Najee Janey has recorded hundreds of songs over his years as a singer-songwriter and rapper, but only select few make it through his meticulous mixing process to finished albums. Crafting those exacting verses on his 2019 LP The Purple Earth Theory earned him two Boston Music Award nominations for R&B Artist and Unsigned Artist plus a chance to perform at the ceremony. But recently, he started reflecting that there’s something beautiful in the imperfect, unpolished art he casts aside in his creative pursuits. As Is, out now, is a peek behind the curtain on five previously unreleased tracks.
As Is flows as one continuous track, seamlessly progressing through style changes of five distinct songs that coalesce together naturally, which is especially impressive for an EP that hasn’t been mastered. Whether rapping against crescendoing guitar that reminds you of the deep haze of summer, or singing falsetto against funky rhythms, Janey lays himself bare when he sings about the realities of being a Black man in this country.
The opening of the EP tells the audience (and perhaps serves as a reminder to Janey himself) how to keep true to your voice and your message as you evolve as an artist: “The benefit of not knowing — you just raw. Whatever you are, you bring into your art. Then you start learning shit, and you gotta figure out how to keep the rawness in it.” Check out what else Janey had to say about As Is in our interview below.
ALLSTON PUDDING: Congrats on the release of As Is! Can you explain the concept behind this EP?
NAJEE JANEY: The concept behind As Is… I struggle with wanting to have that perfect sound/mix on every record. But I realized that even with the best mix on a song, sometimes the unmixed version where it sounds more raw appeals to my ears more. Sometimes I like my songs to sound dirty and rough. It adds more emotion to the lyrics.
AP: Why release these songs now?
NJ: I felt that releasing the body of work now would be best because the content matches perfectly with what’s going on in today’s world. I talk a lot about self identity and knowing who I am so that I’m better prepared with living as a Black man in a country that’s completely brainwashed with things that don’t even matter. Plus, this is the best way of expression for me. I had to vent.
AP: Out of the hundreds of songs you’ve recorded, how did you arrive back at these 5?
NJ: In terms of cohesiveness and the messaging, these 5 songs meant the most to me. I wanted to have a project that you could hear playing in the background of a battlefield during a crazy-ass war. From having songs sounding like a soldier preparing his ammo, to then wanting to be healed from his wounds, all five songs symbolically matched with the intentions of wanting to fight back with my words.
AP: Care to share any stories behind these songs?
NJ: The production process behind, “Every Star Has A Shadow,” will go down in history in my books. We had Megazoyd and GIB DJ on production. They’re my favorite producers in the state of Massachusetts, so to have them put their brains together and cook up what they did was a blessing. Watching them go back and forth with ideas made me want to match their intensity and creativity. So I made sure to push myself with the lyrics and delivery. The hook on that song is one of my favorites I ever came up with. I did it on the spot along with the rest of the verses. It all just came together perfectly.
AP: How does this project differ from your 2019 album The Purple Earth Theory in terms of style, content, and artistry?
NJ: The Purple Earth Theory to me was like the precursor to my album, where I wanted it to serve as the calm before the storm. For starters, every song is mixed and mastered on The Purple Earth Theory. In terms of intensity and how I take the listener for a ride of emotions, it’s pretty much the same with As Is, style-wise. As Is is way more raw and uncut though. None of the songs are mixed. I wanted to not care at all with how perfect it sounded. As long as people could feel what it is that I’m saying, then I could live with not having a mastered project. A couple blemishes and stains never hurt nobody. But hopefully the world can look past the rawness for how it resonates with their spirit and feelings.
AP: You’re coming off hot from two Boston Music Award nominations last year. Where are you hoping your music career takes you next in 2020?
NJ: I just want my music to be heard by everyone, to the point where I can just BE at all times. I’m looking forward to getting some life changing placements and making more connections with the right people and just being a better musician overall in 2020. The phrase of the year is “practice makes perfect!!”
Listen to As Is below.