HCM. How did you come by your stage name?
J. Anomaly. To be an anomaly is to be different. Ever since I can remember, I have deviated from the norm. Growing up, this wasn’t always to my immediate benefit. Being shy sometimes made it hard for me to make friends, but it also gave me a unique perspective of the world: one based on careful observation. This made me an excellent student and also inspired the vivid songs I would write on the notes of my phone on the bus ride to and from school every day. Usually, I would keep these songs to myself. Little did I know that they would become the foundation of my ever-increasing love of music that I am blessed and honored to be able to share with the world today. I still consider myself an anomaly, but for different reasons.
Nowadays, I balance making music with my Yale pre-med workload, with the hope that God has a medical school in His plans for me. I also aim to continue to grow musically. What exactly does J. Anomaly bring to rap? I always loved listening to my favorite artists because of the stories they told. So what I bring to the table is not a desire for fame or money, as I feel that both are temporary. Instead, what I bring to the table is the desire to serve. Through my music, I want to create a world that my listener can escape to whenever they need to.
HCM. On your upcoming album… How did you come up with the concept for this project?
J. Anomaly. My upcoming album “A Moment Lost” is going to be a huge release for me and personally means a lot. It is the follow up to my debut album “A Moment Shared”. I came up with the idea for the “Moment” series because of how I view life itself. We are all given a brief moment on this earth in comparison to the grand scheme of things, so it’s up to us to make use of it and try to figure things out.
A lot of the songs on “A Moment Lost” detail me finding myself again after a point of feeling pretty lost and hopeless about things and dealing with OCD, anxiety, and depression. This comes in many forms, whether that be songs about me working on my relationship with God, remembering the fun and innocent times of the past, or just having fun being creative and telling stories. With this album, I hope to prove myself as a lyricist, songwriter, and just as an artist in general. Like with everything, I want this current body of work to be better than my last.
HCM. What are some of your greatest challenges as an artist, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?
J. Anomaly. The biggest challenge for me as an artist is that I handle everything on my own, from beat selection to recording, to mixing, to mastering, to distribution, to promotion. Though I like having complete control over my art, it does get overwhelming and frustrating at times when I have to wear so many different hats. My greatest attribute when it comes to my work ethic is that I believe anything is possible. The man behind the mic is the same kid who used to shoot thousands of jumpers in his backyard even if he didn’t get in the game. I believe in utmost excellence, and I like to walk in that belief in everything I do.
HCM. What are your plans for the near future?
J. Anomaly. I want to continue to grow as an artist. A big goal of mine is to stay independent and still be able to have an impact on a large audience. Accomplishing this is made easier nowadays, so I am thankful for the many resources I have at my disposal. I also want to grow my brand in general, as I also design and sell clothing. At the end of the day, I want J. Anomaly to be known as a Creative.
HCM. Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout outs?
J. Anomaly. Shoutout to my mom, dad, and my three brothers Edwin, Joe, and Justin! They support me no matter what and always help me overcome all obstacles.
For more info and details about J. Anomaly, contact him via email or his website at:
elmtoivyrecords@janomaly.com | http://www.janomaly.com/
Connect with J. Anomaly on social media:
hoodcriticmagazine.com 