Review Fix Exclusive: Willie J Talks ‘In The Morning’

August 28, 2020 Patrick Hickey Jr. Music 0

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Willie J, who discusses his latest single, “In The Morning,” and more.

Review Fix: What inspired “In the Morning”?

Willie J: I recorded this record on one of my best friend/rock artist’s birthday. While he was yet alive who unfortunately passed away a year ago RIP (Terry Sanford)…(Tearing up as I write this)…He can be heard blending with me on the chorus/hook of the song. He was so excited to be a part of this record especially hearing the piano sample of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” …And so was I to my surprise. When dope producer (Cool Kid Piddy) displayed this track to me…He did not even know that “Don’t Stop Believing” was my favorite Journey song. This Irony had to be God inspired! So shortly after I went into an intense writing mode. See the writing and composing process of “In the Morning” was inspired by a series of dark trials and tribulations in my own life and in the world around me…from a near death car accident, divorce, loss of loved ones, global racial tensions, COVID-19, etc. This song was composed right in the midst of a stormy hurricane like climate. It was birthed out of a place of great pain and high pressure which is usually how I gain most of my music material and is why we say often at Pure Mission Entertainment (PME)…Pain is Gain…Ultimately God inspired me to write this song to bring hope to the masses in the midst of this most darkest moment of COVID-19 in association with Psalms 30:5. So we decided to dedicate this song to all of the COVID-19 victims and charity including dedications to a close friend and music industry associate who recently passed this spring 2020 due to this same terrible virus! 

Review Fix: How is it different from your other work?

Willie J: This is extremely different from most of my work because of its massive purpose and charity dedication to the victims of COVID-19. I mean it has been recorded that more Americans have died from this pandemic than in World War 1…It is just totally mind boggling SMH…And considering all of the sentimental value behind this record as well.

Review Fix: What have the last few months been like for you? How has it affected your creative process?

Willie J: These last few months of my creative process have literally been “Sunshine With The Rain” …Full of good news and bad news…The creative process have been filled with high intensity with many pressure moments…Buried two friends just a week apart. I seem to find more innovation during times of devastation and am learning with God’s help to take the “ure” off of the word pressure and press forward…Yet finding the strength to spread love, light and HOPE through arts and entertainment at PME.

Review Fix: What was it like to work with Aaron Emig?

Willie J: It has been an extreme honor in working with my President/Business Partner/Best Friend Aaron Emig. It is always a blessing to work with like-minded people with a similar vision and purpose. Ironically Aaron and I met by way of Uber a few years back…He was already doing great community work with the youth by way of sports and education through the Bob Emig Foundation…And then he found out that I was on a similar mission by way of music, arts and entertainment. We clicked from there and the rest is PME history.

Review Fix: How do you want this track to affect people?

Willie J: I want this track to empower people with a new hope for tomorrow. After all that is what we do at PME via our vision of “Empowering People. Changing Lives.” and our mission of “Creating Hope through Arts and Entertainment” …That after all of the crying, confusion, pain, darkness and turmoil…That the “In the Morning” joy will come and to not fear but rather have faith and hope that God is still in control of everything always.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Willie J: What’s next is the airing of a 20-minute ABC 30 Regional TV (St. Louis, MO) interview that I did recently with a “In the Morning” TV video debut Labor Day weekend. In the meantime, look out for more singles and videos in preparation for the release of my forthcoming new album entitled “Sunshine With The Rain”. Also working on releasing more books as well to accommodate the album and on new material for other the PME artists…And was recently asked to host my own Podcast…So look out for that as well. And lastly, I’m in preparation for some National TV appearances and performances for “In the Morning”. I am very grateful for all of the support so far and for this interview…Thanks!

Review Fix: What would you say to musicians that are having a hard time being creative during this time?

Willie J: I would say to the musicians having a difficult time being creative in this season to stay true and pure to your craft and heart’s inner voice…draw from the experience. God has put us all here for a specific purpose and to listen for that song prayerfully that brings hope to others. That is where the blessings and miracles happen. I find that the greatest songs are birthed out of pain, frustration, and high pressure! So, do not miss the moments because moments determine momentum…Take the “um” off of the word momentum and your left with the word – moment. NOW OWN THE MOMENT! 

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14262 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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