SJ Career Highlights - August 8, 2011
HIGHLIGHTS
Awards
- Personal Awards
- Finalist, Play The Stage Contest, 2011 Hollywood Music & Media Awards
- Songwriting Contests
- “Coffee”
- Winner, Best Folk/Acoustic Song, 2011 Hollywood Music in Media Awards
- Selected to advance from Heat 2 of voting, UK’s 2011 International Festival4StarsCompetition
- Semi-finalist, 2011 UK Songwriting Competition, Acoustic/Folk Category
- “Lo Mejor De Mi”
- 1st place, Latin Category, Nashville’s 2010 International Songwriting Competition (judged by Latin megastars Alejandro Sans and Chayanne).
- “I Like You (Radio Version)”
- Grand Finalist, UK’s 2010 International Festival4Stars Competition
- Nominated, Best Folk/Acoustic Song, 2010 Hollywood Music & Media Awards
- “I Am”
- Finalist, 2011 UK Songwriting Competition, Singer/Songwriter Category
- Finalist, 1st Annual Music City Awards, Rock Category
- Finalist, 16th Annual USA Songwriting Competition 2011, Pop Category
Radio Play/Charting
- “I Like You (Radio Version)”
- Reached Top 10 U.S. A/C FMQB Chart
- Reached Top 20 on Sirius/XM Channel The Coffeehouse
- Reached #1 on the Overall Chart on www.Broadjam.com
- Reached #1 on the Folk Chart on www.Broadjam.com
- Reached the Florida Top 10 on www.Broadjam.com
- Reached the South East Top 10 on www.Broadjam.com
- Reached the Production-Ballads Top 10 on www.Broadjam.com
Reviews
"SJ's "I Am" is a wonderful song. It captures so many moods and concepts that we've all experienced at least once in our life. The performance is masterful!! The vocals sound perfect for the lyric and musical content. I know you will wrap this piece of art around your heart, mind and soul!! Bravo SJ !!!"
- Joe Vitale (Drummer & Keyboard, The Eagles and Crosby, Stills & Nash)
"WOW! I'm blown away! One listen is just NOT ENOUGH! I want more. Great commercial and pop appeal. "I Like You" is fantastic for a soundtrack or radio use. A joyful love song, full of attitude without the sap. SJ's vocals are fresh. He owns the track. This artist has captured the magic. And the guitars...what can I say...my toes keep a tap pin'. Keep an eye on SJ!"
- Mitch Goldfarb, Grammy nominated producer (credits include Patti LaBelle, Bon Jovi, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boyz II Men)
“Once an international lawyer for Fortune 100 companies, the Miami Beach artist currently known as SJ is making waves as a musician and songwriter.”
- The Miami Herald
“Whether you’re talking about the melody, the arrangement or the relaxed, feel-good nature of the song, SJ’s ‘I Like You’’ is perfect for Triple A radio and for all fans of Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and Donovan Frankenreiter. I’ve shared this song with my teenage daughter and nieces, and they all flipped for it on one listen.”
- Jim Nelson, A Taste of Triple A
"This guy can sing. SJ has a soulful flare to his latest EP, Coffee, that will make you want
to learn how to sing and play guitar. If you like artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz,
you'll like SJ... Overall, SJ is one of the reasons we should support great unsigned artists. His sound is
flat out cool and his voice lends itself to greatness. With the right marketing and tour
schedule, this guy could sell 50,000 copies of this project independently. He's that good!"
- I Am Entertainment Magazine
“’Coffee’ is a collection of songs that illustrates the beauty in all of us. Songs like ‘I Like You,’ ‘Let Me Be,’ and ‘Fresh Soul’ capitalize on the chill vibe that makes this newcomer a moral imperative to listen to.”
- Sam Frank, Unrated NYC
"SJ is a smart, dedicated and spirited performer – it is fun watching his music career grow. He is always welcome on my radio show."
- Michael Stock, WLRN RADIO, 91.3FM, Miami, FL.
"’I Like You’ is the sort of song that can catapult an artist from unknown to world renowned overnight.”
- Wildy, Wildy’s World Blog
“Indeed, SJ’s a talented performer with a fine touch and an evocative voice, ideally suited to his material.”
- Rob F., Leicester Bangs
“When I got home, I immediately downloaded “I Like You” and have since collected the rest of “Coffee”, then was flipping out when I heard we will be featuring this incredible artist.”
- Richie Freeman, Pens Eye View
"SJ isn't going to wow hipsters with Coffee, and they'll probably still roll their eyes when their mom plays it while making dinner on their visit home (to ask for money). But if they, if anyone, stopped paying attention to labels and just listened, they'd like Coffee."
- Ted Chase, QRO Magazine
“The 34-year-old crooner shines on his lighthearted single ‘I Like You,’ reminiscent of Jack Johnson with a tiny Latin twist. “
- Tracy Block, Barcode Magazine
Select Media Spots
TV:
- South Florida Today (NBC 6)- 2010, 2011
- Telemundo, South Florida, 2010, 2011
- Vail TV 8- Vail, Colorado, 2011
- Plum TV- Vail, Colorado, 2011
- Guest Musical Performance, Season 1, Episode 2, "Recreating A Legend" (Forti/Layne Productions), Coral Springs, Florida, 2011.
Radio:
- NPR, WLRN 91.3FM South Florida (2009, 2010)
- At Home With Victoria Radio Show, BLOGTALKRADIO (Baltimore)
- American Vocal Academy Radio Show, BLOGTALKRADIO (Ft. Lauderdale)
- Sirius/XM The Coffeehouse Channel, Live Studio Sessions in NYC (2011)
- FTNS- Fitness Radio (2011)
Performance Highlights
Showcases:
- 2011 SongCircle Music Showcase- NYC
- 2011 Driven Music + Art Conference- Hollywood, FL
- 2010 Chrystal Hartigan’s Songwriter Showcase at Broward Performing Arts Center- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 2010 Florida Music Festival- Orlando, FL
- 2010 Miami Music Festival BMI Showcase- Miami, FL
- 2010 BMI Miami Showcase- American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
- 2010 Eats-Beats-Cleats Superbowl Festival- Miami, FL
- 2009 Billboard Magazine/St. Armand Ventures Music & Money Party- NYC
- 2009 Miami Music Festival- Miami, FL
Selected South Florida Venues
- Van Dyke Café- Miami Beach
- Loew’s Hotel (Resident)- Miami Beach
- Marriott Biscayne Bay (Resident)- Miami
- Clevelander Hotel- Miami Beach
- Bardot-Miami
- Florida Room, Delano Hotel- Miami Beach
- Transit Lounge- Miami
- Tobacco Road- Miami
- Luna Star Café- North Miami
- Bougainvillea’s- South Miami
- Hilton Hotel- Ft. Lauderdale
- Kitchen 305- North Miami Beach
- Pineapple Groove- Delray Beach
- Maxine’s Bistro at the Catalina Hotel (Resident)- Miami Beach
Selected Non-Florida Venues
- The SoHo House- NYC
- The National Underground- NYC
- The Bitter End- NYC
- Pianos- NYC
- Blue Owl- NYC
- Googie’s Lounge/Living Room- NYC
- Bearfish- Vail, Colorado
- Loaded Joe’s- Avon, Colorado
- Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado
- The Cat Club- Los Angeles
- The Mojito- San Francisco
- The Elbo Room- Chicago, Illinois
- Rhythm House- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- City In East- Cleveland, Ohio