Creating yourself in a world that is vastly different from where you came from is bound to bring together new perspectives, values, community, and style into an artist’s atmosphere. This was the blessing of relocating to Los Angeles that musician Carlj experienced. After graduating high school in 2017, New Jersey-based SoundCloud artist decided to take the jump into the biggest pond out there for musical talent. Now in bigger leagues and five years later, the artist has hits on Spotify with thousands of streams and a collective of monthly listeners gaining numbers with each drop. In his latest album, East Coast Baby, he tells his lore of progression in self-growth, healing of hardships, finding community, and recreating himself and his style.
This progression of a newfound self out in Los Angeles can be seen in ECB, the second track of his album “I’m that East Coast Baby in the Wild Wild West, I’m chasing my dream now, I know who I am now.” Having a secure sense of self as an artist is essential to creating meaningful work that viewers or listeners can truly feel through passion. For Carlj, music is about creating a connection with his audience through shared experiences, whether it be dealing with hardships and their emotions or celebrating the joys of the experience of music. To have something as an individual that takes you out of your world and places you back into the child-like spirit that is created from the heart is truly a gift. Carlj isn’t unaware of this talent and ability and continues to use it to meet his audience where they’re at and encourage them to keep going.
To be a truly talented artist, you must be surrounded by the same energy. We all affect one another, from the gas station clerk to your closest friend, who you have around you molds you. This is a tough transition that takes place when moving to any new place, especially Los Angeles, where if you wanted to get in with any crowd, it’s more than doable. Carlj is proud to say the people he has close to and around him are his biggest inspirations. They are the encouragers through their words, check-ins, and collaboration, but also in creating and succeeding themselves. They give him this superpower spoke about in the fifth track of East Coast Baby, IN THE DAY “I can find a way, I got my people right beside me.” In a city of distractions, having people around you that are guiding you closer to what you’re here for, why you’re in this place, is the best superpower. A community of creatives is behind Carlj’s newest album and he’s well aware of it.
East Coast Baby is an album to not be missed. If you love sounds from acoustic guitars to R&B rap, this track list has it all. Hitting on relationship hardships, coming from another coast, staying focused on your craft, and feeling unstoppable throughout it all, is sure to resonate with artists from every industry.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/71zXkRRyJvn9OpPdmlOLzP?si=l6i5jMqRS9-vkHVddLRdGQ
