London-based pop singer-songwriter, AJ Wander, released his debut single ‘Time Out’ worldwide on 5th November via Elevation. The track was written soon after an explosive breakup and was a realisation that the kindest thing was to let his first love go.
‘Time Out’ was one of several tracks recorded in Barcelona with producer Brad Mair (Dean Lewis, Jamie Cullum, Kygo) which culminated in songs for his debut EP planned for mid-2021. The first single is a prime example of the type of emotive, substantive pop songwriting that makes Wander one of the British artists to watch in 2021.
Wander, the son of a pianist father, had music in his genes from an early age. Varying instruments were scattered around his childhood home in the suburbs of south-east London; a musical landscape that inspired a young AJ to sing, play and eventually to write. He grew up listening to his parent’s favourites and was influenced by some of the greatest songwriters of all-time including The Eagles, Elton John, Carole King and The Beatles.
Following some time living in Sydney, Australia; Wander decided to listen to his heart and return home to pursue music. He enrolled at ACM in Guildford where he joined indie band Tors. He spent 2 years with the band before leaving to chase more creative fulfilment as a solo artist.
Wander soon drifted into running himself ragged playing covers at piano bars and hotels across the UK. “Even though I knew my passion was my own music, I got sidetracked as I needed to pay the rent,” he admits. When the UK’s lockdown eliminated his ability to grind out a living, Wander took the pandemic’s early days to reconsider his priorities, turning all focus to his own music and a career as a solo artist.
It was at this time that he started approaching people in the music industry and networked his way to a management and recording deal with Elevation, a USA-based music company that specialises in artist development. Simultaneously, Sarah Liversedge, MD of BDi Music, signed Wander to an exclusive publishing agreement. BDi is administered globally by Bucks Music Group.
While his songs tackle relational pain lyrically, they are uplifting and not despairing. They carry a more cinematic, inspiring quality that stays with the listener in the truest sense of pop traditions. Wander’s emotionally engaging tenor and melodic piano riffs provide a warmth and depth rarely seen from a young songwriter.
