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IAA: What is your music background?
C.J. DEJOUR: I grew up singing in the church. I started there when I was six years old. I began writing songs at age fourteen, and I got into studio recording about 7 years ago.
IAA: Why do you want to record and release your own music?
C.J. DEJOUR: I’m just a regular person who happens to enjoy writing. I explore all of the gifts and talents that I was given. I believe they are here to help me, and to help me help someone else. I thank God for this gift he has given me, for it is therapy. Oh sweet therapy. For my mind, my body, and my spirit. Some people build a bridge and get over it. I write a bridge to get over it. And after the bridge is built, I look back and smile, for I know I shan’t pass that way again.
See, only forward motion propels me to my destiny.
IAA: What are your songs about?
C.J. DEJOUR: My songs are in the key of life. I love telling stories. I tell stories of things I’ve been through, things I’ve seen others go through, and sometimes I just make things up. They usually end up focusing on interpersonal relationships and the emotions that come from them—love, jealousy, hurt, and the feeling of being misunderstood. I also write about my relationship with Jesus Christ and the challenges I have faced. I write about how He still loves me even though I’ve fallen so many times. I am grateful. These are real feelings and emotions I think many of us share. Sometimes, if I’m particularly moved by a subject or current event, I will write about it simply to raise awareness.
IAA: Who is your fan base directed towards?
C.J. DEJOUR: My music is for anyone who can relate.
IAA: Who are your musical influences?
C.J. DEJOUR: I love storytellers. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Lauryn Hill all inspired me to start writing as I was growing up. They told the most amazing stories. There was so much detail, from the lyrics to the instruments on the track. You could close your eyes and let them paint a picture so vivid you felt like you were there. They mixed real life with imagination, spread love and positivity, and raised social awareness. I love that about each of them. Present day, there are still artists and writers out there doing the same thing. There are too many to name, and I don’t want to leave anyone out, but thank you for sharing your stories with the world.
IAA: How would you describe your music to people?
C.J. DEJOUR: My music is a melting pot of sounds and styles. Although the sound often leans toward R&B and Pop, that is not all you will get from me. A lot of times a song will come to me fully formed. I can’t control what it sounds like. I just know it has to come out. At this point, I begin seeking musicians who can help re-create the sounds in my head.
IAA: What makes you stand out from other artists?
C.J. DEJOUR: I don’t know if this makes me stand out or not, but I do what I want. I write about what I want. I make it sound how I want. Then I just release it. I let it go. I don’t try to fit in with the current sounds or trends. Whatever comes to me is what’s coming out. Some may say this approach can lead to a dated sound, but I disagree. In my opinion, nothing created from nothing can be dated. It just is. Time is timeless. Who made up these rules anyway? People will always have something to say, positive or negative, about anything you do. Life is too short for me to try and please everyone. It’s impossible.
IAA: What are some upcoming projects you are currently working on?
C.J. DEJOUR: Currently, I am working on an EP entitled “The Issues Of…” It will contain a variety of songs that express what’s in my heart. In the meantime, new songs will always be uploaded to my website and available for download as they are released.
IAA: What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
C.J. DEJOUR: I would love to work with major artists as a writer, but even if that never happens I will still be a writer in my own right. It’s in my blood. In 10 years I see myself still doing what I love. I will be at peace with myself and the rest of the world, and that is my ultimate goal.
IAA: How can your fans access your music and contact you?
C.J. DEJOUR: I welcome everyone to listen, download, comment, and interact with me at the following locations:
Twitter: @cjthadejour
Website: www.reverbnation.com/cheryljanay
Inquiries: cjthadejour@gmail.com - www.industryallaccess.com
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
C.J. DeJour is a songwriter from Montgomery, Al with an eclectic style. She began writing her own songs at the age of 14, and since that time her skill level has greatly increased. She has written songs from many genres including R&B, Rock, Pop, and even a few commercial jingles. This wide variety is a direct reflection of her personal choices in music. Anxious for the world to hear the many sounds in her head, C.J. has decided to begin recording a project of her own that will not be limited to a single style or genre. Although the song may not always be performed by C.J., it will always be written by C.J.
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