Interview: RJ Word toys with materialism, big horns & funky good times

Life is made up of moments. What we choose to do with those ultimately defines who we are. Musician, singer and songwriter RJ Word sheds light on human existence’s impermanence with his groove-based tune “What You Need,” mingling big, brassy horns with a slicked-back modern dazzle. He draws lines between truthful connections and materialism, and his choice is pretty evident. “I find that all of my favorite experiences have to do with people and not things. There’s definitely a point of diminishing return with the enjoyment of items. How fun a night is, isn’t determined by how many diamonds you have in your watch,” he speaks candidly over email to B-Sides & Badlands. The song, compiled with the dynamism of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and a flugel, represents his eclectic musical tastes, flittering between styles within seconds before either jet-setting into new territory or returning to a previous moment’s plush space. “What You Need” is exactly what any music fan likely needs (and will appreciate on some level).

“I wanted to make music I like, something that’s dynamic and doesn’t rely on loops. I find a lot of what’s on the radio too repetitive,” he says. So, he set about constructing “What You Need” to be as temporary and seemingly-random as life itself. “Mixing that with some 808s, we figured we had something really different on our hands.”

Funky by nature, Word doesn’t waste a single breath, injecting each syllable with sensuality and charred radiance. “Don’t gotta say cool things to inspire you,” he spits, revealing to be quite the provocateur in challenging the establishment. “Saying fly shit don’t make it true / Don’t need fast acts / We’ll still look good in this Hatchback / That’s uber, uber cool…” Filtered through neon brilliance, and bathed in truth tea-spillage, he envisions a world where luxury takes a backseat to mankind.

“I visualized it all playing out in a club when I was writing the song. People are flexing everywhere. You can pull up in a Lambo or just as easily click a button to make sure everyone who follows you sees it when they wake up,” he says, interpreting the song as an epic takedown of showy affluence, both on- and offline. “Unfortunately, most feel the need to do both. It’s not that I have any serious qualms with people who do that. I just don’t think it’s necessary. You can end up looking silly because you’re trying so hard to be perceived a certain way. People should get comfortable with themselves. We can’t ever say for sure what direction our lives are going in and don’t we all want to be content when the smoke and mirrors get ripped away?”

Word’s perceptiveness dances playfully inside “What You Need,” both standing as a feel-good bop and an insightfully engaged inspection of society. Musically, from the scintillating mood to the disco-fueled arrangement ⎯⎯ his favorite disco-inspired songs include Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” the Bee Gees’ “If I Can’t Have You” and Donna Summer’s “Love is in Control” ⎯⎯ the song anchors an upcoming sequence of singles, an approach that is a direct answer to eroding attention spans. “I would make and release an album right now if it was a commercially viable option,” he moans. “Sadly, I think a lot of the songs would go unappreciated, and it might be a waste. It’s hard to keep people captivated for more than 90 seconds these days.”

A body of work will come eventually, of course, but he’s taking his sweet time. “There’s no way I’m leaving this life without making a sick LP,” he avows. That’s a hearty promise, and one Word will assuredly make good on. Born and raised in Los Angeles, his early roots are firmly planted in musical theatre; in that framework, “What You Need” makes perfect sense. It’s dramatic, charged, sexy and wholly addictive. “LA is a melting pot. I love the way that shapes the city and the lifestyle,” he broods, referencing how the City of Angels instilled within him a sense of diversity and appreciation for a swath of cultures.

That’s a double-edged sword, too. He’s also learned not to “trust anyone. I’m not saying not to work with or hire people to do specific tasks,” he explains. “It’s impossible to come up in this industry completely by yourself. But never get to a point where you feel comfortable enough to stop paying attention.”

From his elementary school days, during which he performed extensively in various theatrical productions, including taking on the role of Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie, work ethic was hammered into his malleable brain. “I was 11, and it was a summer camp production. There was a number in [that] show where my character had to sing a song that progressively gets faster. By the time it resolves, it’s fast even by rap standards. That’s when I gained a much deeper appreciation for the skill,” he remembers. “Musical theatre really drilled in the importance of rehearsal. I don’t swing anything. Every performance is very thought out, on the stage and in the booth.”

Two years following that production, prolific vocal coach Roger Love, known for his work with Selena Gomez, John Mayer, Demi Lovato and countless others, stumbled upon Word. The two began working together and honing Word’s sound, not only in music but everyday life. “Everything from how to breath properly to how to control my pitch and increase my range. I sound, speak and sing the way I do today in large part thanks to him,” reflects Word, whose airy but grounded intonation is prevalent in much of his singles work.

Even given his pedigree onstage, from solo shows to his theatre resume, Word has “been comfortable onstage for a long time. Sometimes it’s a lot of fun; possibly the most fun I could ever imagine having,” he says. “But, sometimes it’s not and can be exhausting. There’s ups and downs to it just like the rest of life.”

It’s that kind of candor, weighted in his personal truth, that makes his music a tremendous force, likewise evident in the approach itself. “Instead of studying and interpreting someone else’s story, you’re making something brand new. Making new things is the only thing that keeps me from getting bored. And I just love telling stories. The medium doesn’t matter as much. Doesn’t even matter if it’s true or not.”

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