Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I live in London, but I’m originally from Atlanta. I wanted to start music because I saw MTV videos of Nelly and Pharrell when I was really young and I really liked the sounds and wanted to do it myself.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I really been into the new Steve Lacy album Gemini rights that’s a really beautiful listen back to front and it doesn’t over stay length wise so it has a lot of replay value for me.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘JoeJas’?
A: My first strong influences was defiantly odd future. I felt really connected to them seeing a bunch of weird black kids having fun, it wasn’t really normal at the time. I was already making music but a lot of people around me didn’t get it but I felt like seeing them there would be people out there who would. Especially doing everything themselves it was super inspiring, it felt like if you have an idea it’s all possible.
JoeJas was my grandpas of nickname of telegrams or something haha.
Q: You have just released your new album ‘Gaps & Nomads’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Gaps & Nomads is a story of me leaving ‘Four Wing Island.’ Which was the name of my last project. Four Wing Island was like a safe place to chill but the whole point of gaps & nomads was to be like be outside your safe space. Little stuff like me singing on the chorus of sally’s last dance, things I would have really liked to do but just said fuck it, I’ll do it now why not. Also it was then end of the me being on the Four Wing Island in other ways as in every album I always have a Sally titled song with a music video that has a progressive story and this was the last in the series.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yeah 100% but no time soon. I always like people living with the things I make for a while before I give them something new. It gives you time to form memories and even hear things you might have missed on early listens. I also think it helps build your world when people are left with a piece to dissect.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I think someone listening should resonate with whatever hits them the most. We’re all different so someone might be really into instrumentation, another might be into lyrics and someone else could really be into melodies. So I’d just say whatever connects to you most on the project. If I were to say anything it would probably be the vibe of you can be who you are and do whatever you want.
I would describe my sound as musically wonky hahahahaha.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I feel like all the fulfilment I receive from my music is from creating it. Everything is extra. I really don’t know how any of these ideas I come up with will impact anyone or change my life so I’m just down for the rollercoaster.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Most of the time I start with making a beat and coming up with the drums or sitting at my keyboard and coming up with a chord progression. These normally lead me to what the lyrics will entail. Then when I finish the beat I just download it on my phone and just listen to it riding around on my board or a bike until the lyrics come to me.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I think it’s been people not understanding what my goals are and what I’m trying to achieve and pushing me to the side for things that they’ve already seen work. Which I get taking a leap of faith in something is not a risk everyone will take. But I also think it’s been a positive, it means I’ve really had to go all out and build something solid on my own and I’m really seeing the benefits of it.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I think being able to put on a pop-up shop for a whole week and having live music from me and my friends everyday was amazing. Like I know that’s going to be in peoples memories for a long time. It was so fun and it really showed me the community that’s been building around me.
