SJ (singer)

Early life and education

SJ was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a family of Polish, German and Slovenian descent. He spent his childhood in Phoenix, Arizona, where he began to explore his love for music, performing songs by Willie Nelson and Jonny Cash for his family and friends. When he was a teenager, SJ's family moved back to Parma, Ohio, where he attended Normandy High School and got his first job at age fifteen to pay for acoustic guitar lessons.

After spending his first year in college at the University of Charleston, where he played for the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Team, SJ transferred to Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he also played college soccer.

Music career

SJ's style mixes the genres of folk-alternative, folk pop, and acoustic rock. His work has been described as "sunny, feel-good music."

SJ has been professionally releasing music and touring the United States since 2009. In 2012, SJ shared stages with artists such as Jacob Jeffries Band, Pentatonix, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Seth Glier. In 2013, SJ was selected to open for Ed Sheeran at SunFest music and arts festival in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Between 2011 and 2013, SJ's music began to get airtime on over 100 radio stations in the US, including the nationally syndicated specialty show, Acoustic Café Radio. He also received official endorsements from Taylor Guitars, Sennheiser, Future Sonics, Gator Cases, Hercules Stands, and Elixir strings.

In 2012, SJ's second commercial single "Let Me Be" remained on U.S. Mediabase radio charts for four months, peaking at #32 on the Mediabase A/C radio charts and at #31 on the Mediabase Hot A/C Indicator charts, just missing a Billboard position. In 2013, SJ opened for Cheap Trick's Robin Zander Band.

Discography

In August 2012, SJ released his first LP, Coffee: Strong Brew Edition. He also released a live studio version entitled Coffee: Unfiltered Live Acoustic Album. The former was recorded at Outer Reach Music Studios in Miami, mixed by Grammy-winning producer Bob Rosa, and mastered by Ryan Smith of Sterling Sound. The latter was also mixed by Bob Rosa and mastered by Ryan Smith, and was recorded at George Noriega's Cutting Cane Studios in Davie, Florida.

Coffee—EP (2011)

SJ's Coffee was his first commercial studio-recorded EP, with songs on the album winning or earning nominations for over 10 independent music awards in the US and UK. The EP features the studio-produced version of SJ's award-winning song "I Like You", which appeared on top-ten charts alongside Bruno Mars, Train, and Katy Perry.

Coffee: Strong Brew Edition (2012)

SJ’s Coffee: Strong Brew Edition was his first full-length commercial studio recorded LP, featuring songs from Coffee and seven additional tracks. The album was produced by SJ, Oszy Carmona, and Peter Finley, with the exception of "I Like You (Radio Version)" and the Spanish-language version "Lo Mejor De Mi", which were produced by Derek Olds and SJ, and mixed and mastered by Grammy Award winning producer and engineer, Carlos Alvarez.

Coffee Unfiltered—Live Acoustic Album and DVD

Coffee Unfiltered was SJ's first live studio and videotaped album, recorded at Grammy Award winning American songwriter and record producer George Noriega's Cutting Cane Studios in Davie, Florida. It features various songs from Coffee: Strong Brew Edition, as well as other tracks. It was produced by SJ, Oszy Carmona, Peter Finley, and Grammy Award winner Bob Rosa.

I Like You–EP (demo)

SJ’s “I Like You” EP was a demo recording of SJ’s songs “I Like You” and “Breathe”, which were produced, mixed, and mastered by Derek Olds. In 2012, this version of “I Like You” became a theme track for the Talking Tomcat “Tom’s Love Letters” mobile application by Outfit7.