Meet Randal Wells: Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Randal Wells and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Randal, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
“Fake it till you make it.” I think this saying no longer applies. I think all parts of your journey are necessary. What you may deem as a failure, may be the reason someone counts you in as a success. I think when people can see your authenticity they are more likely to stay with you and support you, through your mistakes. Also, when you run into avenues where you are unsure of what to do, we should normalize the asking of help. No creative should’ve ever have to fake anything. Come as you are and don’t lose what makes you special.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My music is inspired by the life I have lived. I started singing as a means to cope with the loss of my mother, who died of cancer when I was 6. I was then placed in the foster care system in South Florida and moved around until I was an adult. I was always an entertainer. I was bullied in school and I immersed myself in music and writing. I used to write to the instrumentals on cassette tapes and record myself singing on a little boom box that had a microphone. I worked with local producers until I could afford equipment of my own to write and record myself. I developed the stage persona, “Random Wright”. I auditioned for every reality show that came to anywhere near where I lived. I eventually was cast on MTV’s Making the Band 4. I took with me the lessons I learned through life and music, and applied them to my art. This was all pre-social media. I created a following on MySpace and eventually surpassed a million plays. My journey then took me to Atlanta and started working with producers and perfecting my musical craft. I expected a lot of results, with having done very little work myself. I was still working to support myself, financially. I never had a support system, so everything I did was always self-funded. I was always waiting for a bigger opportunity, or someone to help assist me with my projects. A lot of the times I would gain momentum, and then play the waiting game, for others to follow-through. A good friend of mine, Richy Jackson (choreographer), suggested that I move to Los Angeles to fully realize my dreams. Here in LA, I was able to begin performing and opening up for major artists and continuing to write and record my own music. I have always sustained myself through a “day job” and have pursed my musical endeavors at night. I released my debut project and got notoriety from the BBC Radio, being featured by SXSW, and ThisIsRNB.com. I also was named a “Know Them Now” artist by Music Performance Right Organization, BMI. I was very humbled by being featured by so many reputable musical organizations. The peaks and valleys of the music world have proven difficult to navigate. I am guilty of having a love/hate relationship with the craft. There’s a lot of politics to releasing a song, that sometimes you forget about the art behind it. I started singing at church, so I could fall back in love with my art. I stopped singing professionally for a while, because opportunities became scarce and I started to doubt my ability. I began falling back in love with music during the Covid-19 lockdown. Quarantine gave me the time to reflect back and listen to my unreleased music. I also was hospitalized with Covid-19, and felt like I had dodged a near death experience. I then began virtually collaborating with some of my favorite singers and song-writers. I’m now working on a project to be released later this year. I am finally telling my stories, on my terms, and using my career to fund the entire project. I recently got rid of my stage name, and started going by my legal name, “Randal Wells”. Instead of thinking I know all the answers, I rely on a combination of friends and fellow creatives who help me actualize my vision. I have a project plan in place, and I know what sounds I am reaching for. I have prioritized time for my creativity, and this has impacted the results I’ve received. My music is defined by the soul in my voice, and the experiences I personally have lived through. If I had to provide a genre or reference point for my sound, I would say I am somewhere between John Legend and Jhene Aiko. I am adamant about being the story-teller of my music, but have allowed other creatives to come in and collaborate on these sounds. Anyone interested in hearing my music can go to: http://www.randalwells.com Or follow me on any social media platform: @iamrandalwells

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Covid 19 has reshaped of what a typical day would look like in LA. Pre-Covid I definitely would have caught a live show at The Federal in NoHo, Hotel Cafe, The Dime, or attend one of KCRW’s Summer Night series events. Today, I spend a lot of my free time working out at local parks. I frequent Runyon Canyon and Bronson Canyon (where most st of shirtless selfies are taken on Insta). On most weekends.If I’m not working out, I have enjoyed my time at Melrose Trading Post, which is a giant outdoor flea market. I’m a huge foodie. Lil Sweet Chick is my latest obsession. They have the best chicken sandwich in LA. If I’m really having a cheat day, I’ll hit up Village Pizzeria in Larchmont. It’s legit my favorite pizza on the West Coast. Dulan’s in Inglewood has some of the best Soul Food I have ever tasted. Also, Mofonogos in NoHo is like a giant taste of home. I miss a lot of the Caribbean food that we have in South Florida. This spot hits!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank the unsung heroes in the Foster Care Community. I was raised by a collective group of mentors that helped me see greatness in myself, when I had no vision for a future. These people were people who had no stake in my success and kept me motivated by just asking me “how are you doing?” Sometimes it the simple questions that got me through the day. There were days where I went without eating, and had no one asked me what was going on, I would not have had my needs met.

Website: http://www.randalwells.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/IamRandalWells

Twitter: Twitter.com/IamRandalWells

Facebook: Facebook.com/IamRandalWells

Image Credits
Anthony Bello