AJ Mitchell explained

AJ Mitchell
Birth Name:Aaron Fredrick Mitchell Jr.
Birth Date:17 May 2001
Birth Place:Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Instrument:Vocals, piano, guitar
Years Active:2015–present

Aaron Fredrick "AJ" Mitchell Jr. (born May 17, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He gained a following in 2017 after posting clips of himself singing and performing covers on YouTube and Instagram. His first independent single, "Used To Be", was written by Mitchell at age 13 and has over 100 million streams.[1]

Mitchell has four songs that have reached the Top 40 on the US radio charts, the July 2018 release "Girls", which reached No. 39,[2] the March 2019 release "All My Friends", which reached No. 24,[3] "Slow Dance" (featuring Ava Max), which reached No. 28,[4] and "Stop" from his debut studio album Skyview (2021), which reached No. 33.[5]

Early life

AJ Mitchell was born in Belleville, Illinois on May 17, 2001.[6] His mother, Allison Mitchell, is a small business owner and his father, Aaron Fredrick Mitchell Sr, is a traveling nurse. AJ is the couple's only son and youngest child, after their daughters Andrea and Addison (Addy).

Mitchell began piano lessons at 4, inspired by his father, who was also learning to play piano and write songs. Mitchell attended Belleville West High School, where he played on the football team and sang in the school choir.[1]

Career

2015–2016: Career beginnings

By 13, Mitchell began performing at local open-mic nights in his hometown and posting covers on YouTube and Instagram, which helped him gain a significant following.[1] Mitchell's social media fan base helped him capture the attention of the LA-based artist manager Mike Spitz whom Mitchell has worked with since 2015.

Mitchell's videos on social media granted him an opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles in 2015 to collaborate with internet marketing agency Team 10. After a brief period together, Mitchell left the group to focus his energy entirely on music.[7]

2017–2018: Hopeful

In 2017, Mitchell released his first independent single "Used to Be", a song he wrote at age 13. The song was produced by hip-hop producer and engineer Mike Dean. "Used to Be" has now gained over 150 million streams.

After departing the social media group, Mitchell received interest from many different record labels but eventually decided to sign with Epic Records. He inked his first major deal with the label in February 2018.

Mitchell's first studio EP with Epic, Hopeful, was released in July 2018. Its lead single "Girls", co-written by Mitchell and Romans, reached No. 39 on the US Mediabase pop radio chart.[2] In November 2018, Billboard and Vevo named Mitchell one of the top 19 artists to watch in 2019.[8]

Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone referred to Mitchell's music as "exciting things to come", when discussing the growing talent roster at the record label.[9]

In 2018, Mitchell collaborated with Bay Area R&B singer-songwriter Marteen for the song "No Plans". Marteen later joined Mitchell in a support slot on the following year's 2019 Hopeful Tour.

2019–2022: Slow Dance and Skyview

In May 2019, Mitchell collaborated with songwriting duo Teamwork and Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt on the song "After Hours".[10] [11]

In June 2019, Mitchell signed a new joint deal with Insanity Records,[12] a subsidiary to Sony Music.[13]

On August 23, 2019, Mitchell released his second EP Slow Dance, which includes his singles "Talk So Much", "Move On", and the title track featuring American singer Ava Max.

Mitchell's debut studio album Skyview was released in October 2021 and includes the singles "Used to Be", "Slow Dance", "Cameras On", and "Stop".[14]

2023–present: As Far as the Eye Can See

Mitchell released a new single "Passionate" in December 2023, followed by "Foolish" and "Flowers on the Moon" in early 2024. His second album titled As Far as the Eye Can See was originally scheduled for release in May 2024 and a North American tour was announced.[15] However, on May 25, 2024, Mitchell announced that he had parted ways with his record label and postponed the album and tour.[16]

Influences

Mitchell cites a wide variety of music as influential to his songwriting style, regularly noting his admiration of artists like Bruno Mars and Lil Wayne.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

! Title! Details
Skyview

Extended plays

! Title! Details
Hopeful
  • Released: July 20, 2018[19]
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Slow Dance
  • Released: August 23, 2019[20]
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
Pop

[21]
"Somebody"[22] 2018
"Used to Be"[23] Skyview
"Mind"[24]
"Girls"Hopeful
"No Plans"
[25]
rowspan="2"
"All My Friends"[26] 201924
"Talk So Much"[27] Slow Dance
"Afterhours"
[28]
rowspan="2"
"Without You Now"
[29]
"Move On"[30] Slow Dance
"Slow Dance"
28 Slow Dance and Skyview
"Down in Flames"[32] rowspan="7"
"Like Strangers Do"[33]
"Say It Again"[34]
"Unstoppable"[35]
"Spring Break"
[36]
2020
"Burn"[37]
"Blame It on the Mistletoe"
"Cameras On"[38] 2021Skyview
"Stop"[39] 33
"Growing Pains"[40] rowspan="2"
"One More Fight"[41]
"Passionate"[42] 2023As Far as the Eye Can See
"Foolish"[43] 2024
"Flowers on the Moon"[44]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

As featured artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Dance

[45]
"Imagine"[46]
(Steve Aoki and Frank Walker featuring AJ Mitchell)
202042rowspan="2"
"Stuck in My Head"[47]
(Captain Cuts featuring AJ Mitchell)
"Hate You + Love You"
202111Hellraisers, Pt. 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"After You"2020Meghan TrainorTreat Myself

