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Life is too often one step forward, two steps back, an affront to the linear progression our mind craves. That applies even to the artistic standout PJ, who on her latest single, "Two Steps," laments the turmoil generated by a series of emotional engagements that left her feeling, well, behind. That leaves PJ with the raw nourishment for inspiration, and leaves us with a great song to console our own oppositional energy. Wanting to know more about all the big steps she's been taking, PJ took a small break from supporting J. Cole on tour to regale us with life updates, where to get good boots and so much more here:

OnesToWatch: My first question is, who are you? 

PJ: My name is PJ. I'm a singer songwriter from Greensboro, North Carolina. 


PJ, why did you get into the world's most difficult profession? 

It's a calling that I've always had. I've loved singing since I was a kid, and I feel I have a lot to say. It matched perfectly for me, you know? 

Heaven forbid your artistic talents were removed from you, is there an alternate career you could see yourself doing? 

I’ve got about 3 of them. So first, I would be a veterinarian because I actually was an apprentice when I was young – in middle school. But then there was an instance where they had to put a puppy to sleep, and after I saw that, I was like, okay that’s not for me. I also thought I wanted to be an archaeologist at one point. Or I’d be a fire secret agent. Or maybe I’d do lighting for film.
I also thought I wanted to be a foley artist. 

Oh, wow. You have a whole spectrum there. Well we're glad that you're in music. When did you first feel like your music was ready to be shared with strangers? 

I have really bad stage fright, so for most of my career, even though I was singing all the time nonstop at the house, I would never sing in front of people. In college – I went to school 30 minutes outside of Nashville – that’s when I first learned about songwriting. I learned that people don't always write the songs that they sing. After that, I felt more like it’s what I wanted to do. 

When did you get the confidence to be an artist out front? 


I mean, I’m confident now, but when I moved to LA for a time 8 years ago, and I got signed to Atlantic, I was a songwriter first. I was still looking for external validation that I could be an artist, and that kept me back for a minute. But overall, it’s been little strides. When I was in college, I used to sing with a backpack on, it was like my little comfort blanket. Still, the last five minutes before I go on stage, I get really nervous, and I’ve learned how to beat it. Learning all the trials that I've been through and writing about in my music, I feel like that gives me confidence because I feel like I'm a living mess.
I have a message to give other people to help get through their hard times. 

Beautiful. Love that. Let's get into your songwriting. What's something you've learned about yourself through songwriting? 

I'm definitely an overthinker and I put all my confrontation in the music. I get everything off my chest that way. I'm just such an overthinker by nature, but doing music is the only time I don't overthink. 

What about your process? How do you start a song? 

Even though I'm a singer, I think because hip hop is such a big part of my life and my upbringing, it's more like freestyling. It also helps to have some heavy emotion, like when people piss me off, I'm writing the song in 15 minutes. 

Do you seek out some drama and trauma just to get the song going? 

I think the trauma was seeking me out. I love LA, it’s a beautiful city, but I think there's a lot of trauma buried underneath. To get into these industry games, there's so many highs and lows and treachery and stuff. There's more broken dreams here than achieved ones. 

Once you felt comfortable being an artist, did you feel like your songwriting matured in a different way?

I think it got bolder. There were times when I had just started writing when I was uncomfortable being seen in the fullest capacity. Even still when I record I don’t really like a lot of people in the room, because it feels like being naked, to be honest. And I think the more comfortable I've gotten being myself, sitting in who I am, the bolder the music gets. The songwriting has changed a lot since leaving LA and coming to Atlanta. It gave me a bounce that I didn't have in LA, and being close to home, I'm back to my roots. 

Love it. Let's get into your upcoming single, “Two Steps.” 

“Twp Steps” is about the cycle of a hard relationship where you guys are broken up, but the door is still cracked open. “Two steps forward, three steps back,” somehow I always end up with you in some capacity. It’s out of body, you know that you're doing the wrong thing. You're about to walk through that trap door once again. I think it's the narration of that. It's me being on the way to see the same guy again and I'm just contemplating. Someone once told me that people can endure anything if it's familiar. 

What do you hope that the audience takes from this song? 

A lot of people are in situations that they should be out of because they literally don’t know their worth. I lost my self-respect, and especially for women, you deal with a lot of BS, and it breaks down your self-esteem. You're playing at the bottom. So when you hear this song, I'm hoping that when you're on your way to see them again, you're like, “Oh, okay, nah, we're not doing that.” 

Let's get into some more fun questions. You're already living out some dreams and touring a lot of big cities, but is there a venue or a place you have not played that you're super excited to perform at some point?

I want to go everywhere to be honest. I've never performed in arenas, so every time I step on these stages performing with J. Cole, it’s like a dream come true. I really want to go everywhere – from Australia to Paris to London. I haven't performed overseas. So that's what I'm looking for. I want to eat all the good food and I want to meet all the people and I feel like my music is something that will resonate across the border.

I think so too. If your friends come to you hungry, can you whip up a meal? And if so, what would it be? 

I can really cook anything because I'm creative. 

What’s something simple? 

Air fryer wings? I'm efficient too. 

What's the sauce you do? 


I'm not a sauce person. I'm a dry rub because I like things crazy. I think life is better crispy at all times.

I feel that. Do you do lemon pepper?

More like Cajun. 

Okay, you’re not just rubbing Old Bay on wings. 

I mean, I could, but it’s not for that. I like Old Bay fries. 

This gets me in trouble, but I’m a potato minimalist. I don’t like Old Bay on them. I also hate mashed potatoes. 

How? 

I grew up with shitty mashed potatoes all the time and it just never took to me. I hate it. 


So you don't try it every so often? You don't like research. 

Potatoes are a wonderful starch, I just think mashed potatoes represents the weakest notes. 

Okay, you’re a potato purist. 

Well, let me ask you this. What do you feel is overrated and underrated in terms of LA food? 

I think LA has suffers from many, many trends, and there's a lot of great foods, but we don't need to overcomplicate it. LA gets a hold of something and then puts it on everything. Like avocado or kimchi. Both great in their own right, but then we put it places it doesn’t belong. 

Love that tangent. If I find you at your most zen, your most peaceful state, where are you? What are you doing? 


I think I'm in the ocean. Or I'm playing with my dog somewhere in an open space. Zen to me is being completely rested and not having shit to do. And then maybe it's food that I just have to reach for. I don't have to go anywhere.
I haven't experienced that yet. But hopefully when I get the money rolling, I get famous, it's personal chef time. 


Let's create a dream festival for you. Who would you perform with, dead or alive? 

I'm definitely gonna pick Michael Jackson. Whitney Houston. Missy Elliott. Oh, TLC would be fire

I would love you to recommend something non-musical. Show you watch, book you read, place you visited. 


I'm so absorbed in my music. My free time is absorbed by it too, so I don't really do a lot of things outside of it, but right now I'm thinking of matcha and ginger beer. Also the boots I’m wearing. They're from Sadie Studios. They're women of color that make these, based in LA. They make shoe sizes up to like 13, 14. I'm not a size 14. I'm just saying for anyone listening. They’re really sturdy boots and they're a smaller company and I just really like that. 

That's a great shout out. How about a music rec? 

There's a female singer out of London called Nia Smith. She's super dope. Super cool.
I recommend her. 

Lastly, anything you want to end on? 

I have a project dropping called I Hate You Marcus Johnson.