A Chat with Jü (08.01.2021)
If you are looking for a raw, genuine and honest EP to listen to Jü has what you need with Lost In You. Through the tracks of the EP, he explores love in all its forms and phases. Steeped in a passion for what he does and covered in positivity and heartbreak, the EP is a must listen. We sat down with Jü to talk about Lost In You, personal experiences with love, challenges, musical evolution and much more!
OSR: What first drew you to making your own music?
Jü: Music, for as long as I can remember, has always played a huge role in my life. I still remember hearing my pops in the car transition a Biggie track into a Maxwell record. Me just sitting there like “what is this?”. The smooth vocals and harmonies were captivating. Just the simple fact a person could express what someone meant to them and have it come out so raw still.
Growing up it was hard for me to express my own thoughts and feelings. I then began to write it out and then hum the words. Then poetry and so on, now here we are. Music over the years has really just helped me be a better communicator and lover. It just does so much that we tend to overlook its power.
OSR: The music you make covers a range of different genres, is this a conscious decision or something that organically happens during your creative process?
Jü: I really just want to showcase my writing abilities. As a vocalist, I like to test myself and see how far I can push it. My first love is RnB but I know I can do pop and Spanish. Naturally, it’s easier for me because I grew up on all kinds of music. I thank my family for that for keeping an ear open to just about anything.
OSR: Your latest EP Lost In You showcases your passionate side, can you tell us a little more about the EP?
Jü: Lost In You is my version of a passion, love, heartbreak and regret story. When you find that one partner that has that from another dimension sex. You just sit back like damn is this real? When that connection runs deep into your bones. The way the sunlight just lays on that person and it’s like nothing they can say or do is wrong. Then you run into obstacles and that’s a part of life/the growing process. Time passes where you had the opportunity to reflect and you feel that regret coming. Just gotta do better.
OSR: Does the genuine and raw sound of the EP draw on any personal experiences?
Jü: Everything I write either for my personal work or other artists stem from points of my life. At times I do write about what I see in other relationships, kind of like an outside looking in type of deal. The majority of the time it’s just me.
OSR: What was your creative process for Lost In You? Did you start with a concept or a single track that you worked around?
Jü: Well I knew I wanted this sophomore project to be different from my first (Emotions Running High). Of course, there’s still a track or two for my audience that resonates with my original sound. My main focus was on trying different genres and reaching more people. It was wherever the music took me, from bedroom tracks to heartbreak records. I went with the flow and didn’t force a sound. I owe a lot of the credit to the great team I worked with. Kevin, Nik, Steve, Tim, Michael, Sam, Jonah and Hailey.
OSR: While the EP explores love in all its phases, is there a track that holds a special place in your heart?
Jü: That’s a tough one because it just depends on the mood I’m in. I feel the last track ‘Lost In You’ really was raw and emotional. You could literally hear the pain and regret in my voice. It’s one of my favourites on the EP. So far now that’s my choice but I might change my mind later.
OSR: What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while making the EP?
Jü: The only real challenging part was finding the time and day for people to meet up and work on it together. Everyone’s pretty busy so I’m blessed we were able to complete in the time that we did.
OSR: With this being your second EP, how do you feel your music has evolved over time?
Jü: I feel my writing has gotten so much better. Being able to articulate my thoughts in a more precise manner. The melodies are stronger, the vocals are too. Naturally, with anything, you’re going to grow if you keep at something. It honestly worked in my favour because I love what we came up with.
OSR: As your music dips into so many genres, what do you feel is your biggest influence?
Jü: I listen to so much music throughout my day. From different decades of artists to today’s music. I try to pick at sounds that I like to hear. My favourite artists are the ones who think outside the box. Like a Childish Gambino, Kanye West, Weeknd type.
OSR: What else can we expect from you in the coming year?
Jü: I wanna work on some visuals for the project. With Covid-19 being a real issue that might be placed on hold. I also wanna release another project with more features. Since ‘Goosebumps’ has received such high praises, I kinda wanna work with more artists. See what magic we can create.
Thanks to Jü for chatting with us! You can find more about him on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
