Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

 

RJ + Lil-Reezy: We signed up with Exposed vocals as they have the  highest rate of exposure given  to artists + they have the highest success rate of new comer artists. We were then contacted by Exposed Vocals.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

R.J: I grew up in Pretoria South Africa, in a hood called Nellmapius, where you basically need to make it happen on your own. What made me become an artist, for me the most important reason why was to send a message and help change people’s lives with a verse, hook or the song and to see how people would react to a song that is out of this world.

Lil-Reezy: I also grew up in Pretoria South Africa – grew up in the east. Music has always been my greatest passion. I started mixing club songs at the age of 10. It was then when I knew this is what I want to do the rest of my life.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

R.J: Well RJ is the initials of my first and second name. No inspiration behind it, I couldn’t think of a better stage name than RJ,

 

Lil-Reezy: for Ragz LifeStyle basically Ragz Meaning is pieces of clothes (in our case pieces of music) and that’s how we put all this together piece by piece.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

 

R.J: Online music sharing would be the best platform for me to get as much out there for the world to hear. We’ve been giving out free music to fans for exposure and in the future more free music will be uploaded for the fans. Why Not everyone can purchase music, so streaming and downloading would be the best options for fans, by the way, it is more about them, than about us.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

 

R.J: Yes, I’d tell them to simply be themselves, put yourself out there, constantly post your singles, it’s also about the productions, make sure that when you upload a song, that’s how you would like it to sound. Take good and bad feedback because both can be used as motivation.
 

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

 

R.J: I haven’t made any mistakes during performances as yet, but I’d try my best not too, if it does happen I will probably just play it off continue to perform as if nothing happened.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

 

R.J: Nope, I haven’t toured yet, but I’d love to once my mixtapes and album is released.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

 

R.J: When I start writing a song, I look around me and see how we live, what we do, what we say, who we try to be, basically life in general. Inspiration comes anytime, even when someone is happy or sad, I can write something about it, especially if you relate to their situations.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

R.J: Yes, well still busy with the website but for now you can stream and download our music on Reverbnation and SoundCloud, other platforms will be announced in the future, you can also follow us for all updates on Twitter @RagzLifeStyle or follow me on @StraussRJ

 

 

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

 

R.J: Well nothing embarrassing at all because I feel there is a reason or message to every song produced.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

R.J: I’d give half of the money to Charity and build the biggest day care centre for children with musical instruments so more kids can get into music. With the half a year off, I’d spend time to see the progress of the day care centre whiles also writing music, coz I might just get some inspiration from the kids, the future.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

 

R.J: Yes, we are planning on upgrading the Ragz studio, trying to get more equipment for better quality and so, we are currently recording in a room just to get our music heard, but upgrades will surely happen, hopefully still in this year.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

R.J: Ragz LifeStyle promotes my music by putting it on social media, I send them to friends and family, where they also send to friends and family or even post on their social media timelines.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

 

R.J: I would like to perform with Ty Dolla $ign anywhere in the world, ever since I started hearing his music, I loved it, enjoyed listening to it. Well simply because I love his music.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

R.J: Yes, next in line is another mixtape before I release an album, firstly I want to finish my debut mixtape which is set to be released in April 2016 called ‘What You Talkin Bout’ so follow us for the updates, later this year I’d like to release my second mixtape called (JahKob) and if there is still time I’ll start working on my first album.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

R.J: if I were not making music, I’d be working in a boring environment, taking crap from a boss who are never satisfied just want to make money out of you. Basically working that 8 to 5.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

 

R.J: NO I don’t remember, I think it was Ty Dolla Sign Beach House, I simply loved the songs, the way he’d flow on his beats tho, I’d sleep on that album for weeks wanting to listen more, what was going through my head was, I wanna feature with that guy.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

 

R.J: Whiles working that 8 to 5, I write music in between times, like on my lunch hour, on my way to work and back and when I get home, we record over the weekends.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

R.J: Fans should look forward to my two mixtapes, I will also be performing and all details will be posted on our social media pages. Fans should look forward to RJ from Ragz LifeStyle, YEAH.