Before his tour stop in New York City on The Hopeful Tour, AJ Mitchell opened up to ECHO during an exclusive interview and photo shoot with Alessandra Guarneri. The ‘Afterhours’ singer spoke about his influences, his latest singe and his fans. Get to know more about AJ Mitchell through his responses in the interview below.
How did you first get started with music?
Growing up I had a very musical family, my father and sisters were always singing and writing songs. Being around that at a very young age inspired me to pursue my love and passion for music.
Who are your musical influences?
Bruno Mars, Coldplay, The Beatles and Lil Wayne.
What can you tell us about your latest single ‘Afterhours’ and its message?
It’s all about having fun and keeping the party going. It’s a great summer song.
Your song ‘Used To Be’ has over 30 million streams on Spotify! How surreal is that and did you ever expect that to happen?
No, I never expected it to even hit 1 million streams. For a song that I wrote when I was 13, it’s a major milestone to have that type of exposure.
How excited are you to be on tour? What is your favorite part about touring?
I love being on tour. It allows me to meet and interact with all my fans, which I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s also a fun opportunity to travel and spend time in different parts of the country.
When you’re not making music, what do you like to do?
I love playing sports, video games and spending time with friends and family.
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with in the future?
I’d love to collaborate with Bruno Mars or Lil Wayne. I love their writing style. They’re both artists I look up to.
What do you love most about your fans?
I love how loyal my fans are. They encourage me and always make me feel supported.
Is there any advice you would give to people trying to pursue a career similar to yours?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Try to replace negative thoughts with positivity, it will always lead to better results.
What can fans look forward to in the near or distant future?
I’m dropping a new single every month leading up to the release of my first ever album. I will also be touring throughout the summer.
Make sure you stay up to date with AJ Mitchell by following him on his Instagram, Twitter and liking his Facebook Page!