American singer-songwriter AJ Mitchell’s sophomore album, As Far As The Eye Can See, marks not only a return to music but a shift in sound for the young musician. Stepping away from his given title of a young pop prince, this record out today stands as a coming-of-age story, as Mitchell finds his way in the world as an adult.
From leaving a relationship that proved to be bad news, to moving to New York City, AJ Mitchell’s journey into adulthood has been nothing short of an adventure, and As Far As The Eye Can See captures that energy. Our first taste of the album from singles, Flowers on the Moon, Passionate and Foolish has filled fans with anticipation for the record, a coming-of-age story which doesn’t disappoint. AJ Mitchell invites listeners into his earnest and emotional journey on the album, reflecting on finding that lust for life again and re-emerging in the music sphere with a new perspective. Working alongside some big names on the album, from Kid Culture to Foy Vance, the album delivers on all fronts. This record is a great first impression to a more mature AJ Mitchell sound, and a perfect introduction to where his music could take him next; as far as the eye can see.
AJ Mitchell has caught our attention since he was just 13, from performing locally to amassing a following on social media for his covers of popular songs. Since then, he’s made a name for himself, with his debut album Skyview releasing in 2021, working alongside big names like Steve Aoki, Ava Max, and Cheat Codes, to a loyal online fanbase of upwards of a million followers, which is sure to grow with this album release. With METAL, AJ Mitchell tells us all about the album, from inspiration, to writing, to what comes next.
Hi AJ! You’ve been away a while, what have you been up to apart from writing the album of course?
I’ve been spending time with my family and friends. I was so focused and locked into the writing process for the past year and a half that before releasing the album, I wanted to feel grounded again. I'm really close with my family and friends from back home and they always bring balance back into my life.
In your time away you’ve moved from LA to now NYC, which do you prefer so far?
Honestly, both cities have qualities about them that I like, but overall, I think I’ve been more inspired by NY lately.
The new album is about this growing up or coming of age, and you’ve been in the music world publicly at least since you were 13. Did you ever imagine this in your future at 13 years old?
At 13, I imagined myself building and fixing up houses. Music was something I knew I’d always do because I loved it so much, but I honestly didn’t know how it would be possible for me to make a career out of it. Once it began, it felt like I was on the path of what I was meant to do, so yes, part of me began to realise this was going to be my future as the door was opening.
With being successful so young, how do you find that affected how fast you had to grow up? Do you think you matured really fast because of it, or has it allowed you to slow down and enjoy the moments more?
I think it absolutely matured my point of view a lot faster. I was immediately taken out of school and started working at 14 years old. I was surrounded by adults every day and didn't have much time to spend around a lot of other kids, aside from ones that were also working. A lot of those interactions felt like politics. I spent almost every day for 3 to 4 years travelling, promoting, touring, rehearsing, performing, speaking to crowds, being on TV and radio. It was a lot of responsibility, and it was an opportunity for me to pursue what I loved, so I took it seriously. And I think that feeling of responsibility forced me to have to be an adult really young.
What music did you grow up listening to, what were the influences you had as a kid that made you want to write?
I grew up listening and singing songs my dad was writing; it’s what initially inspired my writing. My main influence is definitely The Beatles but anything from Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder, Adele, Enya, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, Eminem and even classical music. Being born in 2001, I feel lucky to grow up with such a wide range of music to inspire me and really fall in love with songs. They may have inspired some of my structure subconsciously, but I don’t aim to make songs like those artists. I'm always looking to make something new.
Your upcoming album As Far As The Eye Can See, is set for release imminently. That’s flown by, how do you feel about the upcoming release?
I’ve never felt more excited for a release in my life. This album truly shows the range of my musical abilities, I believe. It has songs on it that I’ve had sitting in my notes for years and are ideas that I’ve wanted to complete for so long. I believe in every record on this album, and I believe people are really going to enjoy it. I’m just ready for the world’s feedback.
