Interview: AJ Raggs
AJ Raggs, is a 27 year old performing artist from Pittsburgh, PA. He achieved a BFA in Music Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, with a an emphasis in Opera,, but has since taken a deep dive into the world of pop songwriting.
We recently had a chance to check in with AJ and he was kind enough to respond to a few interview questions:
Welcome AJ Raggs, thanks for making time to talk with us today and answer a few questions. Great to chat with you. You have a new single out. Tell us all about it!
So happy to talk with you. My new song is called “We Were the Band!” Basically it’s about a love that feels like a constant party. It’s got sort of a throwback 80s pop/rock kinda feel, and is super upbeat.
Is it just you when you go to record music or do you work with others?
It used to be just me producing myself, and then taking my tracks to be recorded at a local studio here in the burgh - however my co-writer on this song - Carrie Cunningham - was my co-producer on this one as well, and she raised the song to a whole new level!! We recorded this one in Nashville, TN, and I’m so grateful to her for sharing her insane amount of knowledge with me. Sean Spence at Blue Grotto Sound was the other half of the co-production wheel, and our engineer! And we had a super talented band to play on the track - Teddy Reimer on Guitar, Peter Wilson on Drums, and Cameron Marburger on Bass! Those guys came in, learned the song, and recorded it in about 2 hours! It was an incredible experience.
What stories do you want to tell in the music you put out?
Each song I write has a little piece of me in it. It’s not always about me - sometimes I write about things that happen to people I know. I guess you could say that my goal is when people hear the music, they will feel something - whether that’s happiness, love or maybe even sadness. However, my biggest hope is that after hearing these songs, people will know how much they are loved. Because they are!
We know you play guitar, which we love. How did you learn? How old were you when you first started to play?
I first started learning guitar in 10th grade, which would’ve made me 16, and I was blessed to have a great teacher to get me going! His name was Tim Tucker. After a few months of working with him, I shifted to being mostly self taught, but have since had another awesome teacher by the name of Mark Strickland, who is sort of an infamous Pittsburgh Jazzer. He kicked my butt, but that’s what I needed!
Do you play any other instruments? Which one is your favorite?
Well, my first instrument - the first one I learned how to use - is my voice. I’ve had lessons since the age of 12, and studied opera in college, and then finally graduated to training in a pop music style after school. (I’m currently studying with Mindy Pack - if you don’t know her, you should check her out. She is AMAZING). I also began working on piano at the same time I started taking voice lessons, so I guess you could say I feel most at home playing my piano and singing together! I also use a live looping station, play a little ukulele, and I know one song on the harmonica!
What is the best piece of life advice you have gotten that you would share with us?
Good question!! The first thing that came to mind was this life rule from my mentor. She said “don’t wait to start living your dream. You are living it right now, so live it!” - Sheree Spoltore, president of Global Songwriter’s Connection.
Have a listen and connect with AJ Raggs:
