Lil L.A. Marz, “JAP2+ (JUSTAPHASE)”
Lil L.A. Marz is a Wisconsin musician, artist, and manager born and raised in Milwaukee. While he is now located in Oshkosh, the young artist is heavily influenced by and connected to the music scenes and local businesses in both of his hometowns, alongside those of Appleton, Green Bay, and the legendary Chicago located in the neighboring state of Illinois. He notices a cultural shift in the region, combining the fanbases of these local scenes into a mega-underground community. This provides boosts to artists like Marz, who moved out of the big cities into smaller towns, while still providing the benefits of being a "big fish in a smaller pond" within the Oshkosh city limits.
Lil L.A. Marz, whose real name is Lamar Dajuan Walker, loves the sense of connection he finds within the local artistic world, feeling that he connects with these fellow creators in a unique way through their shared passions. He works alongside Wisconsin underground artists and community members like JGoddess, Drae The Saint, and has future plans for projects with Kennyhoopla. On the horizon, Marz is set to release “For The Sake Of”, a joint project with JGoddess, who he represents professionally as an artist manager.
His newest project, titled "JAP2+", released on August 3rd, 2024. This album is the third installment in his musical trilogy, beginning with his debut project "JUSTAPHASE", which dropped on March 28th, 2023, and its follow-up "JUSTAPHASE 2" from February 9th, 2024. This series delves into the dark emotions of "Anger, sadness, revenge, vengeance, (and) discipline", with each feeling represented by different genres and styles on each song, all with an overarching "black" theming. As Lil L.A. Marz evolves and grows as an artist through the months between album releases, he admittedly "gets more creative every project."
In between mainline "JAP" releases, Marz has dropped a plethora of consistent singles on all platforms, with "Check Yo Ego" and "Trip to Japan" each receiving visualizers and music videos respectively on his Lil L.A. Marz YouTube channel.
Inspired heavily by the art and aesthetics of icon Michael Jackson, Marz too hopes to solidify his place in music history and influence the creative culture. He stated in our exclusive RSO interview, "This is something I wanted to do my whole life and as long as I can live. Music is forever!". He later emphasized this timeless nature of music in a message to the world, "Music is both timeless and limitless." He looks towards Michael as a "magical man" and mirrors some of the artist's fashion styles and creative essence that he admired during his youth and formative years as an artist.
The rising creative has already made waves and history in the city of Oshkosh. His recent concert performance of a selection of tracks from his "JAP" album series allowed Marz to make "history by being the first ever artist to host and perform original music at 'Oblio’s Lounge'", a staple restaurant located in Oshkosh, WI. This event marked a historical point in Lil L.A. Marz's career, being the first time he has performed his tracks for an audience live.
Marz has also recently been featured across multiple Wisconsin radio stations during an "Oshkosh Air Support" radio interview with WISS, 98.3 FM and 1100 AM.
The themes of self-control and discipline were brought up in his mentions of his life philosophy and in his creative output, with it being a central concept in his JAP album series and a key component in his inspiring message to the world he provided for our interview, "Humbleness, patience, consistency, consideration, discipline, self-control are all key to creation."
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, Lil L.A. Marz discusses a time "risking it all" filming a promotional TikTok on a major roadway, nearly being hit by oncoming traffic, a high school story of making a parody song to YBN Nahmir titled "Tyler Rubbin’ Off The Paint", celebrating his friend's acceptance as a University of Kentucky Wildcat, alongside his dreams of owning plots of land to use for his fruit and vegetable gardening passions.
We highly recommend you read his in-depth interview responses, especially his full "Message to the World" answer, to connect with and get a feel for the artist's personality & vibe through his communications with us! We see big futures for Lil L.A. Marz's creative journey, and those of the artists he believes in and represents through his management career. Keep him on your radar and watch him blow up...
RSO Underground Interview with Lil L.A. Marz
Who are you?
Lamar Dajuan Walker, mostly known by my artist name, Lil L.A. Marz
Where are you from? (How is the music scene there?)
