AJ Mitchell

Emerging initially through social media platforms, the pop artist AJ Mitchell transitioned into mainstream attention during 2018, when he was seventeen, via his inaugural project Hopeful—a compact set drawing inspiration from the melodic styles of Justin Bieber, Conor Maynard, and Charlie Puth. In the years that followed, he flooded the scene with hit tracks such as the duet "Slow Dance" alongside Ava Max and the 2021 release "Cameras On," both included on his opening full-length album Skyview.

Hailing from Belleville, Illinois, Mitchell was raised amid a household filled with musical talent. Though shaped by the sounds of Bruno Mars, Coldplay, and Lil Wayne, his primary inspiration came from his father. He mastered piano and the craft of songwriting while juggling high school sports alongside participation in the student choir and gigs at neighborhood cafes. Through sharing cover versions of works by Jon Bellion, Bebe Rexha, and Julia Michaels on social media, he cultivated an audience exceeding one million followers.

In 2016, Mitchell moved to Los Angeles to dedicate himself entirely to music, unleashing his first single, the uplifting piano-driven "Used to Be," in the subsequent year. This was succeeded by "Girls" and "High Like You," both featured on his Epic Records introductory EP Hopeful, crafted under the guidance of producer Andy Wells, known for his work with 5 Seconds of Summer and Fall Out Boy, and launched in the summer of 2018. He came back in 2019 sporting the melancholic, mostly acoustic offering "All My Friends." Additional releases ensued, among them 2019's "Unstoppable" together with 2020's "Burn" and "Spring Break," the last of which incorporated Rich the Kid. He wrapped up 2020 alongside Ella Henderson on the festive joint effort "Blame It on the Mistletoe."

During the next year, Mitchell put out the intense "Cameras On" as well as the gold-certified "Slow Dance" featuring Ava Max. These numbers formed part of his initial proper album Skyview, which also contained his breakthrough earlier single "Used to Be." A fresh chapter commenced in 2023 through the polished, synthesizer-laden dance number "Passionate."