Mysterious Canadian singer, songwriter and producer PARTYNEXTDOOR, born Jahron Anthony Brathwaite, sat down with The Fader for his first ever interview to cover the magazine. The story reveals a lot about the 21-year-old who has risen from an obscure songwriter to an artist primed for his breakthrough. In the piece he discusses his evolution as an artist and the process of how he got to where he is today, writing for Justin Bieber, getting signed to Drake's OVO, and The Weeknd comparisons.
He began his career as a songwriter and was signed to Warner/Chappell as a songwriter. He submitted songs to Justin Bieber, but they were turned down. During this time, he was learning to produce his own beats on the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) Fruity Loops.
I was like, 'Okay, cool, I'ma learn how to produce my own beats,' and I stuck to it. Now, it's hard to even take a beat from anyone else," he reflects.
PARTYNEXTDOOR is a unique artist in that he is the complete package. He has a vision and he is able to execute it to his liking because he can write, produce and perform everything. Because of that, he eventually sent his music to OVO producer Boi-1da who loved what he heard and asked for more. Waite's music was passed around the camp and they quickly decided to meet with him.
"He's the rare breed that writes, produces, engineers, performs, sings-all in one artist. He's pulling all of the strings, he's doing everything, so you hear his final production exactly the way he envisions it," says Boi-1da. "That is a privilege for any artist. You look at the only other artists that are able to manipulate like that, and it's Kanye West."
PARTYNEXTDOOR is not too enthused with The Weeknd comparisons.
"People throw that [Weeknd comparison] over me because I came at a time where people assumed I was there to fill a void,"
The comparisons may continue, but PARTYNEXTDOOR is creating a name for himself quickly.
