The musician known only as NuJ4x may be an enigma, but he makes fantastic dance music and has a stellar reputation among those who know him (“@NuJ4X is such a great energy,” as singer/songwriter Amar Monroe tweeted recently). With 21 years of experience, he’s worked with both mainstream and well-known indie artists and has strong opinions on music, collaboration, and the pitfalls of the music industry.
Uncle Funkbeard: Where did the name NuJ4x come from?
NuJ4x: A play on the 1980s wrestler “New Jack” and the music genre “New Jack Swing” because you can't say “New Jack Swing” without saying “NuJ4X.”
UF: Who is the man behind the alias?
N: I am an extremely private person who doesn't divulge personal information. It's why I wear a mask. I don't really want anyone to know anything about me except that I am NuJ4X, I make music, and I'm friendly.
It revolves around the hope that someday I make it. I want NuJ4X to be famous. I don't want to be famous. I want to take off my mask one day after I've lived my dream and stand behind you at Walmart and you turn around and be like “What you looking at, dipshit?” and not care about me at all. Fame doesn't interest me. I just want people to hear my music.
UF: How long have you been making music?
N: I began my music journey seriously at age 18. I started making beats and recording silly songs. I used my newfound knowledge to diss a guy in my town who irritated me. Then I started trying to make actual songs. They were terrible. It was a lot of fun though. I moved on to learning on whatever I could get my hands on: keyboards from Goodwill, random junk from yard sales, computer software that is primitive compared to what we have today.
I don't have any formal education. I've just learned to do it by working in a real-life recording studio for a number of years, and just doing it. I can play a MIDI controller keyboard and a computer mouse.
I've been in the studio with Kid Rock, Norah Jones, Earl Scruggs, and tons of other people. I have so many stories from a different life and a different time in my musical journey, that it could fill an entire book.
UF: There’s a lot of variety in your music, but one common description I would use is “highly danceable.” You’ve said that you create “pop music, hip hop, EDM, and anything else” that you find “interesting.” Which raises the question, what do you find interesting?
N: Just whatever strikes me in the moment. An artist named JJLovegrove recently came into my life and when I heard her music, I was immediately inspired. I reached out to her, we talked, and I was so excited I stayed up all night long and I made her an instrumental. I couldn't sleep because I heard a folkish guitar in my head. I had to create it. The last time I stayed up all night long to create an instrumental was for the song from myself and Audrey Callahan, “Break This Cage,” which I think came out amazing. Audrey is a phenomenal talent and so is JJLovegrove.
UF: What was the collaboration with Audrey Callahan like? How did that happen?
N: I am part of a Facebook group called "Make Pop Music" and I put out a PSA type thing. She responded. We talked. I loved her voice and her music, she loved my music and my approach. I asked her what she would be interested in, and she told me. I stayed up all night and made it. She loved it.
It took a year for her and her writing partner to complete the lyrics. She's very busy. But she told me that when her husband and her team heard the first demo, that she got in trouble with them! They were like, “WHY WAS THIS NOT DONE SOONER?” It made me feel good. I think it made her feel good too. She said her and her husband were crying when they heard it finally finished.
UF: What about collaboration has such an appeal to you?
N: Two heads are better than one, always. Plus, I can't sing. That's the thing I am not capable of doing. So, I need the right voices to bring my songs to life. But more than that, I love other musicians. I love to learn from them, talk to them, and listen to their music. If I meet someone, or hear someone, who totally rocks my world, why would I not want to collaborate with them?
UF: What’s been your most successful song so far?
N: “Hype Man.” It’s the closest I've made to something you might hear on current radio rotation. Plus, I honestly believe I just made a pretty great song. TalliMusic and Dabu are the vocalists and they basically made the song. Sung by anyone else, I don't think it would have turned out as good.
UF: Which song has been your personal favorite?
N: My favorite song is “Wilmas & Bettys.” It's a play on The Flintstones and ‘80s surf slang. It's just fun and makes me think of a better life. A lot of people have told me they don't understand the lyrics and that's kind of the point. It's a song for surfers, about surfers.
UF: Your recent high-energy hit “Everybody (On the Floor)” is awesome. I saw it described as techno, but you quickly corrected that comment, instead categorizing it as house music.
N: Being labeled as “techno” is a pet peeve of mine. It's a word used by people who don't understand electronic music to categorize ALL electronic music. It really bothers me.
The difference between “techno” and “house” falls in vocals and melody, most times. House music uses vocals, a lot of melody, and is danceable. Techno, while still danceable, is often repetitive loops that don't offer much variance. House music has a lot happening all at once, and it takes a serious amount of work to get it all to sound correct. Techno doesn't have that.
It doesn't help that I grew up with the lyric immortalized in my mind of Eminem saying "NOBODY LISTENS TO TECHNO."
UF: Are there any genres or types of music that you haven’t tried but might like to take a shot at?
N: Funny you ask that. On 9/1/23 I have a collab called “called G O D M O D E” coming out with brand new DJ / artist DiskoMagic. It's his first time poking his head out into the music world. After that, I am done creating and releasing EDM songs for a while. I want to learn to program guitars much better, and see where that takes me. I might try some heavy metal tunes, or some alternative tunes, or some indie tunes.
UF: Any other releases planned?
N: So many. I have two R&B tracks on the way. Hopefully I'll be able to finally finish “Broke My Barbie.” I have the collabs with JJLovegrove and DiskoMagic coming up. I have so many more, including a brand new EDM release called "Mindshaker" on 8/1/23.
UF: As a veteran of the music industry, I know you have very strong opinions on record labels. What should people know?
N: Record labels are lazy and overbearing. Your credit score is more capable of getting your music out there than a record label. If a record label signs you and gives you $100,000, you immediately owe them $100,000 and more. They own you. You immediately owe the bank $100,000 as well, but they don't own you.
UF: I’ve never dealt with a label, but everything I’ve read online, including from entertainment lawyers, is that legitimate labels don’t require you to pay back the advance if an album doesn’t sell, and you should run from a contract that does.
N: I have been in music for 21 years and have met A&R people, label heads, and spoken to actual real-life celebrities with actual real-life record deals. I have knowledge first-hand of their struggles. I've actually spoken to people who have been to the show. In another life, of course.
A label pays for the recording of your music. They own your songs, your album, your masters, and your life. So, if they give you $100,000 and then it costs $300,000 to make an album, you now owe them $400,000 before you ever see a dime.
They can also decide to shelf you. Many labels sign acts to put them on the shelf so they don't create competition for their bigger, more established artists. A bank can't do that to you.
UF: What do you think is the best path to financial success in the music industry?
N: Build your credit score. Make the best music you can. Be ready to have your heart broken. Learn how to identify opportunities, such as sync licensing, and watch pop culture trends. Be able to identify and take advantage of opportunities.
Pay your debts, build your credit, get a loan, and become the artist you dream of being.
Leave record labels where they belong. The history books.
UF: Any other advice for indie artists?
N: Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I've been around Nashville and the music industry for a really long time. I know things. I've seen things but I don't know everything. I don't know your story. Only you know your story. Make it happen and God bless you.
I don't advise being an independent music artist. I honestly don't. But for those of us that are, we have no choice. We are often compelled to make music. We can't turn it off. I know I can't.
But if you can, maybe take up crocheting. I hear fishing is fun.
Listen to NuJ4x’s music on Spotify and follow him on Twitter.