You've mentioned with this album and this new chapter in general that you wanted to rediscover your passion for music and for life itself. Are there any experiences you can share that reignited that passion for you?
A couple things, I had just recently left a situationship that wasn't good for me, but I couldn't stay away from. She really inspired the first half of this project. I had entered Covid as a teenager and entered back into the world a completely new person. I was inspired by completely different things and just had to explore life, its pleasures, my desires and curiosities. I had become so numb and really was living life to find a spark of passion again. This relationship really did that for me. Then moving to New York opened up my eyes to an entirely different point of view.
There’s three singles out now teasing your album. Let’s start with Passionate, as the first one. Can you tell us a little about it?
Before getting into this album, I was pretty low. I had just released an album that had been delayed for almost 3 years and I barely felt any connection to. I felt lost in LA and needed to change things up in my life and decided to move to New York and start afresh. Passionate is about finding that new creative spark that inspired me to begin the next stage of my career.
Looking at the collaborations on this song and upcoming album, there are some big names on the writing team. What’s that process been like?
The process has been one of the most fluid and efficient processes I've been a part of. I worked solely with one producer, my executive producer Kid Culture. It started with us going away to Denver with an endless view of nature to inspire us to feel limitless. I thought that would be helpful for the process. I had rough ideas sitting in my notes like Flowers on the Moon, Foolish, Me and Hypnotizing Wonder. When Foy Vance joined the writing team, we found the entire second half of the album over the course of just a few weeks writing together in Brooklyn, NY. After we had the bulk of it finished, we went back to LA to add some final touches with Sage Skolfield, an incredible producer and engineer. The album was mixed by Manny Marroquin and Mike Dean, both legends. I feel very grateful to have such an incredible roster of collaborators on this project. They really pushed me to stretch myself in my work and when we arrived with the final track Afatecs, I truly felt it opened up a new portal for me musically.
Another song set for this album is Foolish and in the music video for that you really become an explorer, could you walk us through the music video?
The music video is kind of a fever dream. I wake up stranded off the coast of a beautiful island and while exploring, I'm not sure if the woman in the video is a hallucination leading me further down a path of danger and confusion or not. Either way, I continue to follow her on a dangerous but beautiful journey only to lose her in the end.
Flowers on the Moon is the most recent teaser then of this upcoming album, set in Paris at a wedding. It’s also musically a change of pace to the other singles released, with this mellow piano line. How did this song come around; how does the writing process differ for songs like this one?
Every song's process is going to be unique to the song because not every song starts the same. With this song it started with the piano, followed up with only my melodies. The piano and melodies all happened in one day. All I needed next was lyrics. This song became so special to me that I was worried about what to write about. I wanted the lyrics to be as special as the melody was to me. The lyrics came in an effort to support my friend going through a hard relationship. It’s definitely a change of pace from the other records but I can’t control what I’m inspired by - it just flows through me. It wasn't originally on the project, but the label really fought for it and I'm glad they did. And just like our feelings can change in an instant, so can the tone of what’s being created. I only create based on how I'm feeling. I think my music will always be very eclectic because of that.
Writing and performing these songs, is the process cathartic or therapeutic at all?
Oh, absolutely! I tend to keep my worries and my thoughts to myself most of the time but when it comes to writing and performing, I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve. Being that vulnerable can be difficult but in the end it is liberating.
With all the locations featured so far for the album, where geographically is As Far As The Eye Can See for you, that place where you feel like you can think or create without limits?
That place for me is anywhere I can see over mountain tops, over cities, sometimes even just staring out at the ocean. There's a feeling of freedom that arises in me when my view is just everlasting.
Your collaborations under your belt are pretty impressive from Ava Max to Cheat Codes to Steve Aoki. How has working with these musicians been?
It's been a blast. It's really an honour to say I’ve collaborated with such talented musicians, and I hope to continue to do more.
Are there any artists or bands that would be your dream collaboration right now?
Recently, I've been really into James Blake. So right now, that would be my dream collaboration.
