Interview - PJD - FVMusicBlog

Home » Music Blogs » Music Blog » Interview – PJD

Photo: PJD

Birmingham-based artist PJD is no stranger to evolution. With a background as a seasoned session guitarist and a growing catalogue of fully self-produced work, he’s carved out a reputation for pushing his sound forward with every release. His latest single, “On New Horizons,” captures that spirit perfectly—blending ambition, reflection, and a relentless drive to keep moving.

As the debut single from his upcoming album A New Religion, the track offers a glimpse into an artist who refuses to stand still. We caught up with PJD to talk about creative freedom, near life-changing moments, and why the search for something better never really ends.

“On New Horizons” feels rooted in both hope and realism—what personal moment or experience first sparked the idea behind this track?

Yes, hope and realism is what this track is all about. I think the vast majority of people—not just musicians—look to the next horizon in the hope that something better awaits there. Of course, it very rarely does, but I think we have all been there.

Your philosophy of “never record the same song twice” stands out—how did that mindset shape the sound and structure of this particular release?

I think I can honestly say that of the 32 tracks released so far on my three albums, no two tracks are remotely similar. This began with the first album Pride Before the Fall, which was a very experimental record with many different styles and influences as I was finding my way forward.

It has always been my mission to never let the music get boring or repetitive, either for myself or the listener, and to never let it fall into a routine. With “On New Horizons,” that constant quest for improvement is really the battle cry for the whole PJD project.

You’ve had a long career as a session guitarist—what shifted for you creatively when stepping into a fully solo project where you control everything?

Freedom is the answer here. As a session player, 90% of the time you play what has to be played, in the way specified. Occasionally you may be allowed a little scope for improvisation, but it is rare.

Switching to a solo artist meant I could let my musical mind go wild—recording what I want, when and how I want. It is a freedom that has allowed me to explore so many different musical avenues in a short time since late 2022. It allows me to go wherever my mind feels is the next best route.

There’s a strong sense of journey in this track—musically and emotionally. What did you want listeners to feel or discover as they move through it?

I think the feeling that should come through is that constant search for improvement. No matter what knockbacks and problems you encounter, you just have to keep trying to move forward.

You cite artists like David Bowie as a major influence—how do you approach reinvention while still maintaining a recognisable identity in your own work?

I feel that because of the way I work, I am reinventing myself with almost every track that gets released. Such is my desire to keep exploring different soundscapes and musical directions.

My identity as a guitar player is the one constant. I have tried to create a style that works across all the various genres that appear across the albums so far. Creating your own identity as a guitarist is no easy task—and as far as I am concerned, that work is still ongoing.

Recording in a traditional, almost live-performance style is a deliberate choice—what does that approach give you that more modern production methods don’t?

When recording, my aim is to capture the same excitement you feel at a live show by your favourite artist. I am a big gig-goer and have felt that surge many times over the years, and I’ve tried to bring that into my recordings.

It’s not easy to achieve in a studio. My phrase would be: never let it get too clinical. Perfection is never the aim—the aim is to generate a sound where the listener can feel that the instruments are being played with love and enjoyment, and that the whole thing is real.

As the debut single from A New Religion, this track sets the tone—what kind of journey or themes can listeners expect as they explore the full album?

Whilst the first album was very experimental, the second album Under the Radar and the new album A New Religion follow definite themes. The second album explored the human mind and all its complexities.

The new album is largely about obsessions—wealth, power, and that constant quest for better things. There are a couple of tracks that break that mould, including one very emotional piece about the loss of a long-time friend in the LA wildfires of 2024/25 called “Ada Li,” which is also lined up as a future single.

There is also a track called “Here Comes the Night,” which is about my favourite place to relax—a small fishing town in North Yorkshire called Filey.

Your music draws heavily from real-life experiences—was there a specific moment, place, or person that directly influenced “On New Horizons”?

There wasn’t a specific influence for this single, but there was a definite influence behind the whole PJD project.

Shortly before the pandemic, I had been sessioning with a band at a venue in Camden, London. After one of the gigs, I returned to my hotel and fell seriously ill in my room. I couldn’t summon help and was found the following morning by a cleaner, who raised the alarm.

I was rushed to hospital, where it was discovered I had suffered a brain haemorrhage. After a long time in hospital—and even having to learn to walk again—I felt I had been given a second chance. When this solo project came along, I made the decision to throw everything at it. A lot of the influences, especially on the second album, came from that period.

Being responsible for every aspect of the recording process is rare—what has been the biggest challenge, and what has been the most rewarding part of that independence?

Guitar was no problem, but I had only dabbled in drums and keyboards before, so I had to learn them properly—and quickly. It was an incredibly steep learning curve that required a lot of time, patience, and at times frustration, but I stuck with it.

Vocals were another challenge, as I had never been a singer. After some coaching to develop both technique and identity, I got there.

Then came production—something I’m still learning. The most rewarding part is listening back to a finished track and feeling that I couldn’t possibly do anything more to improve it.

Your music deserves more than $0.004 per stream… Get our FREE guide – instant download.

Looking ahead, both musically and personally—what does your own “new horizon” look like right now?

The future looks very bright. I’ve already started work on the fourth PJD album, Battle Lines, with the title track almost complete.

The theme will be about fighting for what you believe in. One major difference is that I won’t be working alone—Tom Porcell, a highly respected producer based in Germany who has worked with artists like Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Kraftwerk, will be producing the album.

It’s a huge honour and a great opportunity to learn more about production. It will be very interesting to see how this album compares to the others.

https://co-Birmingham.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/share/16whq2Ws8C/