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Currently living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The music scene here started to gain more attention and popularity in the past couple years that I’ve seen closely and from afar. Milwaukee being the biggest city in Wisconsin, it’s not as big as Chicago but it seems like it’s getting to that level this year! Lots of talent and creators from the area are being much more recognized with an immense amount of fanbases combining together as a core community. I can say the same with Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay! With me being Oshkosh I have a stronger pull because it’s a small town compared to the city of Milwaukee. I appear bigger here through the support from the business and musicians I collaborated with. One artist I hold close and is dear to me is JGoddess, another hidden gem that the world needs to see very soon. We have a joint project on the way soon called “For The Sake Of”, we’re both excited for the release and the result! As well as the process as we’re still creating the process. She has a long way to go and with my help, me being her manager and frequent collaborator, she’ll of course be in good hands! I truly believe she’ll be one of the biggest for sure! Definitely more work on the way with more artists from here, like Drae The Saint and hopefully Kennyhoopla!
Why did you get into the music/creative industry?
I felt as if it was a need to be a part of a community that speaks my language and share the same passion for music. What my love for music to be shared across the world to see, listen and enjoy!
I’ve inspired so many people already and I’m at the beginning of my career. This is something I wanted to do my whole life and as long as I can live. Music is forever!
Who and what inspires you?
I can say this a million times over and over again, the biggest inspiration and influence in my life is Michael Jackson! If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t find a reason to become the artist I am today! My entire life, I studied this magical man from head to toe from music, fashion, professionalism, everything. Nobody can surpass my love for Michael. Absolutely everything to me!
I honestly don’t know where I’d be without music in my life.
Do you have any stories of your artistic journey to share?
There was a time 2 years ago, I risked it all and filmed a snippet for TikTok and Instagram in the middle of a busy road! With the tripod and everything, running to the camera—it was so funny.
Close to the school district I attended, so a few of my former classmates saw me in action and pulled up on me.
Another hilarious story goes back in time to when I was at Whitnall High School with Tyler Herro. This was when Tyler was still only a senior while I was a junior, and at this time, he just got accepted to UK (University of Kentucky). And what I did to celebrate his acceptance, I made a song dedicated to him, called, ‘Tyler Rubbin’ Off The Paint’. It was a playful remix to ‘Rubbin’ Off The Paint’ by YBN Nahmir. Looking back, the song was terrible, but I showed it to Tyler and his friends and they liked it. We all laughed at the song! What’s crazy is, it’s still up on YouTube, if people were curious to find it!
What song/project are you currently promoting and what is the story behind it?
I just released a new album last weekend on August 3rd, called, “JAP2+”. It’s the third installment to my previous 2 albums, JUSTAPHASE 1 & 2. All under the same idea but it gets more creative every project. The theme color is black, and with that, it’s about all of the emotions that have to do with the color of black itself. Anger, sadness, revenge, vengeance, discipline, etc. All with different styles on each track, with genres that match with the emotions!
What’s also interesting is that it came out on the day I made history by being the first ever artist to host and perform original music at Oblio’s Lounge, in Oshkosh, WI. Which also is my first real live performance. Performed 6 out of 14 songs from that album that night!
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Some rich people own acres of land for X amount of reasons, mainly for materialistic value. For me, I want to have a fruit and vegetable garden for myself.
Where can we find your music and art?
You can stream my music under Lil L.A. Marz on any platform, even Google! Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Deezer, etc. You can even Shazam my music! Soon, I’ll be releasing physical copies of my tracks on CDs and vinyls in some places, some can be more exclusive than most!
What is your message to the world?
I wouldn’t say it’s corny to say “Believe in yourself”, but yes… Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself enough to want to better yourself, find yourself and to surpass yourself. Music is both timeless and limitless. To the young ones out there that want to pursue a career of music, show the people your art the way you want to. Humbleness, patience, consistency, consideration, discipline, self-control are all key to creation. Think about the trees being grown across the globe today, they all started as a seed in the soil. Think about that. All of evolution has its beginnings. So if you start now, you’re doing what you want at the perfect time.
Check out Lil L.A. Marz Everywhere!
Lil L.A. Marz on Instagram @lillamarz
