After a sold-out debut performance last year for this hot rising musician, Jarrod Lawson returns to one of his favorite venues across his full year of touring: Middle C Jazz.

In anticipation of his upcoming visit to Charlotte, Greazy Keys, rBeatz Radio “Local Music Somewhere” host, sat down to talk with Jarrod, whose fusion of heartfelt songwriting, masterful keyboard work, and layered vocal harmonies has captivated audiences from Portland to Tokyo. From a surprise shoutout by Michelle Obama to a soulful collaboration with Raquel Rodriguez on “Next Move,” Jarrod reflects on his artistic journey, international tours, and the evolution of his sound.

Enjoy the excerpt below, and tune in as he shares the stories behind his critically acclaimed albums, his roots in rhythm and harmony, and what it means to truly Be The Change.

It was in late 2022 that Jarrod Lawson had the biggest, and most unexpected, thrill of his music career. He had just received a glowing endorsement in print from Michelle Obama, who was asked by Entertainment Weekly who she was listening to and, after mentioning Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, added “There’s this young jazz, blue-eyed soul kid Jarrod Lawson that I’m loving….”

Jarrod’s self-titled 2014 debut album made waves primarily in Europe, where he toured extensively and powered his way into the Dutch Top 40 Albums chart. It was his 2020 sophomore album “Be The Change”, accompanied by a talented band including Grammy-nominated percussionist Sammy Figueroa, that made its mark in the US, at #1 on Amazon’s Jazz Albums chart and at #2 on Billboard magazine’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

Now in 2024, Lawson adds an exciting new collaboration, with fast-rising Los Angeles vocalist Raquel Rodriguez, on a beautiful retro soul jam “Next Move”. Rodriguez has been one of the fastest rising independent artists since she released her debut album “Sweet Side” in 2021. The two vocalists have been described as musical kindred spirits, and the single showcases their similar 90s R&B groove.

Full rBeatz interview, April 2025 …

Jarrod Lawson returns to Middle C Jazz for two nights, Saturday and Sunday May 3-4. 
For a little more about Jarrod, check out last year’s blog article…
Follow Jarrod through his website or Instagram…