The most influential artists pour their heart and soul into their music. They do not hide behind fake personas and made up stories. Our recent find Albert Ojeda is leading the way with his pop sound that is also trying to make a statement. No need to hide.
We caught up with him for a deeper look into his budding career:
In the world of wild music monikers, what prompted the decision to stick with your real name Albert Ojeda?
Actually to be completely honest when I first decided to pursue music the thought crossed my mind and everyone around me had an opinion. But when it came time to decide my “Stage Name” I felt like I wanted to define my music, not my music define some persona I wanted to portray. I think I had been a theatre kid long enough in playing other characters but never getting to be myself. And now I’m actually kind of thankful that I stuck with it because I think people get lost in their “persona”. I keep seeing people I know changing themselves just to market and I don’t believe you have to change who you are to do what you want.
How would you describe your unique sound?
I would describe my sound as extremely aggressive Pop Music. It’s refreshing to me and I hope it is to others. Currently I’m playing with a digital sound merged with heavy analog elements. There’s just something about going completely binary that’s a bit unsettling to me. I wanted something in my sound to be genuinely authentic.
Which artists have had the biggest influence on your music?
I’m a DJ also, I listen to an array of music. But being raised so close to Disneyland kept me a kid at heart. So admittedly I take some instrumental influence from Britney Spears but contextually I appreciate the heaviness of Marylin Manson and the party-punk attitude of Mindless Self Indulgence.
What about outside of music. What drives your musical engine?
Food. I love food! But if your looking for a more serious answer just watching all of the changes happening around me and to the world in general.
How does a song come together for you? What is your songwriting process?
I’ve always been a writer. And a deep thinker. So I treat my songs like poetry. Sometimes lyrics just flow. But when I get writer’s block it’s usually a pretty bad spell. So to stop that from happening during the production process, I’ve been using a different method for my newer material. Its kind of broken me out of my comfort zone. I get a kick out of being unconventional. Before I went in to record I had all of my lyrics finished with no melody in mind and no preproduction beat to keep me in time. The lyrics to me were the emphasis because I’m the kind of person who likes to make a statement. I then started working on the music with My Producer Daniel Martin; believe me he is unreal. He’s like a music wizard, his mind works so fast. When I verbalize a general idea of what kind of riff I want or even where I need a drop he almost immediately materializes what I’m talking about. Like I said unreal. And after I have all of the music done. I work on the melodies at home for a few weeks. Switch them up a bit and decide the final melody. Then I go back in lay down the vocals.
What do you hope the listener takes away from an Albert Ojeda song?
That the entertainment business is not all glitz and glamour. Not to believe everything we see and hear, but question things. And to be yourself regardless of the temptation of becoming someone else just for a bit of attention.
Tell us about the new single “Masquerade” and your upcoming album Clean Cut Killer?
Honestly, this album has been a long time coming. Clean Cut Killer is my second studio project. “Masquerade” is the first single off of the album, it’s available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon today, And will be available on streaming platforms later this year.
The song itself really came from the last few years I’ve spent working in different bars. Being behind a DJ booth kind of gave me this fly on the wall experience where I was able to witness a lot of the real issues people my age are facing. And a lot of them don’t even know it.
What advice would you give to other artists creating their own musical lane?
Go for it! Don’t hide or compromise your vision for others; your integrity is the most important thing you can hang on to. If you like what your doing musically and others don’t quite understand don’t take their criticism too personally. Just own it!