Navigating the Industry as a Gen z Artist
This article is based on an interview with Axljon on March 15th, 2021.
Those born around 1999 often struggle with which generation they identify with: Am I a Millennial? Gen Z? A Zillennial? California native singer, songwriter, actor, and screenwriter: Axljon, has found some answers in his success in appealing to younger audiences. The Senior at Chapman U credits most of his success to TikTok. Since downloading the app as a joke initially, the artist has gained a community of 17.3 k followers and even a fan page with his singing duets gaining the most traction.
While Axljon navigates the entertainment industry as an older Gen Z artist, he claims to have an “old soul but a very young heart.” His influences including The Beatles, Prince, Queen, and Whitney Houston back this statement up. Another main influence on Axljon’s life as an artist is his parents. His parents met as touring musicians traveling throughout Asia and eventually in Southern California. His family continued the touring tradition by starting a brother family band in which Axljon was a keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist.
With his family’s support, Axljon has since then branched off into a solo career in releasing several singles like his cover of Frank Ocean’s “Pink + White” and an EP titled “Am I” released earlier this year. The project is based around the not-so-glamorous parts of being human, bringing light to mental health issues and healing that many of us reflected over quarantine. While the EP delves into these topics, the track “(A Little) Better” is on a lighter note in uplifting audiences with its pop sounds.
Overall, Axljon hopes to break down Filipino stereotypes and have successes as a well-rounded creative. He believes younger generations are required to be interested in a lot of things to make sure you have something to pursue but Axljon takes advantage of this and makes sure to emphasize what he is passionate about and hopes to help others discover this about themselves. He takes after Billie Eilish and Donald Glover in bringing the whole package by working on upcoming projects outside of music including a radio dramedy titled “Slam” with his school. As for music, Axljon is working on recording and producing music from his past to be released throughout the year and eventually an album.