Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I am a 23 year old singer-songwriter based in London. I’ve been writing songs since I was 17, no wait, 16 yes. But I’ve never been that brave enough to share it with anyone, I am now. Growing up, I always wanted to be a storyteller, but I had like zero communication skills so I started writing poems and songs eventually. I have been a part of Britain Got Talent in 2024, but couldn’t make it to the second round. I have also been doing gigs in London and busking around the city, while writing music.
I think a big part of my musical direction comes from the emotions I felt growing up. Music became my way of expressing what I couldn’t always say out loud. Whether it was happiness, heartbreak, or just the curiosity of figuring out the world, songwriting was my escape.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Asjad”
A: My main focus is on connecting with people, whether that’s through live performances, social media, or just making music, it’s about showing up consistently, sharing my story, and connecting with people in a way that goes beyond just streams or numbers. I want to build something that feels real. If my music can make someone feel understood, that’s how I know I’m doing something right.
First off, welcome! If you’re just finding my music, I hope it speaks to you in some way. Whether you’re here for the lyrics, the sound, or just stumbled upon a song, I want you to know this isn’t just music—it’s a reflection of real emotions, real experiences. So, take your time, explore, and if something connects with you, then we’ve already got something in common
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: It’s very difficult to go with one artist when there are so many talents, all around the world. But if we are talking about it, The 1975 and The Arctic Monkeys have been a key reference to create a vibe like that in the song.
My inspiration to create music comes from everywhere, A lot of it comes from personal experiences, things I’ve been through, feelings I can’t always express in words. But sometimes a melody will come to me when I’m in a certain mood, or I’ll write down a lyric that captures exactly how I’m feeling in that moment. , and even random moments in life. Sometimes, I’ll hear a sound in nature or a conversation that sparks an idea.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Out of My League.”?
A: Out of my league is a story of a boy who has fallen for this girl he met, who he thinks is out of his league. The idea of this song is derived from personal experience, I just came up with the first line of the verse “ when you get in the room, with your hair falling through your face ” and then me and my producer Erik, started putting ideas into action and made a story out of it.
With this song, I wanted to capture the feeling one feels when he falls in love for the first time. Moreover, the rush of blood, the heart-race, the excitement and self-doubt. It wasn’t necessarily planned, I just followed where the music took me, and the story kind of wrote itself.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: retro-futuristic, Indie-experimental
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Out of My League”?
A: Recording “ Out of my league “ was quite fun actually, The main obstacle I had to face was the distance. My producer friend, Erik, lives in Brazil, while I live in London, worked remotely through FaceTime and what not haha, which as I said was fun but we could’ve done it better if we were not working remotely. Erik and I share the same music taste so it’s been really easy working with him. Moreover, he is the best producer i know so hit him up to collaborate!
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My music is about sharing experiences, emotions, self-discovery through love, struggles, hope, and most importantly, honesty. I want people to feel something when they listen, whether it’s comfort or inspiration. I want my songs to feel like a conversation, I want listeners to feel understood, like they’re not alone in what they’re going through. Music has a way of reaching people when words fail, and if my songs can be that for someone, then I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I want to grow, not just as a musician, but as a storyteller, a performer, and a person. I want to push boundaries, experiment, and make music that feels real to me. Of course, reaching more people and playing bigger stages would be amazing, but at the core, my goal is to create something lasting. If after years from now, someone can listen to my music and still feel connected to it, I would have made it as an artist and a person.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Definitely, The 1975, Harry Styles, Jeremy Zucker and Eric Clapton.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: You should genuinely love creating, that passion will keep you going. Create even if no one listens.
Also, don’t wait for a sign, just start. Write songs, record, release music, play live, collaborate with other artists. Be a braveheart and put out your art. The more you put yourself out there, the more you’ll learn and grow. Just start, write bad songs, make shitty music, fuck up then fuck up better. Do bad gigs, don’t be afraid to fail.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Your 23 year old self is proud of you for not giving up.
Interview With The Producer ERIK
Q: Can you tell us about your background and how you got into music production?
A: Since I was a kid, I was always very connected with music, started learning instruments at an early age, playing songs on a keyboard toy I had for fun. I always played instruments, mainly keyboard, but also drums and guitar. When I was in high school I discovered the garage band app and I was in love with layering instruments, recording my voice and making it into a song. That was the moment I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
Since then, I have kept improving. I have my original music project where I sing, write and produce everything. I have a few songs out there, this year I have so much to release, an EP with all the songs I made just in my room. I also have a recording studio where I work with local artists here in Brazil. I confess that I already tried to study different things and work in other areas, but nothing else makes sense to me but making music. I’m open to new opportunities in all that music can bring, whether it’s writing, producing or being an artist. I love being involved in the creative process
Q: What was your approach to producing “Out of My League,” and how did you bring Asjad’s vision to life?
A: The whole process was very natural, I remember starting out trying some chord progressions, melodies, and Asjad wanted it more rock. So I put more drive guitars and acoustic drums in it. I wanted to suit these indie rock elements while not losing the pop melodies and vocal harmonies I love to do.
We wanted to bring that college feeling to this song, something like a dirtbag teenager that falls in love with a girl who barely knows him. In the arrangement and production I wanted to bring that vibe, that young desire of wanting someone that is unreachable, “out of your league”.
Q: Were there any creative or technical challenges you faced while working on this track?
A: I think one of the challenges was the distance. Me, Erik, living in Brazil, and Asjad living in London, we made everything through facetime calls. It was the first time I made a writing/production session internationally, but it ended up working really well, it was a great experience and I hope I get to do this more often!
Q: How would you describe the dynamic between you and Asjad when creating music together?
A: Asjad has a similar music taste to mine, so when it comes to music production, it helped a lot. As a producer, sometimes I need to work on something I’m not familiar with, and that’s ok because it’s part of my job. But it’s very pleasant and fun when I make music I really relate to. Talking about songwriting, it follows the same idea, we have similar references. As I was talking with Asjad, we love 80s/90s music and this nostalgic feeling in songs. So we wanted to give this retro high school feeling to this track. Can’t help but mention that “Queen style” guitar solo in the end. That really lifted up the song, which curiously was my dad’s hands. Honestly I really loved this song.
Q: Is there a signature sound or technique you bring to your productions?
A: I love catchy vocal melodies, using my voice as an instrument. You can notice some backing vocals, “vocal beds” and voice effects I made in the track. That’s a thing I love to do. And also, I love putting electric guitars in songs. Almost everything I produce I use it to glue all the stuff together. But I don’t have a rule, I always try to follow the idea of the song and figure out what’s the best for it.
Q: What advice do you have for up-and-coming producers who want to break into the industry?
A: Here’s a couple things that have made me a better producer nowadays. Listen to a lot of music, try discovering new genres and new bands/artists. That’s a thing that will make you keep an eye on what you can create and what’s new in the industry. Even different genres, you can take something out of it. Take time to listen to music, because that’s what made you want to work with music production one day: simply listening to music and enjoying it. Never lose that.
Also, be prepared for it. Keep studying and improving yourself. Knowledge is never a waste of time, invest in it cause it’ll help you to get where you want faster.
