SJ
Melbourne, Florida, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | INDIE
Music
Press
SunFest 2013 Friday Night: Local Acoustic Artist SJ Won Hearts
May 4th, 2013 by Arielle
One of the best things about SunFest for both fans and artists alike is the festival’s programming of local acts on big stages, opening for major headliners. So everybody won yesterday evening for an early set on the FPL stage by rising local artist SJ. The acoustic pop-rock crooner enjoyed a slot technically opening for Ed Sheeran, who was to take the stage three hours later. That also meant a huge crowd of Sheeran diehard fans already assembled.
SJ and the young, heavily female, stylish crowd soon formed a mutual appreciation society, with the husky-voiced performer bantering easily between his upbeat selections. He’s currently climbing the ranks of independent adult contemporary radio charts, and it’s easy to see why — SJ’s sunny, catchy originals are the kinds of tunes that would soothe frayed nerves on a Sunday morning.
He also wisely hammed it up for the Sheeran crowd — in fact, every time he mentioned that U.K. singer-songwriter’s name, a chorus of shrieks instantly erupted. “Is that a magic password or something?” Fernando Perdomo, SJ’s live guitarist, joked. Perdomo, actually, wasn’t the only gifted, South Florida-bred musician onstage. SJ also brought along a few more talented friends from Miami to back him up, like Vic Kingsley on bass and Joshua Stedman on backing vocals.
The other “awww”-worthy moment? When SJ dedicated “Green As Snow” to his girlfriend, turning a million audience hearts to mush. SJ, you’re a smart one. - Official SunFest Blog
"So everybody won yesterday evening for an early set on the FPL stage by rising local artist SJ. The acoustic pop-rock crooner enjoyed a slot technically opening for Ed Sheeran....SJ and the young, heavily female, stylish crowd soon formed a mutual appreciation society, with the husky-voiced performer bantering easily between his upbeat selections...and it’s easy to see why — SJ’s sunny, catchy originals are the kinds of tunes that would soothe frayed nerves on a Sunday morning." - SunFest Music Festival Official Blog, by Arielle Castillo
"So everybody won yesterday evening for an early set on the FPL stage by rising local artist SJ. The acoustic pop-rock crooner enjoyed a slot technically opening for Ed Sheeran....SJ and the young, heavily female, stylish crowd soon formed a mutual appreciation society, with the husky-voiced performer bantering easily between his upbeat selections...and it’s easy to see why — SJ’s sunny, catchy originals are the kinds of tunes that would soothe frayed nerves on a Sunday morning." - SunFest Music Festival Official Blog, by Arielle Castillo
SJ is added to the RedGorilla Music Fest 2013 line up, showcasing on March 14, 2013. - RedGorilla Music Fest
SJ is added to the RedGorilla Music Fest 2013 line up, showcasing on March 14, 2013. - RedGorilla Music Fest
SJ receives an awesome review from Blog Critics! "It’s sunny, feel-good music, yet SJ never gets maudlin or sappy. “I Like You” is as uncomplicated as true love, and the results are irrepressibly bouncy. “Coffee” is a reflective gem, moody and introspective, buoyed by subtle strings and shimmery background vocals courtesy of Cat Shell. “Breathe,” with its delicate washes of cymbals and gently percolating percussion, feels as delicate as a gossamer breeze. Both “I Am” and “Fresh Soul” benefit from Randy Singers’ restrained, jazz-inflected harmonica, with additional assistance on the former from fellow Miami singer-songwriter Joshua Stedman." - Blog Critics
Oh So Fresh music blog says some kind words about SJ's song "That Is All," off of his album, Coffee: Unfiltered (Live album/DVD). - Oh So Fresh
Oh So Fresh music blog says some kind words about SJ's song "That Is All," off of his album, Coffee: Unfiltered (Live album/DVD). - Oh So Fresh
Yahoo Voices featured SJ's tour dates and unique artist background founding his own record label and group of music companies. - Yahoo Voices
Yahoo Voices featured SJ's tour dates and unique artist background founding his own record label and group of music companies. - Yahoo Voices
As an emerging BMI artist, SJ was featured with a BMI spotlight in February 2013. - BMI
As an emerging BMI artist, SJ was featured with a BMI spotlight in February 2013. - BMI
"This guy can sing. SJ has a soulful flare to his latest EP, Coffee, that will make you want to learn how to sing and play guitar. If you like artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz, you'll like SJ. Overall, SJ is one of the reasons we should support great unsigned artists. His sound is flat out cool and his voice lends itself to greatness. With the right marketing and tour schedule, this guy could sell 50,000 copies of this project independently. He's that good!"
