New Artist, New Music: Menji
Photo Credit: Carol @cayala0612
“It was terrifying… but also really freeing” - Menji refers to the first time he sang in front of a crowd.
He ended up there by chance. After a guitar class rehearsal where some classmates heard him warming up and pushed him to take the lead. Naturally, he resisted at first. But they wouldn’t let it go, and his professor’s positive reaction settled it.
Menji went on. His hands shaking, and racing thoughts reminding him how far out of his comfort zone he was. The best part is that the moment it ended, a feeling of exhilaration replaced his fear.
Before any of this, Menji went to Loyola Marymount University (LMU) as an athlete. Soccer was his clearest path, he’d been scouted and was planning to take it further when COVID hit, dismantling all of his certainty. Without much thought, he signed up for guitar class to fill a creative requirement. He had no real background in music, no training, no particular pull in that direction. That changed the day of his first performance.
Art Credit: Lucreyn
Open mics were his next step, he calls them “exposure therapy,” less about the performance than simply showing up until the stage stopped feeling foreign. A friend from LMU played alongside him early on, helping ease the first few. The supportive community he found through Grammy U and the Los Angeles music space taught him that relationships matter as much as the work itself.
"It's very much about who you know… there are a lot of gatekeepers."
LA has a way of making that lesson unavoidable, but it hasn't slowed him down. His sound draws from artists like Jack Johnson, Dominic Fike, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Laid-back on the surface, blending nostalgic elements with an experimental edge.
When the writing is working, it moves fast. He works from wherever he's most comfortable, and when he’s inspired most of a song comes together in a sitting or two. "When it clicks, it clicks."
Art Credit: Lucreyn
Recently, he released his first music video, collaborating with film students to build something with a real visual identity. It's the same dedication that connects his music to his modeling work with Strike Magazine Los Angeles, as he grows, so does his creative voice.
No longer a side project, music is at the forefront of his ambition.
"This will probably be my biggest year yet… I'm staying consistent and enjoying the ride."
What started as a random guitar class turned into something bigger, built on a willingness to be uncomfortable, and show up anyway. Now, with new music, visuals, and creative projects on the horizon, he’s continuing to shape something that feels purposeful and entirely his own.
To conclude, Menji will be coming out with a new song on April 17th! Make sure to check it out!! It’s called Headlights!
Strike Out,
Writer: Emily Talavera
Editor: Miranda Cardenas
Los Angeles