With his artist name meaning Only In Japan, and a diverse blend of influences making up his sound, OIJ is looking to progress in 2019. He ended 2018 with a heartbreak anthem ‘Seconds Away From Love,’ which brought out his rich musicality and depth in production.
Check out OIJ’s exclusive interview with us here to hear more about it.
Thanks for taking the time to speak to us, OIJ! If you had to describe your musical style for someone who hadn’t heard your stuff before, how would you sum it up?
I like to call my music cinematic electronic pop. It’s electronic pop with an edge, with a hint of cinematic ambiances.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned since you started making music?
It’s very important to finish songs, instead of having 100 demos. I find it to be quite challenging, the last 10% of a finishing a song.
Where did it start for you? Do you remember what first got you into wanting to create music?
I played the piano when I was little, and it has stuck with me ever since. I liked being able to create something myself.
Who or what are you currently really into, music-wise?
I’ve been listening a lot to Christmas songs, since they are everywhere right now.
Your new single ‘Seconds Away From Love’ is out now and we’re hooked on it. How long did it take to produce?
Thanks! I wrote the song together with Paul Maaswinkel and Snoet & Smoel. We wrote most of it in one day. The rest was just finishing the production over a period of about 2 months. Not continuously, but in-between when we had time.
Did you enjoy making it? What is its story?
It was my first time working with them and we had a lot of fun. It’s always great to have a good connection with people and the same mindset when it comes to creating music. The song is about having something so close, yet so far away. Nowadays we’re all connected. We feel very close, but a physical touch can still be far away.
What do you have next on the horizon as we move towards 2019?
I’ve got an interesting song coming up in the beginning of 2019 called ‘Myself.’ It’s going to be the lead track of my upcoming EP, which will be launched with it.
What are you most proud of achieving in 2018 and why?
I’m very happy to have worked with so many great artists, songwriters and producers. Collaborating and creating new things is one of my favourite things to do. You could say I’m quite proud of having these successful collaborations.
