that. Basically my whole life I’ve been on and off with guitar but once I realized I could record songs on my computer it was like a floodgate opened. It was like euphoria and I just started going right into it and writing songs. And so that path basically opened up and as soon as I was comfortable writing songs it wasn’t much long after that that I realize that my life-long love of technology, and how much I’ve always loved it, and it’s clash with the internet, how thing’s I’ve loved about it have been taken away and changed and what it’s been replaced with it was a natural progression to feel that way and go there so writing about what I’ve always loved and writing about what’s going on has always been something I kind of wanted to do and that’s been my path. And now I just feel like I’m closer than ever to doing it so, we’ll see where it goes.
Why this E.P.? Why now?
My first EP I came out with, Just1L, it’s self-titled, is something I just kind of had to do. I have other musical projects that came before that but I finally got to the point where I felt like I had been able to mix songs good enough to get them out there. I really wanted to learn the process which was one of the main reasons also for the EP I wanted to learn about the copyrighting and all the things, all the hoops I had to go through, all the things I had to do, my whole checklist for coming out with something whether it was a CD, album or set of songs I wanted to go through the whole process. I set this shorter EP up as something that would be a little less time consuming and something I could finish the project. I wanted to set my sights on something that I could “Here’s the goal and I’m going to finish it.” That was the purpose of that EP. As well as of course getting the songs out there. I just wanted to finally have something out there that was Just1L. The EP, and like most things I do, it’s all a learning process. You know I don’t mind failing, I don’t mind learning new things. And this EP was just that. I learned about so many things and the main thing I learned was if I can get other people to do a lot of that stuff that I don’t like to do, that would be the way to go. That would be the option because there’s a lot of stuff to do.
What are your ambitions as a songwriter and musician from here?
My main ambition is to keep writing songs. Ever since I found out I could write songs on my computer I immediately came up with the idea that I needed to have an album. I wanted to do a 15-20 song album, preferably record and along the way to doing that I started writing songs and learning the craft and how to do it and other little projects have popped up here and there. I did a song from the show, the movie Oliver and I’d love to do more songs from that and create a rock version of Oliver. I can envision that as well. And I also have these songs about the internet that have popped up and I feel like I’ve gotta kind of have that run it’s course. Where that’s going to completely head I’m not 100% sure but I still enjoy writing about things that are kind of new that aren’t out there. But for the big project, my main ambition, it’s to get this longer album of songs out that are not as heavy or only about the internet. I want to have songs about everything, different genres, different styles and try to make it all work together in one album. So, other than just continuing to write songs it’s to finish that long-term album. It’s my main goal.
What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned?
So yeah within the next 6 months I’ve got that single I mentioned earlier coming out and it’s got the longest title of any of my songs so that’s something, something to look forward to. It’s going to be very search-friendly. I also have shot some video that I’d like to make a kind of artsy-type fun video for it. Nothing extravagant but again just a little project to see what I can do. After that I’ve always got these other songs that I want to work on, I’ve got songs I need to mix better. So I’m going to continue to work on them and continue to work towards my larger goal which is that first album that I’d like to get out. And if you’re interested in any of the projects I have going on or want to find out information about when the new singles coming out visit www.just1l.com and you can sign up there. I send out emails and newsletters whenever anything new is coming out. I don’t have a monthly newsletter where you get constant updates. But when something’s coming up, or something’s out, it’s the best way to get ahold of me and it’s the best way for me to get ahold of you. So feel free to sign up and thank you very much for listening.
Links
WEBSITE
www.Just1L.com
CD BABY
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/just1lrandydrilingas
AMAZON
https://www.amazon.com/Just1l/dp/B07F2MQBP2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=JUST1L&qid=1568386576&sr=8-1
SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/album/4URFurSZlsC1sgLNu9qhwN
APPLE MUSIC
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/just1l/1404303093
NAPSTER
https://napster.com/artist/just1l/album/just1l