Tours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Is a former Belleville teen headed for singing stardom? His L.A. manager says 'yes'. May 3, 2019. Belleville News Democrat. Maddox. Teri.
  2. Web site: AJ Mitchell's "Girls" Enters Top 40 at Pop Radio. November 25, 2018. Headline Planet.
  3. Web site: Billie Eilish, Bryce Vine, AJ Mitchell Songs Make Top 25 at Pop Radio. May 12, 2019. Headline Planet.
  4. Web site: Songs By Ariana, Miley & Lana, Maroon 5, AJ Mitchell & Ava Max Reach Top 40 At Pop Radio. 2019-09-22. Headline Planet. 2019-11-01.
  5. AJ Mitchell. 2021-06-15. Billboard.
  6. Web site: AJ Mitchell Biography. AllMusic.
  7. AJ Mitchell Talks Breakout Single 'All My Friends' & Plans for His 'More Mature' Debut Album: 'It's So Personal'. Billboard.
  8. Billboard Reteams With Vevo to Announce 2019 DSCVR Artists To Watch List: Exclusive. November 15, 2018. Billboard.
  9. Web site: Epic Records Chairman Sylvia Rhone: 'It's a Watershed Moment for Black Culture'. Shirley. Halperin. May 2, 2019. Variety.
  10. Web site: AJ MITCHELL & NINA NESBITT LIGHT UP SUMMER WITH JOINT SINGLE "AFTER HOURS" PRODUCED BY TEAMWORK.. May 10, 2019. Epic Records. May 23, 2019. May 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190513085259/https://www.epicrecords.com/aj-mitchell-nina-nesbitt-light-up-summer-with-joint-single-after-hours-produced-by-teamwork/. dead.
  11. Web site: Afterhours – Single by teamwork, Nina Nesbitt & AJ Mitchell. music.apple.com.
  12. Web site: AJ Mitchell . 2022-01-20 . Insanity Records . en-US.
  13. Web site: AJ Mitchell . 2022-01-20 . Sony Music UK . en-US.
  14. Web site: AJ Mitchell continues to cement his rise with electric new single "Stop". Sony Music. April 9, 2021. June 14, 2021.
  15. Web site: 2024-03-11 . Illinois budding star AJ Mitchell announces 2024 The Afatecs North American Tour . 2024-07-01 . GRUNGECAKE™ . en-GB.
  16. Web site: Mitchell . AJ . 2024-05-25 . Instagram . 2024-07-01 . www.instagram.com.
  17. Web site: AJ Mitchell Biography & History. AllMusic. May 23, 2019.
  18. Web site: SKYVIEW by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . July 30, 2021.
  19. Web site: Hopeful – EP by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . July 20, 2018 . June 9, 2020.
  20. Web site: Slow Dance – EP by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . August 23, 2019 . August 24, 2019.
  21. AJ Mitchell Chart History: Pop Songs . Billboard . May 18, 2021.
  22. Web site: Somebody – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . May 20, 2018 . June 9, 2020.
  23. Web site: Used To Be – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . May 25, 2018 . June 9, 2020.
  24. Web site: Mind – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . May 25, 2018 . June 9, 2020.
  25. Web site: No Plans (feat. Marteen) – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . December 14, 2018 . June 9, 2020.
  26. Web site: All My Friends – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . March 1, 2019 . June 9, 2020.
  27. Web site: Talk So Much – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . 2019 . June 9, 2020 . June 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200609131121/https://music.apple.com/us/album/talk-so-much-single/1463446350 . dead .
  28. Web site: Afterhours – Single by teamwork, Nina Nesbitt & AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . May 10, 2019 . November 10, 2020.
  29. Web site: Without You Now – Single by Digital Farm Animals & AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . June 28, 2019 . July 26, 2019.
  30. Web site: Move On – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . 2019 . July 26, 2019 . July 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190726040721/https://music.apple.com/us/album/move-on-single/1471163975 . dead .
  31. United States. AJ Mitchell. February 22, 2021.
  32. Web site: Down in Flames – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . September 20, 2019 . April 14, 2020.
  33. Web site: Like Strangers Do – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . October 18, 2019 . October 18, 2019.
  34. Web site: Say It Again – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . November 8, 2019 . June 9, 2020.
  35. Web site: Unstoppable – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . November 22, 2019 . November 22, 2019.
  36. Web site: Spring Break (feat. Rich the Kid) – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . March 6, 2020 . November 10, 2020.
  37. Web site: Burn – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . Apple Music US . June 12, 2020 . November 10, 2020.
  38. Web site: Cameras On Pre-Save . March 9, 2021.
  39. Web site: AJ Mitchell STOP Pre-Save . April 6, 2021.
  40. Web site: Growing Pains – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . . May 11, 2021.
  41. Web site: AJ Mitchell "One More Fight" Pre-Save . June 7, 2021.
  42. Web site: AJ Mitchell Shares New Single 'Passionate' . Clash Music. December 15, 2023. December 16, 2023.
  43. Web site: AJ Mitchell Feels 'Foolish' On Personal New Song. 94.1. January 19, 2024. January 22, 2024.
  44. Web site: Flowers on the Moon – Single by AJ Mitchell on Apple Music . . June 19, 2024.
  45. AJ Mitchell Chart History: Dance/Electronic Songs . Billboard . May 11, 2021.
  46. Web site: Imagine (feat. AJ Mitchell) - Single by Steve Aoki & Frank Walker . . July 16, 2020.
  47. Web site: Stuck in My Head (feat. AJ Mitchell) - Single by Captain Cuts . . November 20, 2020 . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122225332/https://music.apple.com/us/album/stuck-in-my-head-feat-aj-mitchell-single/1540890117 . dead .
  48. Web site: November 17, 2018. AJ Mitchell to Headline 2019 'Hopeful' Tour. Tiger Beat.
  49. Web site: AJ Mitchell announces winter headline tour. Epic Records. November 16, 2018. March 18, 2019. February 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190208140903/https://www.epicrecords.com/aj-mitchell-announces-winter-headline-tour/. dead.