-I Am Entertainment Magazine - I Am Entertainment Magazine
"This guy can sing. SJ has a soulful flare to his latest EP, Coffee, that will make you want to learn how to sing and play guitar. If you like artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz, you'll like SJ. Overall, SJ is one of the reasons we should support great unsigned artists. His sound is flat out cool and his voice lends itself to greatness. With the right marketing and tour schedule, this guy could sell 50,000 copies of this project independently. He's that good!"
-I Am Entertainment Magazine - I Am Entertainment Magazine
"Coffee kicks off with single "I Like You", and it's the best selling point for SJ, relaxed and oh-so-enjoyable - forgive the pun, but it's hard not to like "I Like You". SJ isn't going to wow hipsters with Coffee, and they'll probably still roll their eyes when their mom plays it while making dinner on their visit home (to ask for money). But if they, if anyone, stopped paying attention to labels and just listened, they'd like Coffee."
-Ted Chase, QRO Magazine - QRO Magazine
"Coffee kicks off with single "I Like You", and it's the best selling point for SJ, relaxed and oh-so-enjoyable - forgive the pun, but it's hard not to like "I Like You". SJ isn't going to wow hipsters with Coffee, and they'll probably still roll their eyes when their mom plays it while making dinner on their visit home (to ask for money). But if they, if anyone, stopped paying attention to labels and just listened, they'd like Coffee."
-Ted Chase, QRO Magazine - QRO Magazine
"If you’ve been following PensEyeView through our nearly 1,000 features, you have probably heard me say that Sirius Satellite Radio, helps us find more artists than any other media outlet. One channel especially is the Coffee House Channel, which is where I found today’s artist; the Miami based singer songwriter, SJ, while listening to one of my favorite new songs of the year, "I Like You". When I got home, I immediately downloaded “I Like You” and have since collected the rest of “Coffee”, then was flipping out when I heard we will be featuring this incredible artist."
-Richie Freeman, PensEyeView - PensEyeView
"If you’ve been following PensEyeView through our nearly 1,000 features, you have probably heard me say that Sirius Satellite Radio, helps us find more artists than any other media outlet. One channel especially is the Coffee House Channel, which is where I found today’s artist; the Miami based singer songwriter, SJ, while listening to one of my favorite new songs of the year, "I Like You". When I got home, I immediately downloaded “I Like You” and have since collected the rest of “Coffee”, then was flipping out when I heard we will be featuring this incredible artist."
-Richie Freeman, PensEyeView - PensEyeView
"Now when I wake up in the morning I have two doses of coffee. The liquid kind that stains your teeth, and the audio one that cleanses your soul. My day couldn’t get any brighter. Coffee is a collection of songs that illustrates the beauty in all of us. Songs like “I Like You,” “Let Me Be,” and “Fresh Soul” capitalize on the chill vibe that makes this newcomer a moral imperative to listen to."
-Sam Frank, Unrated NYC - Unrated NYC
"Now when I wake up in the morning I have two doses of coffee. The liquid kind that stains your teeth, and the audio one that cleanses your soul. My day couldn’t get any brighter. Coffee is a collection of songs that illustrates the beauty in all of us. Songs like “I Like You,” “Let Me Be,” and “Fresh Soul” capitalize on the chill vibe that makes this newcomer a moral imperative to listen to."
