AJA is removing all of the toxic boys from her life by doing one simple thing — hitting the famous “red button” and declining his call.
The 17-year-old Canadian songstress’ bubbly pop song “Red Button” tells the story of her ex-boyfriend who wouldn’t stop calling her to try and get back together. “I couldn’t continue talking to him because we weren’t getting anywhere continuing to talk about it. I had to literally just hit the ‘Red Button,'” AJA tells Celeb Secrets in an exclusive interview.
Co-written with Jimmy McGorman and Rob Vallier, AJA hopes the track will help listeners, especially her female ones, feel empowered. “I think it takes strength to walk away from someone or something that is toxic,” she says.
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Wearing her heart out on her sleeve in lyricism, “Red Button” is the follow-up to her first to singles NERVE and Who’s Gonna Love You?, which have already racked up over one million streams to date. “Red Button” is certainly not the last song you’ll hear from AJA, as the talented teen will release her upcoming single, “The Mess You Made,” this Friday, June 25th.
Available for pre-save now, AJA worked on “The Mess You Made” with 8x Grammy Award-winning producer Scott Storch during a recent visit to Los Angeles.
“i’m super excited to announce my next single ‘The Mess You Made’ is coming out next Friday!! I had the pleasure of working with the legendary @scottstorchofficial on this one while I was out in LA. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!!” the Canadian powerhouse shared on Instagram.
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Celeb Secrets sits down with AJA (virtually) to chat about her current single, if she’s ever had to hit that “red button,” and some behind-the-scenes secrets from making the song that you wouldn’t know when listening to it. She also shares her musical inspirations, her songwriting rituals, and how she deals with heartbreak.
Check out the full Q&A below and let us know what you think of “Red Button” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
Don’t forget to give AJA a follow on Instagram at @aja9.
Celeb Secrets: First of all, we’d love to congratulate you on hitting over 2.3 million Spotify streams at only 17! How did you react in response to the exciting news?
AJA: “I am really excited about it. I am the kind of person who is constantly looking to what is next. I am constantly updating my list of goals. So I try not to get too fixated on numbers. I just keep focussed on my goals. But I’m not going to lie, it’s been amazing to see the feedback I’ve been getting on ‘Red Button.’ I think it’s a song everyone can connect with in some way.”
CS: In what ways do you hope to mobilize fans when they listen to your latest single “Red Button?”
AJA: “I hope to make people feel empowered. I think it takes strength to walk away from someone or something that is toxic. I love getting comments on my YouTube video or DM’s from fans sharing their story about how they hit that ‘Red Button’ on someone.”
CS: The song is so strong and bold; it is the perfect women’s anthem. We are interested in hearing your thoughts on why female empowerment is so important in a relationship?
AJA: “I feel like I am a strong confident female. I have always advocated for myself. Being strong is a mindset. I think taking steps to do things that make you feel empowered can lead to stronger women. Find things that make you feel strong and build from there.”
CS: Did you ever personally hit the “red button” on an ex-lover? Why or why not?
AJA: “Hell ya! He wouldn’t let go and wouldn’t stop calling me. I felt bad at times, but I knew it was the right thing to do for the both of us.”
CS: What are your top strategies when it comes to coping with heartbreak?
AJA: “First cry and get it out of your system. Everybody needs a good ugly cry. Then just find distractions, hang out with friends, meet new people, get dressed up and put on makeup, just do whatever makes you feel a bit better until you just feel better. Eventually you feel better.”
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CS: You’ve recently revealed that some of your best work stems from lived experiences. Are there any unknown personal experiences that motivated you to pen “Red Button” specifically?
AJA: “I had broken up with my first real boyfriend of almost 1 year. I had made the decision, so it was easier for me than for him. He wouldn’t stop calling trying to change my mind. I couldn’t continue talking to him because we weren’t getting anywhere continuing to talk about it. I had to literally just hit the ‘Red Button.’ But I feel like I have had dozens of times I’ve had to hit that Red Button about others. So the song feels relevant daily (laughs). One day it may be about my mom, my brother, dad, my friend who is annoying me…”
CS: If you could only pick one celebrity or music group, who would you select as your greatest creative influence?
AJA: “Probably Ariana Grande. I say that because her vocal talent is beyond any of the current vocalists out there. Her vocal range and creativity is incredible. What makes her so unique is the inability for anyone to mimic or copy what she does. I hope to be that level of a vocalist where others can’t copy my sound.”
CS: Are there any songwriting rituals that help you get in the zone when you’re trying to come up with another hit?
AJA: “For me it’s usually just about what is going on in my life and how I’m feeling. I have never felt stuck on what to write about. I usually just hit notes on my phone and start writing down ideas.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, can you share any behind-the-scenes secrets from making the song that we wouldn’t know when listening to it?
AJA: “I think I’ve shared a lot of intimate details! I may end up needing to hit the ‘Red Button’ if my ex reads this interview (laughs). One secret relating to this song would be that I probably hit the ‘Red Button’ once a day on someone who is annoying me. I guess you could say, I get annoyed easily.”
