Artist Spotlight
Los Angeles Producer ArjayOnTheBeat Is Pushing the Perimeters of the Music Industry
To stand out in music, especially a genre like Hip Hop, an artist has to have a presence not only the presence but commanding energy to them that makes you invest in their artistry, which they present for us to buy into. That separates an artist who you only give one listen to and who you start to keep up with. ArjayOnTheBeat brings that confident swagger to his approach that makes you want to stay connected, as he has been unfailing when connecting with his audience and executing vibrant and unique records from a career standpoint.
Arjayonthebeat discussed with us and answered our uncommon 11 Questions. Check it out below.
HONK: Let’s start by introducing ourselves. You know the basics, like name, age, and where you’re from, as much or little as you’re comfortable sharing.
ArjayOnTheBeat: Artist Name: Arjayonthebeat /Arjayonthebeat3x
Legal Name: Robert Dickson Jr
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
HONK: What’s the best advice you ever received concerning music?
ArjayOnTheBeat: The best advice I’ve ever received concerning music was about mixing. I was honored to have had a one-on-one session with a Grammy-awarded engineer, Leslie Brathwaite, who engineered Pharrell’s “Happy,” which headlined Despicable Me 2. He listened to my beats and told me, “everything was great, but one thing, your mixing.” He then said when it comes to mixing your beats, nothing should be panned to the center but vocals”. In other words, every sound in your beat should be panned between the left and right, never down the middle.
The best advice of my life…
HONK: What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
ArjayOnTheBeat: One thing I would have done differently is take more of the presented opportunities rather than rejecting them due to being overly cautious.
HONK: What is still your biggest challenge?
ArjayOnTheBeat: My biggest challenge is finding an artist with the potential/ talent to take them to the top and team up. Until then, the search continues. Most artists don’t take it as seriously as I do. I instead get plaques/awards with one artist repeatedly than try to get one plaque out of multiple artists… if that makes sense.
HONK: What keeps you going when things get tough in the music industry?
ArjayOnTheBeat: My daughters (Indiyah & Xia) and my family are the ones I need to be successful. My goal is to leave generational wealth /money behind for them.
HONK: If you could open a show for any artist, who would it be?
ArjayOnTheBeat: Lil Uzi Vert, Chris Brown, or DJ Khaled
HONK: Could you talk me through your creative process?
ArjayOnTheBeat: When it comes to my productions, I never force them. I only make beats when I feel like it, so I don’t burn out my creative juices.
If I’m not working, I typically listen to various genres to get ideas on enhancing my sound daily. Every genre has something you can learn from…
HONK: How do you solve productivity/scheduling problems and reduce overwhelming situations?
ArjayOnTheBeat: I always try to keep the customer/ clients happy, mistakes can occur, so I’ll always offer something in exchange for the mishap to reach a positive conclusion.
HONK: What are you focusing your time on now?
ArjayOnTheBeat: I’m focusing my time on executive producing more projects rather than singles & building my artist (once they’ve been found).
HONK: How do you currently feel about the state of “Your genre” in general?
ArjayOnTheBeat: We need more substance in the hip-hop community and a different topic to rap about rather than hoes, guns, apps & negativity. I feel it’s time to switch it up, or else we won’t get as successful as other genres like folk rock & country music.
HONK: How can our readers follow you online?
Artist Spotlight
Lana Crow turns challenges into a celebration with “Laugh With You”
“Laugh With You,” the latest single from Lana Crow, is a sincere rallying cry to embrace life in all its messy, beautiful mess. In the song, indie pop and alt-pop combine to deliver an emotional blow that feels both personal and universal.
“Laugh With You” feels like an instant connection, and Crow is telling you stories of hard times with a cozy, knowing smile. This song is as much about struggle as it is about how strong you are. It serves as a reminder that these struggles are simply what give us the strength to keep going, even when life is tough.
Crow encourages people to welcome them, create happiness in the cracks, and laugh even as the world gets heavy. The result is a song that delicately nudges you to love and embrace yourself. It is an anthem for anyone experiencing tough times who refuses to give up hope. Lana Crow continues to demonstrate her songwriting skills, both musically pleasing and emotionally rich, with “Laugh With You.”
It’s a reminder that it’s how we respond to tough times, rather than how they affect us, that’s key. With this song, not only does Crow provide us with music, but she also lets us know that sometimes a laugh is what we need to remember that there is always something to smile about and that, even when it feels like life has waged war against you, laughter can still be found.
Artist Spotlight
BluntBrad Jr. finds calm ambition in the laid-back shine of “It’s All Good”
BluntBrad Jr.’s new single, “It’s All Good,” sounds like a steady handshake and a deep breath. It’s warm, honest, and not trying to be cool. There isn’t any fancy production hiding behind layers of polish here. Instead, the song is all about being honest. The song is laid-back and offers up the shine of a studio recording for the feeling of a candid introduction, a musical “hello” from someone who wants to be heard for who they are.
“It’s All Good” is a very human way to be hopeful at its core. The feeling is simple and real, like someone who won’t let little things stand in the way of their goals. The words to the song sound like friends talking to each other. They discuss their goals, their drive, and their need for attention in a way that is honest and not needy.
The production backs this up by making sure that everything is open and airy. The instruments are simple and easy to understand, so BluntBrad Jr.’s voice and message come through clearly. The song feels real because it doesn’t have a lot of extra stuff in it. You’re not hearing a heavily constructed persona; you’re hearing someone at the start of a journey, eager to make their mark.
The song’s rough edges make it captivating, which is better than polish, which would have smoothed it out. This way of thinking fits with the theme: hope isn’t naive here; it’s realistic and steady. It speaks to people who like simple songs and value honesty over artifice.
“It’s All Good” is an engaging and approachable phrase that offers context for an artist who is confident and clear about their artistic vision. This is the kind of song you listen to when you need some honest encouragement to remember that just being human can help you move forward. This is only the first chapter of something serious, so expect more from him.
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