-Sam Frank, Unrated NYC - Unrated NYC
"Miami Beach, Florida singer/songwriter SJ is relatively unknown, but has already earned comparisons to artists such as Jack Johnson, John Mayer and James Blunt. SJ's first single, "I Like You" displays a deft touch for melody, lyrics and an inherent pop sensibility that's like to have major record labels calling at his door. It's an innocent love song that lacks the narcissistic pretense of many pop ballads currently on the radio. Delivered in an acoustic arrangement, "I Like You" is the sort of song that can catapult an artist from unknown to world renowned overnight." -Wildy Haskell, Wildy World's Blog - Wildy World's Blog
"Miami Beach, Florida singer/songwriter SJ is relatively unknown, but has already earned comparisons to artists such as Jack Johnson, John Mayer and James Blunt. SJ's first single, "I Like You" displays a deft touch for melody, lyrics and an inherent pop sensibility that's like to have major record labels calling at his door. It's an innocent love song that lacks the narcissistic pretense of many pop ballads currently on the radio. Delivered in an acoustic arrangement, "I Like You" is the sort of song that can catapult an artist from unknown to world renowned overnight." -Wildy Haskell, Wildy World's Blog - Wildy World's Blog
"SJ's Coffee is the perfect pick-me-up...it picks you up and gives you the perfect fuel to start your day, or to relaxingly wind it down...Every track on this release is a treasure...Coffee delivers the perfect combination of relaxation and stimulation that could put Starbucks out of business...and SJ is one of those special acts whose live performance equals or exceeds his studio work." -Bob Leggett, L.A. Examiner.com - L.A. Examiner
"SJ's Coffee is the perfect pick-me-up...it picks you up and gives you the perfect fuel to start your day, or to relaxingly wind it down...Every track on this release is a treasure...Coffee delivers the perfect combination of relaxation and stimulation that could put Starbucks out of business...and SJ is one of those special acts whose live performance equals or exceeds his studio work." -Bob Leggett, L.A. Examiner.com - L.A. Examiner
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Florida-based acoustic singer-songwriter SJ blends melodic folk, a chill vibe, and diverse arrangements creating an acoustically soulful groove and sound. Fans and critics describe SJ’s lyrics and vocal delivery as uniquely authentic, emoting sincerity with a mix of resonating understatement, soulfulness and comforting rasp. Blending a spectrum of sounds from acoustic/folk to americana, and lighter acoustic pop to modern acoustic rock, SJ's music has been compared to music from artists such as Jack Johnson and Donovan Frankenreiter, and acoustic material from John Mayer and Dave Matthews. For SJ, though, he has a simple motto: “It’s about the song.”
SJ's commercial releases since 2010 have won or earned nominations for over 25 independent music awards in the U.S. and U.K., and his first single, "I Like You", earned a Top 10 spot on U.S. adult contemporary radio charts. His songs have been licensed multiple times for use in TV, film and commercials around the world. In December 2011, SJ was nominated by Sirius XM The Coffeehouse as a Discovery of the Year and played a special radio performance at Sirius XM studios in New York City. In the same month, he won the Best Folk/Acoustic Emerging Artist Award at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in Los Angeles and performed at the awards on the main stage.
In 2012, SJ released his first full length LP, "Coffee: Strong Brew Edition" and a live DVD album entitled "Coffee: Unfiltered”. SJ’s 2012 radio single “Let Me Be” peaked at #32 on the U.S. adult contemporary radio charts, and was regularly spun in over 50 U.S. markets (AAA, Americana, A/C), earning his song status as the most active independent artist on national radio. Since then, SJ has headlined nationally and opened for acts such as Pentatonix, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Ed Sheeran at SunFest Music Festival. SJ is officially endorsed by Taylor Guitars, Sennheiser, Hercules Stands, Gator Cases, Future Sonics, and Elixir Strings.
Regardless of awards, radio and big stage performances, though, at heart, SJ just enjoys writing and sharing original music and playing smaller intimate settings, which all starts from his home studio he calls the AcoustiShak. It’s equally important to him to spend time with his family and friends, and to help other acoustic-centric musicians through the company he founded, Acoustic Soul Entertainment Group.
SJ's Wikipedia article is here, where you can read more about his music and life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SJ_(Singer).
Band Members
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