Released on the eve of Valentine’s Day, AJ La Joya’s latest introspective and intimate piece of deep pop and r&b exists almost in direct opposition to what the holiday is supposed to stand for. ‘Not The Same’ is about introspection first and foremost. It’s about realising when things aren’t working, when love seems to be falling apart and there’s no real future waiting for you. He takes the pain and heartbreak you feel post infidelity and betrayal and channels it into something empowering and proud. ‘Not The Same’ is effortlessly smooth, a slow r&b pop driven piece that has you in maximum sad boy hours but feeling simultaneously relieved some how.
AJ’s genre defying style and smooth song-writing talents are consistently refreshing. His topical songs, loaded with messages and experiences of relationships both broken and workable are always interesting to deep dive into.