We recently caught up with alt-rock artist, Arrested Youth, to talk about his new album, Nonfiction, which is now out on all streaming platforms. The New-York based artist began writing lyrics and freestyle raps at the age of 15, and just over a decade later, Arrested Youth has released his debut studio project. Johnson has garnered a dedicated fanbase, 90M+ streams and direct support on YUNGBLUD’s 21st Century Liability Tour. The 15-track album serves as an introspective story of Johnson embracing his path in life, personal growth and discovery. Check out what Arrested Youth had to say about his music below!
BTS: How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?
Arrested Youth: It’s definitely a hybrid sound. As a songwriter, I pull from rock, hip-hop, pop, and singer-songwriter genres. When it comes to the production, it’s a mix of programmed and live instrumentation. So, there’s really no rhyme or reason to the “sound” behind each of my songs.
BTS: You walked away from the corporate world to pursue music – do you feel that taking that risk motivated you even more to excel in your craft?
Arrested Youth: Absolutely. I gave up a very certain and comfortable career trajectory to pursue music, so I feel that stress and pressure every day to succeed as an artist. I also entered the music industry later than most (I was 25-years-old). A lot of artists have been pursuing their careers since they were kids or teenagers. So, the pressure has always been on to catch up and develop my craft as a songwriter, performer and producer.
BTS: Your music seems to transcend between rock, pop and hip-hop, what inspired this style?
Arrested Youth: All the varied artists I grew up listening to impacted my style today as an artist. I loved bands like Third Eye Blind and Sugar Ray. They were incredible songwriters and had great melodies. But I also loved hip-hop artists, such as 50 Cent and Eminem.
BTS: Your album, Nonfiction, is out June 25th – what can listeners expect from this project?
Arrested Youth: These songs are personal to me. I didn’t write what I thought people wanted to hear, I wrote what was actually on my mind. This album is part of my story, and the songs are truthful. I think listeners will be able to relate my lyrics and stories back to their own lives. Hopefully, that helps them move forward and live life in a positive way.
BTS: Is there a track that you are most excited about playing live now that live music is on its way back?
Arrested Youth: This sounds like a lame response, but I’m excited to play every song on the album. I’ve been rehearsing Nonfiction since April. The whole album has an incredible flow when it comes to the live show. I’m looking forward to sharing this performance with the world.
BTS: Any artists or songs you’ve been digging lately?
Arrested Youth: Since summer is in full effect, I’ve been going back to some nostalgic records for me. One of those is Sugar Ray’s 14:59 album. If you listen to songs on my album like “Ego” or “98 Degrees” you’ll realize I like to combine rock-forward chord progressions with hip-hop drums (live and sampled). Sugar Ray used such great drum samples in their songs. One of my favorites on that record is “Someday”.
BTS: With your album out in just a couple weeks, do you have any big plans for the remainder of 2021?
Arrested Youth: I’m not sure how much I can share just yet because it’s all still in the works, but we’ve got some pretty exciting plans for tour coming very soon this year!
Stay up to date with Arrested Youth!
- Get to Know: Zanski - October 1, 2021
- Get To Know: Arrested Youth - June 25, 2021
- Get To Know: ford. - June 8, 2021
