A Q&A with AvenueN9ne

RnB revitalised, from Philadelphia…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘Hoops’ was just me letting out frustration. Not only in my life but even the people around me. Everything just felt like a never ending circle, like a loop I just couldn’t get out. That was the main feeling for that song. It means a lot to me just like all my songs do. They are a piece of me, even if its not my story I am telling.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The hardest part is the promotion, I think. Especially starting out. I say that because when you first release music you don’t have a fan base yet, you are trying to create that. So every promotion you do you just hope it hits the market it needed to. I think for me that’s the hardest part. Just getting music to the fans at the start. You aren’t gonna get on those big playlists and radio play at first. So you have to market and promote a number of other ways.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Mat Leppanen is the producer for my tracks and he just brings fresh ears. I have digested a song a million different ways before it gets to him, but when he hears it, it’s for the first time and he just brings such insight. His ear is amazing. I am thankful to have been connected with him.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?I want them to know that it’s okay to sit and deal with whatever you have going on. Everyone says move on, or life doesn’t stop. That is true, it doesn’t. However, neither does the pain if you just bury it. Sometimes I have to make a song about how I’m feeling, to hear what I’m feeling, if you get what I mean. I just want to be that for the listener, if I can.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Normally I have a melody in my head, not many lyrics usually just a way I want to flow. Then I build from there with a feeling, then from there the hook and the verses follow last usually. For me sometimes I have to see what I am trying to say, sometimes I feel it, but the process is usually the same. There are times where I feel like I need to let something out or I’ll explode, and that is usually the times I write the verse first and take from or give to as I find the melody.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Jon Bellion. I have so many artists that I absolutely adore musically. However, the release of ‘The Human Condition’ just will forever change the way I hear and feel music. The way he builds an emotion into the instrumental just blows me away everytime.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
Honestly, I want to go everywhere. There isn’t a place I don’t want my music to be felt. I do have top 5 venues I would love to play. I would love to play at TLA in PA, The Met in PA, House of Blues in NV, The Greek Theatre in LA, and Fillmore Auditorium in CO.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
I would pick ‘Here We Go’ because I think that was my turning point for the sound I wanted, but not only that I had finally dealt with some unresolved emotions when I wrote that song. It just not only gives you an idea of my sound, but of my writing as well.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I have three main goals as of right now. To change what pop music looks like, to have my music/face in movies, and to inspire and create art.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Thank you for taking the time to do this with me, and to the audience; never stop living in your truth. No matter what that is. Sit in it, live in it, get to the other side.

For more info visit: facebook.com/AvenueN9ne