If you took the angst ridden anthems of the 2000s and combined them with the truth bearing storytelling of country music, you’d find yourself listening to EJ Carey. EJ’s blend of pop rock packs an emotional punch by reintroducing the sounds of her teen years to the age of Spotify under the guise of confessional plot-driven songwriting.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with EJ about the latest release, challenges, surviving a lock down and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. I’d say my music is best described as the angstiest parts of the hits of the 2000s combined with the storytelling of country music. It’s pop rock with big vocals and big hooks!

How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?

Music is embedded in my soul, so no matter where I’m at in my personal life, I’ll always be writing, singing, or thinking about what I want to pursue next. I was 7 years old when I wrote my first song, and I’ve been recording music since I was 9. I did end up going to Berklee College of Music for Music Business/Management, and I wrote my first album while I was in school. This is just who I am and I’m lucky enough to have finagled my way into being able to share it with the world.

How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?

Regarding writing and production, my last album had a much stronger pop influence. This time around, I wanted to stay closer to pop/rock and really showcase my vocal improvement. The sound on this album is more organic and rooted, and was heavily influenced by Paramore and Taylor Swift. With my first album, Loaded Question, we had an unlimited amount of time since the album was just made by myself and my producer at the time. Having an entire rhythm section meant everything had to be properly scheduled and we really had to know what we were sonically going for each time. 

Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented times? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?

Right as lock down began, I was supposed to go back into the studio to record guitar, drums, and final vocals. Having to accept that the timeline was not going to be how I had originally planned was really difficult. It took six months to get everything rescheduled, which delayed my release by almost a year. I was extremely aggravated that everything I had worked so hard for had come to a complete halt.

During quarantine, I began taking cover requests and writing personalized songs for people, calling them “Quarantunes.” I even did several private Zoom concerts! Doing all of that served as a light in a dark time, because I found a way to still do what I loved and helped bring a smile to those who really needed it.

What was the last song you listened to?

“Gracias a la vida” by Kacey Musgraves

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?

At this point, streaming is the most practical medium from a consumer’s perspective. It’s accessible, unlimited, and even has a social aspect to it that helps spread music faster than we ever have before. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss my giant 64G iPod classic, though. 

Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?

All of my social media handles are @ejcareymusic and my website is www.ejcareymusic.com. You can also join my email newsletter through my website!